News
Bloomberg | German Business Confidence Falls for a Fourth Month
German business confidence fell for a fourth straight month in August as the sovereign debt crisis curbed growth in Europe’s largest economy.
WSJ | Businesses Rein In Big-Ticket Spending
A closely watched gauge of business investment dropped in July for the second month in a row, suggesting companies are growing more cautious about the economy.
CNN Money | Energy to keep booming no matter who's president
Despite the vicious political attacks over energy policy in the United States, the recent boom in oil and gas production will likely continue, no matter who wins the White House.
Bloomberg | Homebuilding Revival Sparks Rush for Best California Land
The nascent recovery in new-home sales has U.S. builders rushing to buy up a diminishing supply of well-located, ready- for-construction land.
Market Watch | Regulators say loan credit quality improving
The credit quality of large loan commitments owned by financial institutions regulated in the U.S. improved in 2012 for the third consecutive year in 2012, according to a review by the Federal Reserve and two other regulators released Monday.
Econ Comments & Analysis
RCM | Exaggerated Rumors of Middle Class Demise
The idea that anyone can "save" the middle class assumes that it's in danger of disappearing, which it isn't, and that presidents possess sufficient powers to resurrect it, which they don't.
AEI: American | The Next Great Growth Cycle
Today’s techno-pessimists say technology and America have plateaued. Such naysayers flourish during economic recessions. They have been wrong in every one of the 19 economic downturns we have experienced since 1912. They’re wrong again.
RCM | You Call This An Economic Recovery?
Yes, the economy is technically growing, and corporate profits are up. But the pace of growth during the Obama "recovery" has been so slow that it's leaving most Americans further behind.
Politico | Obama's false sense of fairness
We now know that the president thinks it’s fair to redefine the work requirements for the welfare program to include bed rest and helping neighbors run errands.
Forbes | If You Want Human Progress To Stop, Institute A Maximum Income
Similarly, we should give those who have earned great wealth honestly the respect and gratitude they deserve for the enormous value they’ve created. That would be real economic fairness.
Fox News | Why we are on the brink of the greatest Depression of all time
This time we are in such deep trouble, the only solution is a radical restructuring of the politicians, the economy, and the way we view personal responsibility versus government handouts.
Washington Times | GHEI: Twisting red tape
When Uncle Sam knocks at the door saying he’s here to help, watch out. He has hired an army of bureaucrats to devise thick stacks of papers and studies that claim federal intervention is just what the marketplace needs.
Blogs
The Economist | R&D: how low can you go?
Overall, this secular shift was pretty successful in the America: private firms have upped their innovation efforts, so that there are lots of businesses that will soon spend over $10 billion on R&D each year.
Calculated Risk | Unofficial Problem Bank list declines to 898 Institutions
The Unofficial Problem Bank List holds 898 institutions with assets of $346.7 billion. A year ago, the list held 988 institutions with assets of $415.9 billion.
Greg Mankiw's Blog | Polarized People says Pew – not so says Pew data
The Pew Research Center published a study in mid-2012 that claimed increased polarization among the American public along political party lines.
Calculated Risk | Schedule for Week of Aug 26th
The most anticipated events this coming are the speeches by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke (Friday) and ECB President Mario Draghi (Saturday) at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium.
