Economics

Why the Dems' Drive to Aid Detroit Is Stalling Out

polymeme — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:20:16 -0500

TIME : The Bush Administration and congressional Republicans have gone out of their way to be gracious since Democrats won the White House and expanded their majorities in both chambers of Congress earlier this month... READ MORE

Will the Safety Net Catch Economy’s Casualties?

polymeme — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:17:01 -0500

NEW YORK TIMES :Economists rarely agree on anything, but a great many do agree on one unfortunate matter these days: the current economic downturn is likely to develop into the worst recession since the downturn of 1981-82... READ MORE

As Italy Enters It's Fourth Recession Since 2000, Who Will Bail-Out Unicredit?

polymeme — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:17:01 -0500

ITALIAN ECONOMY WATCH : Italy, which is still the eurozone's third biggest economy, slipped into a recession in the third quarter... READ MORE

Unhappy People Watch TV, Happy People Read/Socialize

polymeme — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:17:01 -0500

WWW.NEWSDESK.UMD.EDU :A new study by sociologists at the University of Maryland concludes that unhappy people watch more TV, while people who describe themselves as "very happy" spend more time reading and socializing... READ MORE

The Perils of Efficiency

polymeme — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:17:01 -0500

NEW YORKER :This spring, disaster loomed in the global food market. Precipitous increases in the prices of staples like rice (up more than a hundred and fifty per cent in a few months) and maize provoked food riots... READ MORE

An appetising spread

polymeme — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 08:17:01 -0500

THE ECONOMIST : SHERLOCK HOLMES might have called it “the curious case of the corporate-bond market”. Most commentators agree that bonds issued by companies offer spreads over treasuries that more than compensate for the risk that the issuer might default. But few investors are tempted to buy... READ MORE

It might be politically toxic - but we must join the euro now

polymeme — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:17:01 -0500

GUARDIAN : When the euro launched nearly 10 years ago, an unnamed euro-sceptic currency trader - now almost certainly redundant - famously called it a toilet currency. Last week it climbed to an all-time high against the pound... READ MORE

Kilcullen on Afghanistan: “It’s Still Winnable, But Only Just.”

polymeme — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 06:17:01 -0500

NEW YORKER :I wrote about David Kilcullen two years ago, in a piece called “Knowing the Enemy.” Few experts understand counterinsurgency and counterterrorism better than this former Australian army officer and anthropology Ph.D... READ MORE

Administrative Virtues: The Case of Larry Summers

polymeme — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 02:17:01 -0500

STANLEY FISH : Now that the election has been decided, pundits and commentators, desperate to have something to talk about, have been obsessing about the formation of President-elect Obama’s cabinet... READ MORE

Depression 2009: What would it look like?

polymeme — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 02:17:01 -0500

THE BOSTON GLOBE : OVER THE PAST few months, Americans have been hearing the word "depression" with unfamiliar and alarming regularity... READ MORE