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Monday, October 20, 2014

General Economics

News                                                                                                                             
Wall Street Journal | Gauging Economic Fear Factor
Gambia hasn’t had a single known Ebola case. But fears of the virus, and canceled flights, have led British bird-watchers to nix planned tours. Hotel bookings to that West African destination are down 65% across the board.
Wall Street Journal | China Growth Seen Slowing Sharply Over Decade
China’s growth will slow sharply during the coming decade to 3.9% as its productivity nose dives and the country’s leaders fail to push through tough measures to remake the economy, according to a report expected to come out Monday.
Washington Times | U.S. economy again drives global growth as top rivals falter
After a long, slow convalescence from the Great Recession, the U.S. economy has emerged this year as a major force for global growth for the first time in a decade, even as some of its top rivals struggle.

Blogs                                                                                                                             
AEI | The US is $40 trillion ahead of China
http://www.aei-ideas.org/2014/10/the-us-is-40-trillion-ahead-of-china/

Health Care

News                                                                                                                             
Washington Post | Obamacare’s small-business exchanges to see major changes in the coming months
One year in, the new small-business insurance marketplaces born out of the new federal health-care law have fallen short of their promise in nearly every state, both in terms of functionality and enrollment.
Washington Times | Obamacare ‘bronze’ plan premiums expected to jump 14% in 2015
Obamacare "bronze" plan owners may be in for a shock next year.

Blogs                                                                                                                             
AEI | Some key principles for fixing Obamacare
I am on the record as being dubious about the “repeal and replace” approach to Obamacare. I think the politics are formidable, to say the least. Now that does not mean I am arguing for the status quo. Far from it.

Monetary

News                                                                                                                             
Wall Street Journal | Federal Reserve Holds Steady Amid Market Volatility
Federal Reserve officials are taking a steady-as-she-goes stance as they prepare for their policy meeting this month, even though market volatility and uncertainties about the global economic outlook have rattled investors in recent weeks and led to some mixed messages from central bank officials.

Blogs                                                                                                                             
Wall Street Journal | Is The Fed Behind The Curve or Jumping The Gun?
Earlier this year, the commentators in the U.S. who had been warning of imminent inflation ever since the Fed began its highly accommodative policies raised the alert to code orange. And for the first time since the crisis, the inflation hawks were joined in their concern by a broader range of commentators. Although inflation remained contained, the “behind the curve” genie was definitely out of the bottle.

Employment

News                                                                                                                             
Washington Post | Survey: Pay raises rarer despite strong US hiring
U.S. businesses were much less likely to boost pay in the third quarter than in previous months, even as hiring remained healthy, a sign that wage gains may remain weak in the coming months.

Budget

Econ Comments & Analysis                                                                                            
Cato Institute | War on Poverty Turns 50: Are We Winning Yet?
The War on Poverty is 50 years old. Over that time, federal and state governments have spent more than $19 trillion fighting poverty. But what have we really accomplished?