For anyone wondering whether Obama’s reported plan to give lots of investment tax breaks to businesses is really that bright an idea, Robert Reich today gives a resounding “no way, no how“: The economy needs two whopping corporate tax cuts … Continue reading
I went to the laundromat today to find that the cost of using the large washing machines had been lowered, from $3.50 to $2.75. Somebody warn Krugman! (Okay, I’m not actually going to drive the economy off a cliff by … Continue reading
Ten-percent unemployment be damned, New York City is still successfully placing welfare recipients in jobs. But what kind of jobs? The most remarkable thing about the job placement trend chart posted on the city Human Resources Administration website each month … Continue reading
The Associated Press today on the housing market and the economy: BOSTON (AP) — Home sales in the Northeast rose in February as the economy showed signs of recovery, inspiring buyers. … Nationwide, homes sales were up 8 percent from … Continue reading
Reason #1 never to believe economic predictions in the media: The number of newly laid-off workers seeking unemployment benefits fell for the third straight week, evidence that layoffs are continuing to ease in the earliest stages of an economic recovery. … Continue reading
There are some tentative signs that the recession may finally be able to do what Hurricane Katrina did not: Get the news media to pay attention to the 1 in 8 Americans — or more, depending on how you’re counting … Continue reading
My biweekly sojourn in Metro addresses the hair-trigger panic that seems to be gripping us (and if Krugman is to be believed, probably isn’t going away on its own any too soon): The Defense Department bright lights who decided to … Continue reading
I’ve been wondering about how to reconcile the need for consumer spending to save the economy and the need to stop buying so much useless crap for a while now, and wondering where I’d find a guru to make sense … Continue reading