News
National Journal | What the Middle Class Should Want From the Economy in 2014
Economists feel pretty upbeat about the prospects for 2014 after roughly five years of tepid, if not pessimistic, forecasts. The U.S. economy grew at a pace of 4.1 percent during the third quarter of 2013, the largest expansion since 2011.
CNN Money | Biggest risk to markets? Global politics
For the first time in five years, the big risk for the global economy is not a collapse of the financial system, according to a report by the Eurasia Group released Monday.
Market Watch | Britain’s modest fiscal consolidation pays off
Britain’s economy has had a buoyant start to the year, fueling speculation of tax cuts and higher pensions as David Cameron, the prime minister, kick-starts a long campaign to the general election in 16 months.
CNBC | Oil could go below $80 if Iran gets solved: Eurasia's Bremmer
Oil prices could go well under $80 a barrel if a deal is struck to rein in Iran's nuclear ambitions, Eurasia Group President Ian Bremmer predicted Monday.
Econ Comments & Analysis
Real Clear Markets | There's a Much Better Mortgage, If Only Banks Would Offer It
A quick perusal of any major bank's mortgage department offerings could easily lead you to believe that the U.S. mortgage market has far too many products for its own good.
NY Times | 50 Years Later, War on Poverty Is a Mixed Bag
To many Americans, the war on poverty declared 50 years ago by President Lyndon B. Johnson has largely failed. The poverty rate has fallen only to 15 percent from 19 percent in two generations, and 46 million Americans live in households where the government considers their income scarcely adequate.
WSJ | A Good Time for Housing Reform
The prospects for progress on Capitol Hill this year are few, but one possibility is reform of federal housing policy. With home prices rising and the economy growing, now is a good time to pare back the government support that has too often led to unsustainable housing booms and taxpayer busts.
Investors | 11 Nasty Trends That Will Test America's Resilience
The resilience that has long been one of America's remarkable traits was on display in 2013. Not only did businesses create 2 million jobs, but the struggling economy actually grew and profits and stock prices soared to near-record levels.
Barrons | Reasons to Believe Tepid Recovery Will Heat Up
The economic expansion that began 4½ years ago has been one of the slowest on record by virtually any measure. We all know that. But just how much slower might still be underappreciated.
Mercatus | Ending Farm Subsidies: Unplowed Common Ground
In recent years, food stamps have constituted about 80 percent of farm bill spending, which may be why nearly 100 percent of public debate has focused there.1 Unfortunately, with all of the attention on food stamps, both political parties have missed the opportunity for reform that lies in the remaining 20 percent of the farm bill.
Blogs
WSJ | Blame Polarization for Tepid Economic Growth?
There has been a running argument among economists on the extent to which uncertainty over U.S. government policy –taxes, spending and regulation – is a big reason the economy has been so distressingly sluggish.
Heritage Foundation | Is Common Core Leaving Students Unprepared in Math and Science?
A leading education reform scholar argues that Common Core national standards are leaving students unprepared for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
Monday, January 6, 2014
Health Care
News
Politico | The Obamacare fixer
As President Barack Obama’s legislative director, Schiliro helped get the Affordable Care Act through Congress. Now, he’s back as the fixer.
National Journal | Obamacare Can't Fail ...
Whether in enrollment numbers, federal savings, or the workings of its website, the White House has repeatedly lowered the bar for the law when it has missed expectations, replacing initial standards with ones that are lower, squishier, or nonexistent.
Bloomberg | Obamacare Medicaid Split Creates Two Americas for Poor
Amber Sanchez, a San Francisco cancer survivor, skipped visiting the gynecologist last year to check a growth on her ovary because she was uninsured. This year, it’s at the top of her New Year’s plans.
Blogs
Heritage Foundation | New Poll: Health Care Reform Is America’s Top Concern for 2014
The survey, which revealed the public’s list of issues they believe should be Washington’s focus in 2014, found 52 percent of respondents mentioned health care as one of the top 10 issues, followed by unemployment (42 percent), the economy in general (39 percent), and the federal deficit (31 percent).
Politico | The Obamacare fixer
As President Barack Obama’s legislative director, Schiliro helped get the Affordable Care Act through Congress. Now, he’s back as the fixer.
National Journal | Obamacare Can't Fail ...
Whether in enrollment numbers, federal savings, or the workings of its website, the White House has repeatedly lowered the bar for the law when it has missed expectations, replacing initial standards with ones that are lower, squishier, or nonexistent.
Bloomberg | Obamacare Medicaid Split Creates Two Americas for Poor
Amber Sanchez, a San Francisco cancer survivor, skipped visiting the gynecologist last year to check a growth on her ovary because she was uninsured. This year, it’s at the top of her New Year’s plans.
Blogs
Heritage Foundation | New Poll: Health Care Reform Is America’s Top Concern for 2014
The survey, which revealed the public’s list of issues they believe should be Washington’s focus in 2014, found 52 percent of respondents mentioned health care as one of the top 10 issues, followed by unemployment (42 percent), the economy in general (39 percent), and the federal deficit (31 percent).
Monetary
News
CNN Money | Senate set to confirm Yellen as Fed Chair
The U.S. Senate is expected to confirm Janet Yellen Monday to serve as the next chair of the Federal Reserve, after Ben Bernanke's second term ends in January.
Econ Comments & Analysis
WSJ | Economists Spar on Path to Faster Recovery
One of the most buzzed about figures at the annual meetings of the American Economic Association in Philadelphia this weekend was Alvin Hansen, an economist who has been dead for nearly 40 years.
Bloomberg | Central Banks Split on Stimulus in 2014 as Fed Tapers
The Federal Reserve -- soon to be led by Janet Yellen, who is poised for confirmation by the Senate today -- begins pulling back on its quantitative easing amid stronger U.S. growth, and the Bank of England is trying to cool its housing market. The European Central Bank and Bank of Japan lean toward more monetary action to fight weak inflation. The ECB and BOE both hold policy meetings this week.
Blogs
WSJ | What Will Central Banking Look Like in 2014?
Inflation is slowing in the developed world but not clearly tamed in developing economies. Growth is highly uneven across the globe and the next big shift in capital flows unknown. Against that backdrop, central banks are charting different courses.
CNN Money | Senate set to confirm Yellen as Fed Chair
The U.S. Senate is expected to confirm Janet Yellen Monday to serve as the next chair of the Federal Reserve, after Ben Bernanke's second term ends in January.
Econ Comments & Analysis
WSJ | Economists Spar on Path to Faster Recovery
One of the most buzzed about figures at the annual meetings of the American Economic Association in Philadelphia this weekend was Alvin Hansen, an economist who has been dead for nearly 40 years.
Bloomberg | Central Banks Split on Stimulus in 2014 as Fed Tapers
The Federal Reserve -- soon to be led by Janet Yellen, who is poised for confirmation by the Senate today -- begins pulling back on its quantitative easing amid stronger U.S. growth, and the Bank of England is trying to cool its housing market. The European Central Bank and Bank of Japan lean toward more monetary action to fight weak inflation. The ECB and BOE both hold policy meetings this week.
Blogs
WSJ | What Will Central Banking Look Like in 2014?
Inflation is slowing in the developed world but not clearly tamed in developing economies. Growth is highly uneven across the globe and the next big shift in capital flows unknown. Against that backdrop, central banks are charting different courses.
Taxes
Econ Comments & Analysis
Washington Times | The folly of taxing the rich
Soaking the rich might make some people feel good, but going after “the rich” impoverishes everyone. The French never learned that lesson from their 18th-century outburst of envy that created widespread shortages and famine, and three centuries later, they have traded the guillotine for income confiscation.
AEI | Tax increases and the price level
The policy debate features considerable confusion about what kinds of tax increases may cause the overall price level to rise and the consequences of any such price increases.
Washington Times | The folly of taxing the rich
Soaking the rich might make some people feel good, but going after “the rich” impoverishes everyone. The French never learned that lesson from their 18th-century outburst of envy that created widespread shortages and famine, and three centuries later, they have traded the guillotine for income confiscation.
AEI | Tax increases and the price level
The policy debate features considerable confusion about what kinds of tax increases may cause the overall price level to rise and the consequences of any such price increases.
Employment
News
Politico | White House unemployment benefits push kicks into high gear
President Barack Obama returns from his Hawaii holiday toting a familiar message — blame the Republicans — as the White House and its allies launch a fresh weeklong effort to spotlight Congress’s failure to renew long-term unemployment benefits.
CNN Money | Millennials turn up heat against low wages
Stuck in low-wage or part-time jobs with mountains of student loans to pay off, the generation that came of age in the new millennium finds itself in a hopeless situation. Despite being better educated than previous generations, many young people are shut out of the middle class with no road map of how to get there.
Econ Comments & Analysis
Politico | Closing the Skills Gap
Today, nearly 11 million Americans are unemployed. Yet, at the same time, 4 million jobs sit unfilled. This is the “skills gap”—the gulf between the skills job seekers currently have and the skills employers need to fill their open positions.
Gallup Poll | U.S. Job Creation Steady in December
Gallup's Job Creation Index again dipped below +20 in December, after several months of meeting or passing that threshold. Still, December's +19 index score matches October's and is an improvement over where the index stood in the first quarter of 2013.
Blogs
Calculated Risk | Extended unemployment benefits
Only one-third of voters believe Congress should allow federal jobless aid to end this week. By a strong 21-point margin, voters say Congress should act to maintain (55%) rather than cut off (34%) these benefits.
Politico | White House unemployment benefits push kicks into high gear
President Barack Obama returns from his Hawaii holiday toting a familiar message — blame the Republicans — as the White House and its allies launch a fresh weeklong effort to spotlight Congress’s failure to renew long-term unemployment benefits.
CNN Money | Millennials turn up heat against low wages
Stuck in low-wage or part-time jobs with mountains of student loans to pay off, the generation that came of age in the new millennium finds itself in a hopeless situation. Despite being better educated than previous generations, many young people are shut out of the middle class with no road map of how to get there.
Econ Comments & Analysis
Politico | Closing the Skills Gap
Today, nearly 11 million Americans are unemployed. Yet, at the same time, 4 million jobs sit unfilled. This is the “skills gap”—the gulf between the skills job seekers currently have and the skills employers need to fill their open positions.
Gallup Poll | U.S. Job Creation Steady in December
Gallup's Job Creation Index again dipped below +20 in December, after several months of meeting or passing that threshold. Still, December's +19 index score matches October's and is an improvement over where the index stood in the first quarter of 2013.
Blogs
Calculated Risk | Extended unemployment benefits
Only one-third of voters believe Congress should allow federal jobless aid to end this week. By a strong 21-point margin, voters say Congress should act to maintain (55%) rather than cut off (34%) these benefits.
Budget
News
Politico | Budget battle nears finish line
House-Senate negotiators are slated to meet Monday in hopes of narrowing their last differences over a $1 trillion-plus omnibus spending bill that attempts to fill in the blanks after December’s budget deal and avoid another shutdown next week.
Econ Comments & Analysis
Washington Times | What if interest on the national debt skyrockets?
Despite the federal deficit’s recent decline, it remains large, and the nation’s growing debt threatens to quickly accelerate it to new heights.
Heritage Foundation | 10 Programs to Eliminate in the January 2014 Spending Bill—and Save $10.2 Billion
After reaching an agreement to spend nearly $45 billion more in 2014 than allowed under the sequestration spending caps, Congress still needs to pass the now over $1 trillion discretionary spending bill into law.
Blogs
Heritage Foundation | The National Debt in One Picture
Congress is beginning its new year with a budget deal that busts right through “caps” it was supposed to have on spending. At Heritage, we want to hold Congress accountable for its tax-and-spend ways, even as Members claim there’s no room to cut.
Politico | Budget battle nears finish line
House-Senate negotiators are slated to meet Monday in hopes of narrowing their last differences over a $1 trillion-plus omnibus spending bill that attempts to fill in the blanks after December’s budget deal and avoid another shutdown next week.
Econ Comments & Analysis
Washington Times | What if interest on the national debt skyrockets?
Despite the federal deficit’s recent decline, it remains large, and the nation’s growing debt threatens to quickly accelerate it to new heights.
Heritage Foundation | 10 Programs to Eliminate in the January 2014 Spending Bill—and Save $10.2 Billion
After reaching an agreement to spend nearly $45 billion more in 2014 than allowed under the sequestration spending caps, Congress still needs to pass the now over $1 trillion discretionary spending bill into law.
Blogs
Heritage Foundation | The National Debt in One Picture
Congress is beginning its new year with a budget deal that busts right through “caps” it was supposed to have on spending. At Heritage, we want to hold Congress accountable for its tax-and-spend ways, even as Members claim there’s no room to cut.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)