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The US Cost of Living Crisis 2023-2025
02/24/2025
Cost of Living Crisis and huge gaps in income and wealth between the top 20 percent and the bottom 80 percent aggravate standards of living in America in a way not seen since the Second World War. About 45% increase in prices on cars, used cars, car repairs, housing rentals and groceries, in many household expenses, since 2019. Incomes of workers not having kept up with this kind of spiralling inflation. This is upending the social compact and leading to loss of faith in governments in the US and Europe. Change in governments in UK, France, Germany, and the US and a sense of unease among people.
Grouped Articles
Even Disney Is Worried About the High Cost of a Disney Vacation
WSJ 02/09/2025
Trump plan to end tax on Social Security benefits is a fatal mistake
08/17/2024
Senator Larson says it is a fatal mistake as lost revenue is not made up leading to a Medicare insolvency in 2031, and Social Security insolvency in 2033. Social security benefits will then by law will be cut in 2033 by 25%, a dangerous step tragic for many on Social Security who are pushed into poverty.
Grouped Articles
CNBC 08/17/2024
Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget 08/17/2024
Trump wants to cut income taxes on Social Security. Here's how that would impact your benefits.
CBS News 08/17/2024
Putin and Russia's shift in Ukraine policy with the impact of capital flight, western sanctions and a sharp slowdown in the economy by July 2014
07/11/2014
Polls show 66% of the Russian public opposes Russian forces going into Ukrainian territory. The rhetoric on Russian television has been toned down and Russian analysts say intervention in Ukraine would have dangerous consequences for Russia, that Russia needs to maintain its relations with the West. At the same time Putin will attend a summit of BRIC's leaders in Fortaleza, Brazil, with plans to set up a development bank, as the focus shifts back to the economy. Russia is expected to feel the impact of $75 billion in capital flight in the first half of 2014.
Grouped Articles
Seeing Cost of Saber Rattling in Ukraine, Putin Alters Course
New York Times 07/11/2014
U.S. Escalates Sanctions Against Russia Over Ukraine Crisis
Wall Street Journal 07/17/2014
Raising Stakes on Russia, U.S. Adds Sanctions
New York Times 07/16/2014
Putinism Thrives on Dirty Money
Wall Street Journal 07/22/2014
Wall Street Journal 07/22/2014
Coordinated Sanctions Aim at Russia’s Ability to Tap Its Oil Reserves
New York Times 07/29/2014
Wal-Mart Clothing.
07/28/2010
Wal-Mart's efforts to come up with an effective strategy for clothing sales.
Grouped Articles
A Fashion Identity Crisis at Wal-Mart
Wall Street Journal 07/28/2010
Wal-Mart Executive Aims to Accelerate Growth Overseas
Wall Street Journal 06/27/2011
Andy Grove and the scaling up at home that American companies need to do.
05/29/2010
Andy Grove brushes off talk of sending technologies and jobs much needed at home to China, with the talk he hears of "a China strategy." He doesn't see how an America with high paying jobs and mass of unemployed could work. He says American companies have failed to scale up, the way Intel did in the seventies. For every Apple employee there are 10 employees in China working on Mac's, Iphones, and Ipads. The idea of manufacturing as not important is misguided and he would like to see America rebuild its industrial base.
Grouped Articles
Wall Street Journal 05/29/2010
Wall Street Journal 10/02/2010
Apple Says App Store Sales Rose 50% in 2014
Wall Street Journal 01/09/2015
After Michigan Loss, Hillary Clinton Sharpens Message on Jobs and Trade
New York Times 03/09/2016
Andy Grove: How America Can Create Jobs
BusinessWeek 07/01/2010
Yuan Revaluation for China's Own Sake
Wall Street Journal 10/02/2010
Roubini on China, currency issues, and domestic consumption in China.
05/17/2010
By letting the yuan China can shift the benefits to households, who will have more purchasing power, and reverse the shift that has taken place in the last 10 years, with domestic consumption making up about 36% of GDP- down by about 10 points from ten years earlier. State owned companies gained at the expense of households, as did infrastructure spending, but it is leading to misallocation of investments and hurting households. As a result China will hit a growth wall in the next 2-3 years, says Roubini.
Grouped Articles
Wall Street Journal 10/04/2011
Europeâs Debt Crisis Is Casting a Shadow Over China
New York Times 05/17/2010
An Accord (and Lessons) to Remember
Wall Street Journal 09/21/2010
New York Times 09/30/2010
Yuan Revaluation for China's Own Sake
Wall Street Journal 10/02/2010
New York Times 09/25/2010
France's drive-up grocery venture.
01/14/2010
Grouped Articles
Instacart’s Bet on Online Grocery Shopping
New York Times 04/29/2015
In France, a Drive-Up Grocery Takes Off
Wall Street Journal 01/14/2010
Analysis by The Economist and other expert opinion in 2010 of the economic prospects for Europe and the U.S.
01/11/2010
The Economist looks at the near term trends- unemployment not down as much in Britain in August and consumer spending holding up in Britain- as evidence a recovery is looming. And it cites the Suppy Managment Index up slightly in the US. Most other experts see a difficult situation in 2011 as the stimulus fades and local governments cut back- economists such as Stiglitz, Shiller, Krugman, Feldstein and others, and businessmen like Malone.
Grouped Articles
Brazil's north-east: Catching up in a hurry
Economist 05/21/2011
Wall Street Journal 04/26/2015
The world economy: The odd decouple
Economist 09/04/2010
The U.S. Economy: Stuck in Neutral
BusinessWeek 10/14/2010
BusinessWeek 10/14/2010
America's economy: Not by monetary policy alone
Economist 10/28/2010
The state attorneys general in the U.S. and the subprime lending and foreclosure crises and mortgage settlements.
12/08/2009
Federal regulators and the Bush and Obama administrations failed miserably to help homeowners achieve loan modifications. This with the false belief that putting homeowners out of their homes would actually speed up a recovery, considering the huge scale of foreclosures in the USA , the high unemployment and other problems hitting the economy. Feldstein's consistent arguments for homeowner relief throughout 2008 and 2009- considering the large number of homeowners under water- as the mortgage crisis unfolded, were ignored by the Bush and Obama administrations. See the comparisons to Japan's lost decade, as the lack of recovery in housing adds to problems with job losses. The lawsuits, legal action and mortgage settlements facing banks as they make their way through the mortgage mess.
Grouped Articles
A Toxic Subprime Mortgage Bond's Legacy Lives On
Wall Street Journal 09/13/2013
Wall Street Journal 12/31/2013
Fannieâs and Freddieâs Foreclosure Oversight Questioned
New York Times 10/19/2010
Banks Keep their Mortgage Litigation Reserves a Secret
New York Times 01/16/2014
The Case Against the Bernanke-Obama Financial Rescue
New York Times 05/16/2014
BP’s Cuts May Wound Portfolio Recovery
Wall Street Journal 02/04/2015
India- lack of transparency and fairness in auctions of telecommunications bandwidths.
04/10/2009
2008 auctions were rigged according to the Auditor-General's report. The loss to the governmet of $38 billion. The department of Telecommunications is described as failing miserably to do the due diligence. Adds to the general sense of corruption in the handling of governmental affairs.
Grouped Articles
Indian PM slams anti-corruption activist as protests over arrest spread - The Washington Post
Washington Post 08/17/2011
Indian Parliament Passes Bill Forming Anticorruption Agency
New York Times 12/18/2013
Corruption Mars Image of Change in India Elections
Wall Street Journal 04/10/2009
China Slips in Corruption Perceptions Report
New York Times 12/02/2014
Upstart Party Scores Victory in India State Elections
Wall Street Journal 02/11/2015
India Auction for Cellphone Spectrum Was Rigged, Report Says
New York Times 11/16/2010
How debt can suddenly sink firms as business swings lead to a drying up of business.
10/14/2008
It can happen to GM and Chrysler, and a near miss for Ford and Morgan Stanley. Goldman Sachs is only pretending that it did not have a near miss after Lehman's collapse. The same can happen to an architectural firm Yamasaki as corporate real estate market collapses in 2009. The volatility and nervousness in financial markets in 2008 that shut companies out of credit markets and led to the government led auto industry bailout with planned bankruptcy filings.
Grouped Articles
A Warning Light to Alert the I.M.F.
New York Times 09/21/2011
After a Financial Flood, Pipes Are Still Broken
New York Times 09/14/2013
Morgan Stanley Memo by John Mack
Wall Street Journal 10/14/2008
Anatomy of the Morgan Stanley Panic
Wall Street Journal 11/24/2008
Wall Street Journal 03/14/2009
Morgan Stanley Comes Up Golden
Wall Street Journal 07/22/2011
Martin Feldstein on the risks for the American Economy after failures in the Obama Economic plan.
09/12/2007
Failures to address problems on the housing front, especialy the problems for 15 million homeowners under water- see the links to opeds by Feldstein suggesting focus on these issues throughout 2008-2009. And the focus on health care which diverted attention from this problem and the problem facing bad loans in commercial real estate. Other problems are failure to get bank lending up for businesses. And the failure of Obama health care plans to control the increase in the nation's surging health care spending, instead increasing the deficit to unsustainable levels. Public sentiment as shown in WSJ/NBC polls confirm Feldstein's sense of the situation.
Grouped Articles
New York Times 12/08/2013
From President Obama, Economic Clarity but Little Courage
Washington Post 04/15/2009
Wall Street Journal 09/12/2007
How to Stop the Mortgage Crisis
Wall Street Journal 03/07/2008
Wall Street Journal 02/20/2008
Enough With the Interest Rate Cuts
Wall Street Journal 04/15/2008
Why cost of living is destroying the social compact in the US and Europe and upending governments in 2024-2025
02/24/2025
Used car prices are up 45% since 2019 putting used cars at average price $28000. It is not a discretionary cost, one needs a car to get to work in the US. There are cases of young people not able to pay soaring repair costs quitting work without transport. This is why there was so much discontent in 2024 after supply shocks and price gouging pushed up prices in 2024. Another factor evident in airline ticket pricing was demand and the excess income of the top 20 percent. In housing and apartment rentals supply shortages pushed up prices, demand and excess income of the top 20-30 percent pushed up prices beyond the reach of the rest, higher interest rates made it unaffordable to buy a home for most Americans.
Grouped Articles
Why There Is No Relief Ahead for High Used-Car Prices
WSJ 02/15/25
The U.S. Economy Depends More Than Ever on Rich People
WSJ 02/24/25
Hacking into U.S. databases by Russia and the U.S. presidential election of 2016
10/11/2016
Intrusion into U.S. databases by Russia seen as an effort to influence the U.S. election process. In 2014 cyber security issues with China were brought up in meetings between president Obama and China's president Jinping, and efforts made to reach an agreement to prevent recurrence.
Grouped Articles
Why the US fears Russia is hacking its presidential election - BBC News
BBC News 10/11/16
The Washington Post - Breaking news and latest headlines, U.S. news, world news, and video
The Washington Post
Senate and House Leaders Call for Inquiry of Russian Hacking in Election
The New York Times 12/12/16
C.I.A. Judgment on Russia Built on Swell of Evidence
The New York Times 12/12/16
Russian Hackers and American Hacks
WSJ 12/11/16
Donald Trump Chooses Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State
WSJ 12/13/16
Japanese companies coming up with lower priced products for local and Asian markets.
08/05/2010
Grouped Articles
The New Japanese Way: Downmarket
Wall Street Journal 08/05/10
Wall Street Journal 03/01/11
Wall Street Journal 04/09/12
The Afghanistan war in mid to late 2010.
06/02/2010
Some successes in counterinsurgency do not make up for the lack of an alternative in governance that wins credibility in Afghanistan, among the people.
Grouped Articles
Strategy vs. Tactics in Afghanistan
Wall Street Journal 06/02/10
Official Admits Militancyâs Deep Roots in Pakistan
New York Times 06/02/10
McChrystal article renews attention to split with Biden over Afghanistan
Washington Post 06/23/10
McChrystalâs Fate in Limbo as He Prepares to Meet Obama
New York Times 06/23/10
The Fury of a General, Released by Nature
New York Times 06/22/10
Sharp Words Expose Rift Over War Policy
Wall Street Journal 06/21/10
The Japanese economy and the rising yen in 2010-2012
05/27/2010
The yen reached 86 yen to the dollar by August 2010. Chinese government accumulation of Japanese bonds was amajor factor in the yen's rise in 2010. By August 2011 the yen experienced a new surge going up to 78 yen to the U.S. dollar resulting in intervention by the Bank of Japan in currency markets. Investor flight to safe havens such as the Swiss Franc and the Japanese yen with the debt crisis in the U.S. and the Eurozone. The impact on export markets. The newly elected LDP government of Shinzo took strong action to reverse this and improve export competitiveness in 2013.
Grouped Articles
Japan's Yen Rises Above War Jitters, Deflation
BusinessWeek 05/27/10
Japan Faces Uphill Battle in Curbing Yen's Rise
Wall Street Journal 08/04/10
Behind Japan's Allure: Stagnancy
Wall Street Journal 08/24/10
Electric Cars Make Japan's Gas Engine Industry Anxious
New York Times 11/02/10
Japanese manufacturers: Leaving home
Economist 11/20/10
Nissan to 'Significantly' Reduce Japan Exports
Wall Street Journal 02/01/11
Robert Gordon and other experts on the economic growth prospects for 2010 and into 2011.
04/30/2010
Gordon sees a weakening in growth from the 3.24% growth in 1st quarter 2010 (BEA numbers) as exports are not holding up and state and local government spending is deteriorating rapidly. The inventory change numbers which were signifcant this quarter as businesses replaced equipment and IT, will be winding down in size.
Grouped Articles
At Least 50 of Cityâs Senior Centers Expected to Close to Save Money
New York Times 04/30/10
Business Spending Propels Recovery
Wall Street Journal 05/01/10
Guest Contribution: Gordon Outlines Pessimist, Optimist Takes on GDP
Wall Street Journal 04/30/10
Economists React: GDP Indicates Road Ahead Still Bumpy
Wall Street Journal 04/30/10
Real Disposable Income: Bad News for Democrats?
BusinessWeek 06/03/10
Wall Street Journal 06/12/10
Drive-Up Grocery stores.
01/14/2010
Grouped Articles
Instacart’s Bet on Online Grocery Shopping
New York Times 04/29/15
In France, a Drive-Up Grocery Takes Off
Wall Street Journal 01/14/10
Grocers Feel Chill From Millennials
WSJ 10/27/16
U.S. and China- Trade Wars.
12/30/2009
American action against products from China that are dumped on the U.S. market. The unervalued Chinese currency and subsidized exports.
Grouped Articles
Wall Street Journal 10/04/11
Economist 03/31/10
Europeâs Debt Crisis Is Casting a Shadow Over China
New York Times 05/17/10
How China Lost Its Mojo: One Town's Story
Wall Street Journal 09/16/13
An Accord (and Lessons) to Remember
Wall Street Journal 09/21/10
US-China trade relations: Speak less softly, carry a stick
Economist 09/25/10
The "Melt Up" U.S. stock market rally of late 2009 and its prospects.
06/06/2009
Farzad of BW says economic fundamentals don't justify the rally so it could fizzle out at any time in 2010 or 2011.
Grouped Articles
Number of the Week: Volatile August for Stocks
Wall Street Journal 09/03/11
Wall Street's Clearance Sale Leaves Few Bargains
Wall Street Journal 06/06/09
Behind the Great Stock Rally of 2009
BusinessWeek 11/24/09
Beware the Crisis around the corner
Financial Times 01/04/10
New York Times 01/04/10
U.S. Data Offer an Uncertain Compass
Wall Street Journal 01/04/10
Fragility of social cohesion in the U.S. with unemployment concentrated in the lower middle and working classes.
03/11/2009
Figures from the Center of Labor Market Studies of Northeastern University in Boston showing unemployment of 9% in the $40,000 to $50,000 annual household income group and going up to 31% at the lowest income group. Higher inequality as differences in education between lower income and higher income Americans grows. The problem of the long term unemployed is a serious one.
Grouped Articles
Wall Street Journal 09/14/11
Japan Is a Model Not a Cautionary Tale
New York Times 06/09/13
New York Times 06/22/13
OECD report cites rising income inequality - The Washington Post
Washington Post 12/06/11
U.S. Schools Chief Arne Duncan Labors to Straddle Political Divide
Wall Street Journal 07/22/13
The Great Stagnation in American Education
New York Times 09/07/13
China's difficult political-economic choices in the post 2010 period.
01/06/2008
The difficult choices in the new environment- transition to a new leadership, how to change the export model without serious disruptions, how to deal with western demands for balanced global growth, dealing with the inequality and corruption generated in the kind of growth China experienced (by the fiat of the State), opening up freedom of expression to curb corruption and to provide representation for hitherto blocked out voices, transition to freedom of expression and democratic processes without serious disruption to thegrowth needed for employment and improvements in the standard of living across all parts of society and regions, reducing or channelling to constructive ends prevailing nationalistic, anti-western or anti-Japanese sentiment. The new leadership of Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang is expected to be more outward looking than than of Hu Jintao and Wen Biao and comes at atime when China needs to make some difficult choices about future direction.
Grouped Articles
Wall Street Journal 07/01/13
The Slowing of Two Economic Giants
New York Times 07/14/13
Wall Street Journal 07/15/13
How China Lost Its Mojo: One Town's Story
Wall Street Journal 09/16/13
Chinaâs Economy, Back on Track
New York Times 10/04/13
Xia Yeliang: The China Americans Don't See
Wall Street Journal 10/26/13
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