Volcanoes are erupting in The Philippines, but on-fire Australia received some welcome rain. The Iran war cries have been called off and The Donald’s military powers are about to be hamstrung by the Senate. Meanwhile, his impeachment trial is starting, and we’re all on Twitter for a front-row seat.
Tag: Economy
12/20/2021
Opinion: Two Economic Problems. One of Them Matters More.
Keeping our eye on the ball, about the balance between unemployment and inflation.
12/21/2021
If the Economy Is Doing So Well, Why Does It Feel Like a Disaster?
Want a quick summary of the daily news? Inflation. Labor shortages. Supply-chain issues. Omicron. Partisanship. Gridlock. Biden stalled. Trump ranting.
12/15/2021
Women’s Wages Are Now Growing Faster Than Men’s
There’s a tendency to gender our recessions. There was the “man-cession” following the 2008 Great Financial Crisis, when manufacturing and construction jobs dried up, and then those out-of-work men declined to get government-funded retraining in areas like health care, which have usually been worked by women.
12/16/2021
What Could Go Right? Legal weed
Malta first in the EU to legalize marijuana, the UAE gets a 4.5-day workweek, incoming protections for gig workers, and more
12/07/2021
And Now, Some Good News About Americans and Money
For most of the pandemic, the amount of cash in Americans’ bank accounts ebbed and flowed in a pretty predictable pattern.
12/09/2021
What Could Go Right? Omicron may be mild
And it won't ruin your booster. Meanwhile, Chile legalizes gay marriage, and Canada is close to banning conversion therapy.
12/01/2021
Capital One says it is ditching all consumer overdraft fees, giving up $150 million in annual revenue
It’s the largest U.S. bank yet to end the industry practice of charging customers a hefty fee, typically $25 to $35 each instance, for allowing transactions that exceed a customer’s balance, according to the McLean, Virginia-based lender.
12/02/2021
What Could Go Right? “Not the Andromeda Strain”
Omicron, inflation, and the Great Barrier Reef is reborn
11/24/2021
US jobless claims hit 52-year low after seasonal adjustments
The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits plummeted last week to the lowest level in more than half a century, another sign that the U.S. job market is rebounding rapidly from last year’s coronavirus recession.
11/23/2021
Why We Should Stop Freaking Out About Inflation
For the first time in decades, we are in the midst of a bona-fide inflation scare. Recent numbers came in at 6.2%, the highest since 1990.
11/15/2021
Expanded legal immigration is the ultimate supply side reform
Right now, a lot of people have a lot of money and want to buy a lot of stuff, which is good. But this is outstripping the economy’s productive potential, which is not good.
11/05/2021