The crisis in the Ukraine will likely end with Russia permanently controlling the Crimea, with the remainder of the country more tightly in its orbit than anticipated a few weeks ago. This is easy to attribute to Vladimir Putin’s appetite
On Friday, the Labor Department is expected to report the economy added 150,000 jobs in February. This is less than half the pace needed to lower unemployment to an acceptable level, and President Obama’s budget promises little relief. Unemployment could
Bitcoin believers were shaken to their digital souls when Mt. Gox, the world’s largest exchange, defaulted on $470 million worth of deposits and closed. The virtual currency was supposed to provide a safer, more private, and less costly alternative to
Bitcoin believers were shaken to their digital souls when Mt. Gox, the world’s largest exchange, defaulted on $470 million worth of deposits and closed. The virtual currency was supposed to provide a safer, more private, and less costly alternative to
Americans desperately want a fairer tax system and relief from arbitrary treatment by the IRS. True reform requires simply junking the personal and corporate income taxes in favor of a consumption tax. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp
President Obama and many of the nation’s top economists entered 2014 predicting a breakout year for the economic recovery. However, troubles in the housing sector indicate more difficulties and several more years of mediocre growth lie ahead. Residential construction only
President Obama is putting the finishing touches on his budget message to Congress. According to press reports, it would be criminal if it wasn’t so comical! The president will drop from previous proposals any effort to curb the rapidly escalating
The recent Congressional Budget Office Report confirms raising the minimum wage in line with inflation to $8.25 is the best course. It would likely not create much additional unemployment, still put billions of dollars in the pockets of the working
The January freeze and crippling storms gripping the eastern United States and upper Midwest are having significant impacts on normal life and commerce. Gauging its ultimate impact on the national economy–still affected by a nagging hangover from the Great Recession–is
President Obama is dividing America into two nations–one rich, the other increasingly poor, and both more likely to elect Democrats. Americans growing richer support his policies, and those growing poorer are increasingly dependent on Democratic politicians for government handouts. In
The economy created only 113,000 jobs in January, up from 75,000 in December. Colder than normal weather was a factor, but that does not explain two consecutive months of poor performance. These sad results are consistent with a broadly underperforming economy.
On Friday, economists expect the Labor Department to report the economy added 181,000 jobs in January, up from the disappointing 74,000 scored in December. That’s about half the pace needed to bring unemployment down to acceptable levels and motivate the
President Obama has put his political fortunes above the least among us by badgering Republicans in Congress to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour. In 1938, Congress first established the federal minimum and has periodically raised it to
Promising to address inequality and strengthen the middle class, President Obama’s State of the Union combined sound and foolish proposals, laced with good old fashioned demagoguery. Despite nearly five years of economic recovery, the fortunes of working Americans have decidedly
President Obama, dogged by the bungled rollout of the Affordable Care Act and a slow economic recovery, is declaring war on inequality. An age-old problem made worse by his policies, he offers more opiates–like raising the minimum wage–that fail to
Inequality is President Obama’s highest priority, but his solutions are wholly naive. Disparities between rich and poor are as ancient as civilization, but in modern democracies, this condition is exacerbated by globalization and technologies that drive it. Successive advances in
The World Economic Forum has identified income equality as the most likely threat to the global economy. Here are some notes on the issue, and I would welcome interviews on the subject. Income inequality is a terribly complex issue, and for
Inequality is replacing the American dream, because the U.S. economy–thanks to Washington’s mismanagement–is underperforming. America still produces one fifth of the world’s goods and services, but accounts for a much smaller share of global growth. Many U.S. products are no
The economy created only 74,000 jobs in December, well below the 2013 average of 188,000. The Labor Department report indicates stronger growth for the coming year predicted by many economists may not materialize. Growth slipped to 1.9 percent last year, thanks
Reinstating emergency unemployment benefits, as President Obama urges, would slow growth and impose unconscionable burdens on the working poor. State governments provide a basic benefit, averaging $300 per week for 26 weeks. During the Great Recession, Washington financed additional benefits
On Tuesday, the Commerce Department is expected to report the deficit on international trade in goods and services was $40.0 billion in November, up from $24.9 billion when the economic recovery began. The Obama Administration’s ill-conceived energy policies and appeasement
The U.S. economy is gaining strength, but the ObamaCare train wreck, festering problems in far away China, and uncertain leadership at the Federal Reserve could derail the recovery. No small courage will be required for good sense to finally restore
Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, President Obama has lost credibility as a leader and effective executive with most Americans. A good CEO must work within the strengths and limitations of his organization–then execute effectively to deliver on the promises
D-Day arrived for ObamaCare Saturday and began with an 11 hour shutdown of Healthcare.gov–the problem plagued website intended to provide easy access to affordable insurance for millions of Americans. The contraption is functioning better but is still terribly inadequate. It
The Labor Department reported the economy created 204,000 jobs in October after adding 163,000 jobs the prior month. This is much better than was expected but still well below what is needed to bring unemployment down to acceptable levels.
