News
Market Watch | Empire State index jumps to 12.5 in January
Manufacturing activity in the New York region surged in January after three months of weak readings, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said Wednesday.
WSJ | Bank of America Profit Climbs, Helped by Cost-Cutting Progress
Bank of America Corp. saw its fourth-quarter profit surge from a year-earlier period that was marred by charges as the bank made progress cutting costs and benefited from lower provisions for soured loans.
CNN Money | State with highest minimum wage may hike it again
The governor of Washington is calling for an increase in the state's minimum wage, which is already the highest in the nation.
Washington Times | America in crisis: Government cited as No. 1 problem in the country
Gallup says 21 percent of people put their dissatisfaction with Congress and politicians in general just above the economy, at 18 percent. Unemployment and health care issues come in third, at 16 percent.
Econ Comments & Analysis
Forbes | Why Economic Growth Is Exponentially More Important Than Income Inequality
In 1900, we had no airplanes, no computers, no cellphones, no internet. We had only rudimentary versions of cars, trucks, telephones, even cameras.
Investors | Demagoguing Income Inequality Leads To Less For All
Democrats plan to demagogue income inequality and the wealth gap for political gain in this year's elections. Most of what's said about income inequality is stupid or, at best, ill-informed. Much to their disgrace, economists focusing on measures of income inequality bring little light to the issue.
WSJ | Where Right and Left Agree on Inequality
Mitt Romney's contemptuous dismissal of the "47%" has turned out to be the most consequential utterance of the 2012 presidential campaign. The line about those who are dependent on government and unlikely to vote for him was recognized by thoughtful conservatives for what it was: an economic and moral mistake as well as a political blunder.
Washington Times | Obama’s ‘income inequality’ deeper from bailing out his rich Wall Street donors
Snarky attacks on Wall Street, wealthy investors, bankers and other favorite liberal targets have become the soup of the day. President Obama’s “income inequality” has replaced the “war on women” as his second-term mantra, but the inequality is from Mr. Obama’s own kitchen.
Politico | We Need to Solve the Poverty Crisis. Just Not Obama’s Way.
Economic inequality has become the left’s great hope for recovering its political integrity after the Obamacare disaster. President Obama, trying to change the subject, has latched onto the issue and is sure to make many more speeches about it in the New Year. New York’s new mayor, Bill de Blasio, promises to make that great city an experimental lab for progressive ideas aimed at curing inequality.
Washington Times | America is dragged down by Obama regulations
Although there has been constant tension between those desiring a strong central government that maintains control and order, and those desiring maximum personal freedom as long as the rights of others are preserved, our country managed to thrive for many decades with an unprecedented level of autonomy for its citizens.
Blogs
CATO | The Minimum Wage: Immoral and Inefficient
Democratic politicians are desperate to make up for ObamaCare’s disastrous roll-out. Thirteen states are increasing their minimums this year, and some Democrats believe raising the national minimum wage is a winning campaign issue for November.
NCPA | Myths about Inequality
“Inequality is the defining challenge of our time,” according to President Obama. It’s certainly the topic of the day for Paul Krugman, Joe Stiglitz and a whole raft of liberal pundits. But have you noticed that hardly anyone else is talking about it?
