News
Market Watch | Euro-zone recession threatens global economy
The euro-zone economy is deteriorating alarmingly. While the German-inspired policy of austerity is essentially right, its implementation, over far too short a period of time, is forcing the region into recession. Social disorder, especially as the weather improves next spring, is a real probability.
Bloomberg | German Investor Confidence Unexpectedly Fell in November
German investor confidence unexpectedly declined in November as the sovereign debt crisis curbs growth in Europe’s largest economy.
Market Watch | NFIB small-business optimism index nudges up
Small-business optimism nudged higher in October on mild improvement in expectations for earnings and sales ahead, according to data released Tuesday.
CNN Money | Japan's economy contracts at swift pace
Japan's economy contracted at an annual rate of 3.5% in the latest quarter, sparking concerns of a sustained regional slowdown.
Bloomberg | BofA Chief Moynihan Says Fiscal Cliff Already Hurts Economy
Bank of America Corp.’s commercial customers are already reacting to the “fiscal cliff” that looms over the U.S. budget by putting off purchases, Chief Executive Officer Brian T. Moynihan said.
Market Watch | Storm and ‘cliff’ muddy economic picture
The U.S. economy entered the fourth quarter on solid footing, but the aftershocks of hurricane Sandy and the looming “fiscal cliff” could make for some shakier moments soon.
Econ Comments & Analysis
Washington Times | U.S. oil and gas industry could be key to economic recovery
There are many tough challenges facing our nation. America’s oil and natural gas industry could play a large role in solving many of them if we committed to more domestic energy production. Home-grown American energy could raise investment in the United States’ economy by hundreds of billions of dollars, create vast numbers of jobs, generate billions of dollars to the government, and increase our global security.
CATO | Stopping the Runaway Train: The Case for Privatizing Amtrak
When Congress created Amtrak in 1970, passenger-rail advocates hoped that it would become an efficient and attractive mode of travel. More than 40 years of Amtrak operations have disappointed them, as Amtrak has become the highest-cost mode of intercity travel and remains an insignificant player in the nation's transportation system.
Blogs
Economist | A monumental burden
Debates over the effect of regulation on the economy typically focus on national rules when quite often it is the local restrictions that end up having the greatest costs.
Economist | Testing the case for bottom-heavy banks
Banks used to be harder to topple than they are now. As the chart in this week’s Free exchange print article—Strength in numbers—shows they used to hold much more equity, a financial shock absorber that sits at the bottom of their balance sheets.
WSJ | Don’t Expect Lower Oil Prices Even as U.S. Output Surges
The U.S. is set to overtake Saudi Arabia as the world’s largest oil producer. But don’t expect that to translate into lower prices at the pump.
