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Saturday, October 31, 2009

Where Did the Bush Tax Cuts Go?

The issue is who we are and what we want to be. A lot of the comments concern the fact that of course most of the tax cuts go to the top one percent because they pay the most taxes. The real point should is whether the tax system should be progressive or not. The tax cuts to the top 1% did not have to happen.


Economist's View: Where Did the Bush Tax Cuts Go?

Why do other countries care more about health care cost control?

The difference in spending is so great and the difference in outcome is so small that it is really hard to understand why we tolerate spending more.


Marginal Revolution: Why do other countries care more about health care cost control?

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Friday, October 16, 2009

Just when you thought things were getting better.

The white house comment:
A White House spokesman, asked about the case, quipped: “I’ve found that, actually, the children of biracial couples can do pretty good.”

Louisiana Justice of the Peace Denies Marriage License to Interracial Couple - Associated Content - associatedcontent.com

Not the pride of Harvard Class '83.

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/vitter-refuses-to-comment-on-justice-who-wont-marry-interracial-couples.php

Saturday, October 10, 2009

The Problem with Economics

Much of economic papers in behavioral science are "awful amateur-hour sociology".


D-squared Digest -- FOR bigger pies and shorter hours and AGAINST more or less everything else

Rebuilding employment

The most important economic problem facing the US today: how to grow jobs.There are only three ways to do it:
to expand employment in existing companies, to stimulate the creation of new businesses, and to recruit relocation of existing businesses from other regions.

UnderstandingSociety: Rebuilding employment


But the room for policy is not clear. The best, but long term effort, is to increase the number of highly educated employees in the area.
"The goal of increasing the percentage of baccalaureate-level adults in a region is a crucial element of our future economic success"

A CRE News Summary

Vacancy in commercial is growing. This means that banks will be forced to take another round of writedowns. Are they ready for it?

Calculated Risk: A CRE News Summary

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Fed Worries about CRE Grow

The next shoe to drop. Although it seems that much of this is already priced in the market, banks will have another round of bad earnings related to CRE. Vacancy rates reached 16%.

Calculated Risk: Fed Worries about CRE Grow