News
Washington Times | China’s premier unsure of economy
China’s economy faces “huge pressure” to slow further despite stimulus measures, Premier Wen Jiabao said Sunday, damping hopes for a quick recovery from the deepest slump since the 2008 global financial crisis.
WSJ | OECD Leading Indicators Point to Slowdown in Major Economies
Growth in most major economies is set to slow down in coming months, with only Brazil expected to experience a pickup, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's composite leading indicators.
Washington Times | Economy is in the eye of the policy beholder
Reading the economy these days is like taking a Rorschach test: Optimists see signs of progress in each economic report, while pessimists see the end of the expansion and many others host middling views.
Econ Comments & Analysis
WSJ | How About a Free-Trade Deal With Europe?
Europe's ongoing economic crisis and the evident discord among its key leaders have profound implications for the United States. Despite a new agreement during the most recent European Union summit last month, the crisis will likely endure for some time, with unpredictable political and economic consequences.
The American | Groundhog Day in Europe
European policymakers have to be concerned that the half-life of their band-aids is getting shorter and shorter while resistance to these measures gets stronger and stronger.
CNBC | Signs We Are Approaching a Zombie Economy
Uncertainty about U.S. fiscal policy, Europe’s sovereign crisis and slower global growth have turned the U.S. economy into what feels like a slow-moving zombie, leaving businesses and consumers hesitant and reluctant to act.
WSJ | America Already Is Europe
I'm often asked if I think America is trending toward becoming a European-style social democracy. My answer is: "No, because we already are a European-style social democracy." From the progressivity of our tax code, to the percentage of GDP devoted to government, to the extent of the regulatory burden on business, most of Europe's got nothing on us.
The American | The Economics of Pepco
As an economist and a Pepco customer, I am concerned by two factors that insulate Pepco from facing market discipline concerning reliability. The first is that Pepco is a regulated monopoly. The second is that there is no price indicating the benefits of reliability.
Blogs
Calculated Risk | Unofficial Problem Bank list declines to 913 Institutions
Changes to the Unofficial Problem Bank List this week were limited to four removals. Afterward, the list holds 913 institutions with assets of $353.4 billion. A year ago, the list hit its high at 1,004 institutions with assets of $418.8 billion.
WSJ | Number of the Week: Has Housing Bottomed?
10: The number of consecutive months that the construction sector has shown year-over-year job growth.
Calculated Risk | Schedule for Week of July 8th
The FOMC minutes, to be released on Wednesday, will receive extra attention for clues about QE3. Also several regional Fed presidents will speak this week.
Café Hayek | Motives vs. results
Are you greedy, selfish, and uncaring? A little. We all are. Even people who oppose liberty. But I don’t think self-interest explains your view of the proper role of government intervention.
