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Skepticism about the Federal Reserve's ability to catch financial bubbles and to take action.
01/04/2010
The Fed's credibility for acting against bubbles in the housing and stock markets has been hurt by recent experience.
Linked Articles
If the Fed Missed This Bubble, Will It See a New One?
New York Times 01/06/2010
Fed chief Bernanke urges better financial regulation to prevent crisesWashington Post 01/04/2010
Why the Obama health care law gets an "F" grade from the Dean of Harvard Medical School
11/18/2009
The failure to replace the "fee-for-service" system in favor of capitated payments is cited as one of the main reasons. The other reasons are it does not resolve the issues of introducing competition in quality of care and cost, and continues the practices that disguise the true cost of care with a highly fragmented system of care. In a op-ed, Jeffrey Flier, Dean of the Harvard Medical School, gives a detailed account for the reason for his grading. A poorly drafted or incomplete law says Flier can make things worse, citing the example of the health care law in Massachusetts which is driving up costs, as it does not change the old dysfunctional system's key features such as "fee-for service," and instead tries to build a new system on broken foundations. Pearlstein in the Washington Post says the Obama health care law has addressed the "fee-for-service" problem, but this is really not the case, and Flier's reasoning may be the clue to the deeper problem for the Obama health care law.
Linked Articles
Steven Pearlstein: Eat your broccoli, Justice Scalia - The Washington Post
Washington Post 04/01/2012
Health 'Debate' Deserves a Failing GradeWall Street Journal 11/18/2009
World Bank chief Zoellick on the global economy and how to prepare an effective long tem policy
10/02/2009
Zoellick sees the short term Stimulus and central bank monetary easing policies of 2008, as not appropriate to the long term problems of debt reduction and energy price volatility. He emphasizes the need for bridge financing for Spain and Italy though he accepts the German view that credit cannot be provided freely and reforms need to be undertaken. A partial euro bond solution is a step in the right direction.
Linked Articles
World Bank Chief Urges Euro Bonds
Wall Street Journal 05/31/2012
2010 Looks 'Highly Uncertain,' Zoellick SaysWall Street Journal 10/02/2009
The President's regulatory reform proposal in a 85 page white paper and his remarks at the White House
06/17/2009
Obama explains the reasons for the reforms and the decision to work within present structures.
Linked Articles
Obama’s Financial Reform Plan: The Condensed Version
Wall Street Journal 06/17/2009
Steven Pearlstein - Regulatory Reform That Falls Far Short of ItWashington Post 06/19/2009
Discussion between Goolsbee who favored lettting Chrysler go out of business and Summers who was concerned about the loss of jobs.
06/08/2009
Efforts by Jim Press and Chrysler to gain credibility with the government about its viability, by pushing slaes allottments to dealers. Jim Press did this even as inventory remained unsold on dealer lots. In the White House the debate between advisors was about a decision on Chrysler's future.
Linked Articles
Dealers Say They Were Led Astray in Chrysler's Final Days
Washington Post 06/16/2009
Obama’s Economic Circle Keeps Tensions SimmeringNew York Times 06/08/2009
What America can learn from the German example for government help to retrain workers and share costs to hire and retrain.
04/30/2009
The need for initiatives in this area are supercritical to handle the economic recovery correctly because of deepseated changes in the labor markets. In the absence of this high unemployment will coexist with millions of vacancies because of amismatch of qualifications. A lack of worker mobility. because of housing problems compounds this situation.
Linked Articles
Help Wanted: Why That Sign's Bad
BusinessWeek 04/30/2009
Learning Labor Market Lessons from GermanyBusinessWeek 04/30/2009
IMF Conditionality that ignored people in developing countries and exacerbated crises and the new G20 focus on social help and stimulus spending.
03/31/2009
The new G20 mandate for social help and stimulus spending makes official the new policy direction for the IMF. It and marks the end of old style conditions that worsened the living conditions of people in countries that accepted IMF help, and exacerbated crises. Which is why the very word IMF scares people in S.Korea and in Pakistan and in so many other places.
Linked Articles
Steven Pearlstein - A Rare Triumph of Substance at the Summit
Washington Post 04/03/2009
An Empowered IMF Faces Pivotal TestWall Street Journal 03/31/2009
"So am I", the President responds to special interests gearing up to thwart his plans to revamp the economy.
03/01/2009
My message to them, is this: "So am I", with that remark in his radio address Obama says he knows special interests are gearing up for a fight to prevent needed change in education oppportunities that otherwise would close the door on the middle class, on health care coverage that otherwise will leave in addition to the 46 million not covered an additional number of that magnitude uncovered as unemployment rises and insurance premiums become unaffordable, and on energy that leaves energy policy to oil and gas companies that have done little to promote conservation or new technologies to reduce demand amid mushrooming global demand.
Linked Articles
Obama Calls His Budget Needed Change
New York Times 03/01/2009
Liberal Groups Are Flexing New Muscle in Lobby WarsNew York Times 03/01/2009
Is this wasteful government spending or are there infrastructure projects out there that would give us efficient, productive spending?
02/15/2009
With spending in the Stimulus plan derided as wasteful spending a closer look is needed of what is happening in infrastucture projects out there. Here are some big projects, and the list does not include numerous others. Robert Frank, a Cornell economist, clarifies how government spending in a sharp downturn, as consumers rebuild their finances, is just what is needed.
Linked Articles
Big Ideas, Grand Plans, Modest Budgets
New York Times 02/15/2009
Go Ahead and Save. Let the Government Spend.New York Times 02/15/2009
Are the old faces that got the USA and Europe into this financial crisis, now the new faces trying to fix it?
01/15/2009
Schapiro and Khuzami, the new faces at the SEC as chief and enforcement director, are the old faces at FINRA which took ahands off view of self regulation of the financial industry and the old faces at Deuteche BAnk as inhouse lawyer. Sir James Crosby, the head of HBOS bank in the UK which needed $17 billion f government money in 2008, was made Deputy chairman of the Financial Services Authority in 2006, Britain's main regulator. He reisgned hours before a stormy session in the House of Commons which embarrassed Prime Minister Brown after some revelations about Crosby,s role in the mess.
Linked Articles
Obama's Pick to Head SEC Has Record Of Being a Regulator With a Light Touch
Wall Street Journal 01/15/2009
British Regulator Quits as Accusations Mount in Banking CrisisNew York Times 02/12/2009
The untold story of civilians caught in the crossfire in the wars in places like Gaza and Afganistan that have lasted decades.
12/25/2008
A physiotherapist from Turin, Italy, who runs the Red Cross Rehabilitation Center in Afghanistan, and a wounded surgeon who loses his wife and child in the cross fire between militants and Israelis in Gaza City, both have an untold story of civilians in both places.
Linked Articles
A Foreign Face Beloved by Afghans of All Stripes
New York Times 12/25/2008
Despair and a Defiant Smile in a Gaza HospitalNew York Times 01/09/2009
Detroit News and Free press columnists Tom Walsh and Daniel Howes say its time Detroit gets things right.
12/20/2008
The jobs of suppliers, dealers, bondholders, managers, board members, union officials are all on the line say Walsh and Howes if they can't get their act together and move quickly. There just isn't the time to kick the proverbial can down the road says Howes, and their is bailout fatigue say Walsh and Howes so dates coming up February 17 for debt restructuring and March 31 must be met quickly with action that is convincing. It will be a tough act and its not clear that old management and union officials can measure up to the task ahead from what has been seen over the years according to the columnists.
Linked Articles
Commentary: Forging new path will be rough road for Detroit automakers
Detroit News 12/20/2008
Long Days Journey to Deal for AutomakersDetroit Free Press 12/21/2008
The shortsigtedness of Detroit automakers union and management.
12/05/2008
Both the automakers unions and management lacked the vision and courage to break totally with the status quo. The unions in hanging onto higher medical benefits and the management onto their higher compensation, and the management failing to shift to higher fuel efficiency standards comparable to competitors in Europe as mandated by the EU. In the process they stand to lose the higher medical benefits, and the higher compensation under government oversight as condition for loans, and along with that the jobs of unions and of management as well as the huge downsizing occurs in 2009.
Linked Articles
New York Times 12/05/2008
Toyota delays new Prius plantDetroit News 12/16/2008
Hatoyama fails to implement his vision for Japan.
12/23/2009
Perceived as indecisive over issues related to cutting wasteful spending and reducing the deficit, and the shift of an American base out of Okinawa, Hatoyama's popularity drops to 25%. He resigns (teary- eyed) after only 8 months in office. It shows how difficult it has become to find aleader since Mr Koizumi left office.
Linked Articles
Japanâs Premier Will Quit as Approval Plummets
New York Times 06/01/2010
Harsh Realities Stand in the Way of a Leader’s Vision of a New JapanNew York Times 12/23/2009
David Rieff provides insights on why all developing countries, Mexico, Brazil, India, Indonesia and China need to take child malnutrition seriously
10/11/2009
The Indian lower house of parliament passed a Food Security bill in August 2013. Rieff says China made serious progress to reduce malnutrition from over 21% for children under 5 years to around 7% today after 1990. In India malnutrition for children under 5 years is above 40%. There is a lot that developing coutnries can learn from each other in this area including the Bolsa Familia program in Brazil which uses the concept of improving vaccination for children and school attendance as requirements for subsidy payments to the poor. Mexico and Indonesia have different versions of programs to help the poorer sections of society. The problem is acute in India because of indifference induced by caste and other considerations and the high level of malnutrition for children. Rief says how good is ademographic dividend when many of these children are permanently and silently impaired by malnutrition by the age of three. India's Congress party leader, Sonia Gandhi, put it differently in parliament: "What is our responsibility to these people?"
Linked Articles
New York Times 10/11/2009
India's Lower House Passes Food Bill to Help PoorWall Street Journal 08/26/2013
U.S. president Obama, lobbyists and the 2010 Obama health care law
07/24/2009
The political process and the influence of lobbyists on Congress and the White House constrains the development of laws that control healthcare costs. Higher health care costs means less money for infrastructure development, education, research and development funding, and other priorities which build a future for Americans.
Linked Articles
E-Mails Highlight Extent of Obama's Deal With Industry on Health Care
New York Times 06/08/2012
Obama's Health Expert Gets PoliticalWall Street Journal 07/24/2009
The Economist cites IMF economist estimates that the public debt of the 10 largest industrialized countries will jump from 78% to 114% of GDP by 2014, leading to higher interest rates and inflation.
06/11/2009
The rising public debt and its unsustainability is what the future holds. For governments and decisionmakers there are very difficult choices, as fiscaly austerity and premature fiscal tightening or raising interest ratescan choke off a recovery. Raising taxes as happened earlier in Japan's lost decade also can choke off a recovery. Seriously tacklig health care costs and raising the retirement age, are much needed steps.
Linked Articles
Get Ready for Inflation and Higher Interest Rates
Wall Street Journal 06/11/2009
The biggest bill in historyEconomist 06/11/2009
S. Korea's second household debt binge in the 15 years since the 1997 financial crisis
05/18/2009
The first period of rising household debt ocurred with the credit card boom when the government promoted consumer spending as a way to stimulate the economy. By 2003 this became a serous problem and the government rescued a credit card issuer in 2003. Household debt is again a major problem in 2012 with the increasing number of companies in financial lending that are not regulated.
Linked Articles
Notes From Another Credit Card Crisis
New York Times 05/18/2009
S. Korea tries to curb mounting debt and avert a crisis - The Washington PostWashington Post 07/09/2012
With American households working down debt of 130% of disposable income a consumer led recovery is unlikely.
04/23/2009
The debt load for American households is close to the total output of the American economy in 2008. The disappearance of easy credit, the rising unemployment, and reduced hours of work, and lower or stagnant wage levels, are serious constraints to consumer spending.
Linked Articles
Economist 04/23/2009
On Borrowed Time: Consumer-Led RecoveryWall Street Journal 06/10/2009
To just be where America was in 1999, household debt has to drop 30%!
03/11/2009
The movement among Americans like Mr Bailey in Boise, Idaho, to get debt free, is going to be as big a factor as the toxic assets at banks, and foreclosuresin housing, in the fundamental changes that are going on in the economy that will last for years, decades. These are conservative lending, government lending to make up, savings, less consumption and scrapping or sale of unneeded factory capacity (plant) to developing countries.
Linked Articles
Deleveraging: It's Not Over Till It's Over
Wall Street Journal 03/11/2009
Frugality Forged in Today's Recession Has Potential to Outlast ItWall Street Journal 04/06/2009
Politicians who deride "mere spending programs" may have not got it right.
02/15/2009
Republicans in the House, with every single one voting against the Stimulus bill, have derided government spending as wasteful and unnecessary. The impact on the deficit makes it look sensible. However on closer examination Robert Frank, a Cornell economist, points out that in some situtations like this government spending can be not wasteful but productive and efficient, and necessary.
Linked Articles
Go Ahead and Save. Let the Government Spend.
New York Times 02/15/2009
In Gingrich Mold, a New Voice for Solid Resistance in G.O.P.New York Times 02/15/2009
The New York Times Company struggles with debt payments after years of overborrowing.
01/20/2009
Its not clear that the $250 million investment at 14% interest by Carlos Slim of Mexico will be enough as much of the repayment of debt of $1.1 billion comes due in the next couple of years.
Linked Articles
These Times Demand Tough Action
Wall Street Journal 01/20/2009
Billionaire Reaches Deal On Funding For Times Co.Wall Street Journal 01/20/2009
The euro currency area and the situation in Spain, Italy and Britain.
12/30/2008
How being in the euro currency is on balance a good thing for Italy, being outside good for Britain given its asymmetric shock, and being inside complicates things in Spain which had an outsize boom in construction.
Linked Articles
Economist 12/30/2008
Longer dole queuesEconomist 12/30/2008
What the best way to get results for the stimulus, the view of state governors, and of green project advocates.
12/24/2008
Views of state governors and green advocates on how best to attack the problem raised for stimulus spending that would work to meet short term job goals and longer term goals for energy and transportation to meet sustainability criteria and design better ways to live and work.
Linked Articles
For Stimulus Plan, Obama Team Weighing 'Green' Jobs vs. Traditional Projects
Washington Post 12/24/2008
Jon S. Corzine - A Bold Stimulus Package -- $1 Trillion Bold -- Is NeededWashington Post 12/24/2008
The Obama Economic Action Plan and what neuroscence tells us about fear in financial markets and business.
12/07/2008
The Obama economic action plan with large investments in infrastructure and green energy and in education and national competitiveness, and what neuroscience tells us about the part fear plays in making financial institutions and business not play the role they are otherwise able to play inleading economic activity.
Linked Articles
In Hard Times, Fear Can Impair Decision-Making
New York Times 12/07/2008
Obama Pledges Public Works on a Vast ScaleNew York Times 12/07/2008
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