6 July 2012
With US unemployment still above 8 percent, jobs have become a major focus in the presidential campaign. But, while President Barack Obama’s proposals are convincing, none of Mitt Romney’s would do much in the near term – and some could prove counterproductive.
29 June 2012
The U.S.’s recovery from the 2008 financial crisis has led to widespread hope that America has the capacity to stay the course and provide a backstop for the rest of the world in the midst of the euro crisis. But a closer analysis of America’s recent economic growth suggests that the economy may be even more vulnerable to foreign crises than before.
11 June 2012
Growing inequality in the U.S. is not only killing the economy, but it threatens to undermine the nation’s values and identity. America today can no longer regard itself as the land of opportunity that it once was, with equality of opportunity less evident than in Europe.
8 June 2012
Though six factors now suggest that US economy is slowly and steadily healing, a lot more needs to happen – indeed, urgently – to restore America's traditional vigour and vitality.
NEWPORT BEACH – Six internal factors suggest that the United States’ economy is slowly healing. For some observers, these factors were deemed sufficient to form the critical mass needed to propel the economy into escape velocity.
4 June 2012
The US Defense Department consumes more energy than any other department or sector in the country, spending around $20 billion annually by some estimates; but ambitious plans to make it the nation's green leader have been swept under the rug over budgetary concerns that smack of campaign politics.
10 May 2012
Ben Bernanke is a marked man. Ever since he was appointed as the Chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve in 2006, Bernanke has been a constant target for criticism – with some progressive economists now blaming him for not doing enough for the economy. But while the man is not without flaw, Bernanke has actually gone further than any other central banker in recent times in attempting to stimulate the economy through monetary policy.
28 March 2012
Having reduced the risk of a relapse into recession, the US economy is now able to move on its own power, albeit gingerly. Consequently, the question on most people’s minds today is whether the US economy is ready not just to walk, but also to run and sprint. But the US faces a new problem: that the sense of relief now can – and probably will – be taken too far.
18 January 2012
Recent favourable macroeconomic data has suggested that the US economy could be back on track. But the recent uplift in the economy only hides more fundamental problems, and the US still remains in the early stages of a deleveraging cycle.
NEW YORK – Macroeconomic indicators for the United States have been better than expected for the last few months. Job creation has picked up. Indicators for manufacturing and services have improved moderately. Even the housing industry has shown some signs of life. And consumption growth has been relatively resilient.
28 December 2011
An economy is simply an accumulation of transactions involving goods and services, mostly carried out by business enterprises. Their behaviour is what matters, and this can be adequately perceived only on the ground, where the behaviour occurs – where an economy is built, where it breaks, and where it must be fixed.
MONTREAL – Much commentary about the American economy nowadays leaves the impression that economists should fix its problems. But Washington is teeming with smart economists, and the problems remain.
9 September 2011
The events of September 11 2001 forever altered the course of human history. Till today, Americans continue to bear the bulk of the cost for the tragedy – both economically and socially. However in the aftermath of 9/11, it has been disheartening to note that a large portion of the cost could have been avoided.