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Faces of workers quitting work or reducing hours as they qualify for subsidies on health insurance under the Obama Healthcare Law
02/05/2014
Faces of the workers taking subsidies available to lower income workers under the Obama Health Care Law. The Congressional Budget Office projections for 2021 show about the equivalent of 2.3 million workers worth of hours reduced as a result of the healthcare law subsidies giving workers more choice. Many use the time to work on startup business or child care for grandchildren. The jobs freed up and the hours could be taken up by other workers looking for jobs. Gains in childcare would be another result.
Linked Articles
Health Law To Cut Into Labor Force
Wall Street Journal 02/05/2014
They quit their jobs, thanks to the health law - The Washington PostWashington Post 02/09/2014
Change and South Africa- The African National Congress in 1944 and the African National Congress in 2013
12/05/2013
The changing mood of young people in South Africa as the ANC fails to live up to its ideals.
Linked Articles
New York Times 12/05/2013
In Mandela's Home, Grief and GlorificationWall Street Journal 12/06/2013
Governor Jerry Brown of California and former U.S. Fed chairman Volcker- reviving the great tradition of public service in the U.S.
05/29/2013
The public interest is critical for a nation to advance and create improvement. A vigorous tradition of public service is essential for the public interest to be preserved. It also commands the highest respect with its common sense approach setting aside ideologies, with its integrity, character and humility.
Linked Articles
Jerry Brown is spending more on ballot measures than on his own campaign - The Washington Post
Washington Post 10/24/2014
Volcker Plans to Restore Faith in GovernmentNew York Times 05/29/2013
The Swiss central bank's effort to keep Swiss Franc at 1.20 to the dollar and Japan's Abe government's push for the yen at 90 to the dollar
12/25/2012
A determined effort by the Swiss National Bank to preserve export competitiveness as eurozone economies contract in 2013, by printing francs and buying up euros and foreign assets. The effort is designed to counteract declining wages and prices in Switzerland. The newly elected Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe supports aggressive action by Japan's central bank to keep the yen between 85 yen and 90 yen to the U.S. dollar.
Linked Articles
Wall Street Journal 12/25/2012
Button-Down Central Bank Bets It AllWall Street Journal 01/09/2013
U.S. Fed chairman Bernanke's activist interest rate policies to tackle high unemployment and central bankers from MIT
12/12/2012
A pragmatic activist focus in economic thinking shaped at the MIT economics department in Cambridge, Masachusetts. The ECB's Mario Draghi, Bank of England's Mervyn King, and Bernanke shaped their thinking at MIT. Draghi and Bernanke had the same PhD. advisor- Stanley Fischer. Factors calling for a pragmatic approach include the lack of political agreement on th deficit, the housing and foreclosure crisis effects, higher inequality and unemployment effects on the middle class, the effects of the globalized economy on working class manufacturing jobs, people dropping out of the labor foce, and lower inflation, which called for a larger focus on unemployment. Bernanke emphasized the "enormous waste in human potential and productive resources of the economy" throughout 2009-2012. Draghi emphasized the abnormal nature of excessive borrowing interest rates for Italy and Spain during the ECB's bond buying efforts in 2011-2012. Both efforts had a stabilizing effect on the economies of the U.S. and Europe during a period of political discord about future policy.
Linked Articles
Wall Street Journal 12/13/2012
MIT Forged Activist Views of Central Bank Role and Cinched Central Bankers' TiesWall Street Journal 12/12/2012
Renewed warnings in 2013-2014 for the housing price bubble in China (3)- Jia Yang and Nicholas Lardy of the Peterson Institute of International Economics
10/03/2012
Linked Articles
As China’s economy slows, real estate bubble looms - The Washington Post
Washington Post 10/03/2012
Economists: China Mirrors U.S. on Eve of Financial CrisisWall Street Journal 03/18/2013
America's finest hour (2)- ambassador Christopher Stevens bringing a voice to the powerless in the Middle East
09/15/2012
Linked Articles
An American Ambassador Who Plunged Into Arab Life
New York Times 09/15/2012
Ambassador, Fluent in Arabic, Built Career in Middle EastWall Street Journal 10/01/2012
The costly software failure that cost U.S. brokerage house Knight Capital $440 million with erroneous orders on August 1, 2012
08/02/2012
Software that was introduced without proper testing by management at Knight Capital resulted in a blizzard of wrong orders going out on August 1. This led to suspension of trading on the New York Stock Exchange after identifying Knight Capital as the source.
Linked Articles
Trying to be Nimble Knight Capital Stumbles
New York Times 08/02/2012
Knight Capital Says Trading Glitch Cost it $440 MillionNew York Times 08/02/2012
Spain macroprudential supervision of its banking system once lauded now turns out to be "timid" and false, could the same be true for China?
07/18/2012
Spain's central bank had a reputation of providing good supervision for Spain's banking system. The problems at the Cajas Savings banks and the current assessment after the request for $125 billion in EU funds for Spain's banks shows how this turned out to be false. Does China face a similiar problem with its housing bubble. The U.S., UK and Spain, failed to control and manage the effects of a housing bubble, can China be a lone exception? Rapid growth enabled China to cope with bad loans in the banking system, with slower growth, a weak European market for exports, and a stimulus that is about one eighth the size in annual investment- one trillion yuan over 4 years in the current stimulus compared to 4 trillion over 2009-2010 in the last stimulus plan. Can China manage this bubble, does it have the experience managing this type of problem or has it papered over the problems as Spain did? This has repercussions for industries and countries from the export sector in Germany, Australia and Brazil to industries such as the German automobile industry, and companies such as Caterpillar.
Linked Articles
As China’s economy slows, real estate bubble looms - The Washington Post
Washington Post 10/03/2012
Spanish Official: Slow Reaction to CrisisWall Street Journal 07/18/2012
John Taylor on how U.S. monetary policy adds to the risk of a financial crisis from the housing price bubble in China
07/04/2012
Linked Articles
John B. Taylor: Monetary Policy and the Next Crisis
Wall Street Journal 07/04/2012
Economists: China Mirrors U.S. on Eve of Financial CrisisWall Street Journal 03/18/2013
China's second Stimulus in 2012 following the one in 2008-2009, and World Bank chief Zoellick's advice for a different policy mix
05/30/2012
A more measured response this time from the Development Reform Commission (DRC) and the State Council. Targeted spending on select and strategic projects to avoid inflating the housing bubble any further, and screening out projects with dubious merit.
Linked Articles
In China, a New Round of Stimulus
New York Times 05/30/2012
World Bank Chief Urges Euro BondsWall Street Journal 05/31/2012
Obama and election advisor Plouffe- responsible governance, Simpson-Bowles and an election imprint on "everything"
05/26/2012
A White House aide says election advisor David Plouffe's influence affected "everything" in the Obama White House. Tom Friedman points to the influence of campaign consultants on the White House as overreaching and pervasive, going so far a to describe the campaign being developed in test tube fashion. Karl Rove pointed to president Obama keeping an eye on reelection 18 months before Nov. 6, 2012, as not a positive development. Friedman specifically mentions president Obama's failure to endorse the Simpson-Bowles commssion on deficit reductions as part of the imprint of election advisors because reducing tax expenditures or deductions might prove politically unpopular. Yet this was part of responsible governance to take on unpopular positions- something other presidents, including Democratic president Truman, did not fail to do choosing instead to educate pubic opiion on difficult steps needing to be taken. Truman took the decisions head on such as confronting the soviets in Greece and other parts of Europe and in Korea after the fall of the Iron Curtain, so soon after a major war when the public was weary of conflict.
Linked Articles
Obama Adviser's Strategy Is High Risk, High Reward
Wall Street Journal 10/31/2012
President Obama Should Seize the High GroundNew York Times 05/26/2012
Problems India faces in increasing power growth as its national power grid fails in 2012
04/19/2012
Problems include shortage of funds to finance imports of coal and energy and the failure to increase production at Coal India.
Linked Articles
India Mulls $10 Billion for Fund on Energy
Wall Street Journal 04/25/2012
India Struggles to Dig Up Enough Fuel to Power GrowthNew York Times 04/19/2012
South Africa's Mandela's willingness to challenge established bias, restraint and generosity of spirit
12/09/2013
Ross Sorkin gives the example of Mandela changing his thinking on nationalization when confronted with the facts and Friedman points out Mandela's vision in giving whites a sense of pride in the new South Africa. Friedman goes further to compare this with the effort to get just enough votes to win elections, zip code by zip code using computer generated data on demographics and other parameters, that he sees in the U.S..
Linked Articles
How Mandela Shifted Views on Freedom of Markets
New York Times 12/09/2013
Why Mandela Was UniqueNew York Times 12/10/2013
Overhaul of the U.S. National Security Agency including the bulk collection of Americans phone records
11/25/2013
Linked Articles
Shaken NSA Grapples With an Overhaul
Wall Street Journal 11/25/2013
End the N.S.A. Dragnet, NowNew York Times 11/25/2013
The rebound in the U.S. housing market in early 2013
05/02/2013
Linked Articles
Wall Street Journal 05/29/2013
Housing Market AcceleratesWall Street Journal 05/02/2013
A more cautious Shinzo Abe as prime ministerof Japan in 2013- compared to 2006-2007
12/17/2012
Abe is determined not to repeat the mistakes of his first term as Japan's prime minister following the LDP's popular prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi. That term ended with adefeat in the upper house elections and lasted only 10 months. This means staying close to the U.S. and toning down a nationalist message, with focus mainly on creating economic revival.
Linked Articles
Japanâs Next Leader, Shinzo Abe, Shifts Focus
New York Times 12/17/2012
Japan Voters Sweep In New LeaderWall Street Journal 12/17/2012
New leadership and old faces, Jiang Zemin, Xi Jinping, and the uncertain outlook for change in China
11/15/2012
Jiang Zemin, 86 years and former president, who set China on the three decade push for modernization, put his imprint on the seven member Politburo Standing Committee that runs China. Jinping and five other members of the Politburo are close allies of Jiang Zemin. Zemin was Mayor of Shanghai, China's business capital during the Koumintang pre war regime and now in the post war period. He made some of the reforms that led to China's entry into the World Trade Organization and its subsequent rise as a major trading nation. His support for Jinping gives the new president room for making political and economic changes that are needed in this period. The older members of the Politburo, most in the mid-60's, placed on the Politburo by Zemin are likely to be cautious and the outlook for change is uncertain.
Linked Articles
Xi Jinping Offers Few Hints of a Shift in Direction in China
New York Times 11/15/2012
Ex-Leader Wins in Beijing Power PlayWall Street Journal 11/16/2012
America's finest hour bringing a voice to the powerless (1)- ambassador Christopher Stevens in Libya and journalist John Foley in Iraq-Syria
09/15/2012
Linked Articles
In Fear and Violence, Slain U.S. Journalist Found Humanity
Wall Street Journal 08/21/2014
An American Ambassador Who Plunged Into Arab LifeNew York Times 09/15/2012
Lenovo's effort to increase smartphone sales in China and emerging markets
08/14/2012
Lenovo is positioning itself to become the dominant smartphone company in China, second only to Samsung. It is creating a brand presence in China's rural areas for PC's and mobile devices which is likely to further enhance sales. This effort extends to other emerging markets in Asia such as India and Indonesia. Other strategic decisions include bringing in more manufactuing in-house compared to competitors HP and others in the PC industry.
Linked Articles
Wall Street Journal 10/25/2012
HTC Beefs Up China Push as U.S., Europe LagWall Street Journal 08/14/2012
The slow response of Spain compared to the more aggressive aproach of France
07/18/2012
The contrast between Spain's lack of strong and quick action for its banking problems and France's aggressive approach to its debt problem. Spain's problems come from the housing bubble and bad loans in parts of the banking sector especially the cajas savings banks. The lack of strong and early action by bank supervisors at the central bank and the government to cleanup the banks created conditions requiring a bailout. The problems in France which did not experience a housing bubble were the result of slow growth, rising debt and deficits. France took an aggressive approach to tackle these problems, with shared sacrifices, and setting a goal of bringing the deficit down to 3% in 2013 with its 2013 budget.
Linked Articles
France's New Budget Focuses on Cutting Deficit
New York Times 09/28/2012
Spanish Official: Slow Reaction to CrisisWall Street Journal 07/18/2012
Acer, Lenovo and the trend to bring design of PC's in-house in a competitive market
07/09/2012
Lenovo is also bringing production in-house to build competitive advantage.
Linked Articles
Taiwan's PC Design Firms Brace for Change
Wall Street Journal 11/15/2012
As Rivals Outsource, Lenovo Keeps Production In-HouseWall Street Journal 07/09/2012
Germany's distorted national priorities- underinvestment in childcare centers and in wages for childcare and early education teachers
06/06/2012
Melissa Eddy of the NYT provides these two exceptional accounts of Germany's national priorities gone awry as the economic revival takes place in manufacturing, but leaves behind important areas such as early childhood education and child care centers. A lack of investment in the people who form the backbone of the educational system, is one of the forms of the distorted priorities. It may be recorded as the singular lapse of the Merkel administration in the last decade.
Linked Articles
German Child Care Workers’ Strike Brings Debate on Priorities
New York Times 06/05/2015
Germany Considers Subsidies for Non-State Child CareNew York Times 06/06/2012
Lenovo's focus on emerging markets and its in-house manufacturing help it gain second place in the PC industry worldwide 2012-2013
05/29/2012
Lenovo is emerging as China's global brand with a large presence in China and India, the two fastest growing markets.
Linked Articles
As Rivals Outsource, Lenovo Keeps Production In-House
Wall Street Journal 07/09/2012
PC Firm Lenovo Hunts For Brazil AcquisitionsWall Street Journal 05/29/2012
Sanford Weill of Citigroup, former U.S. Fed chairman Volcker, and other voices calling for breakup of the biggest banks
04/29/2012
Weill pushed hard to repeal the Glass Steagall Act. He now says the housing bubble and the financial crisis have proved that this was a mistake. He called for a breakup of the biggest banks on July 23, 2012, in comments to CNBC.
Linked Articles
Big-Bank Pioneer Now Seeks Breakup
Wall Street Journal 07/25/2012
Warren Stephens: How Big Banks Threaten Our EconomyWall Street Journal 04/29/2012
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