News
Bloomberg | Worker Productivity in U.S. Declines, Pushing Up Labor Costs
The productivity of U.S. workers fell more than projected in the fourth quarter as the economy shrank, pushing labor expenses up and showing companies are approaching the limit of how much efficiency they can wring from employees.
Bloomberg | U.S. Consumer Confidence Rises for First Time in Five Weeks
Confidence among American consumers rose last week for the first time this year, a sign the strain on households from a higher payroll tax is easing.
Econ Comments & Analysis
Real Clear Markets | Cut Deficits Without Killing the Recovery?
At the core of Washington's exasperating budget debate lies a confusing disconnect. On the one hand, we're urged to reduce huge and endless budget deficits, which are said to threaten a future financial crisis.
Daily Caller | Overregulation, not phantom spending cuts, caused economy to shrink in fourth quarter
The schizophrenia of progressive economic thought was on full display last week in the wake of some bad economic news. On the one hand, progressives believe the U.S. economy is so fragile that even the mere threat of cuts in government spending would be disastrous. On the other hand, they believe this same economy is so resilient that billions upon billions of dollars in regulatory costs have no effect on growth at all.
Fortune | This year's biggest economic losers
Who's going to feel the biggest squeeze? Though they get plenty of attention, it's not the wealthy or the middle class.
CBO | Economic Growth Is Likely to Be Slow in 2013 and Pick Up in Later Years
On Tuesday CBO published a new economic forecast in The Budget and Economic Outlook: Fiscal Years 2013-2023. The forecast—reflecting current law—takes into account the recent passage of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-240), which removed a significant amount of the fiscal tightening that had been scheduled to take effect in January 2013.
AEI | Wall Street heads for the exits
“As the titans of Wall Street banks gathered…one common worry emerged: who is going to take over when we leave?” says a recent Reuters report on the self-important Davos meetings. Such a worry is a remarkable example of the illusion of one’s own inexpendability.
