News
CNN Money | Europe's economy: What could go wrong?
Just when you thought the worst was over for Europe, political risk and financial uncertainty could return in 2014.
CGI | Home prices: Your local forecast
After 2013's big gains, home prices are expected to moderate this year. CoreLogic Case-Shiller expects prices to increase by the mid-single digit percentages for the 12 months through September. See how your market is expected to fare.
Washington Times | As U.S. supply accelerates, gas prices stuck in neutral
America is in the midst of an energy boom has left the country floating in crude oil and natural gas — but consumers are seeing only modest returns at the gas pump, where analysts said the chief benefit has been stability, not cost-cutting.
Econ Comments & Analysis
Investors | Fact-Free Left Turns Blind Eye To Socialism's Past
Someone summarized Barack Obama in three words — "educated," "smart" and "ignorant." Unfortunately, those same three words would describe all too many of the people who come out of our most prestigious colleges and universities today.
WSJ | The Emerging-Market Comedown
The beguiling idea of "convergence" still lives. But it shouldn't. The basic notion of convergence is that incomes in poor nations will rapidly catch up—or converge—with those in rich nations.
Forbes | The Minimum Wage Nonsense Impedes Economic Progress
Raising the minimum wage is once again a key component of the Democrats’ election-year strategy. Indeed, the Democrats have momentum on their side. According to a recent report in The Christian Science Monitor, 14 states raised their legal minimum wage last year.
Real Clear Markets | In the War On Poverty, Cash Assistance Will Fail
Fifty years have passed since President Lyndon B. Johnson declared an "unconditional war on poverty." More recently, President Obama has declared a new war, this time on income inequality. This shift in focus is somewhat misguided.
CNN Money | Why growing income inequality matters
The concern about growing income inequality is not about begrudging the wealthy their success, says economist Jared Bernstein. The worry is that it is curbing everyone else's economic potential.
Market Watch | Congress won’t give Obama blank check on trade deals
The proposed new trade agreement between the U.S. and several Pacific Rim countries may be the boon that advocates say it is, or it may be the corporate sellout described by its opponents.
Blogs
WSJ | Vital Signs: More Households Don’t Own a Car
A study out this month by the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute finds that a larger share of U.S. households do not own a car, light truck or SUV. In 2012, 9.22% of all U.S. households were without a vehicle, little changed from 9.29% in 2011 but continuing an uptrend started since 2007, just before the economy fell into recession.
CATO | Mr. President, Increasing the Minimum Wage Is Wrong Medicine for Ailing Economy
When President Obama advocates a higher minimum wage in his State of the Union Address, he will no doubt argue that by increasing the minimum to $10.10, workers will have fatter pay checks and spend more, thus stimulating the economy and creating more jobs. In fact, economic logic tells a different story.
