Great Graphic - US Debt

NYTIMES has a neat graphical summation of the debt issues facing the US:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/07/28/us/charting-the-american-debt-crisis.html

Inanimate to Animate

Related article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/28/science/28life.html

Economic Tidbits

The Economist’s improved Big Mac index suggests that the Yuan exchange rate may be nearing fair value

http://www.economist.com/blogs/dailychart/2011/07/big-mac-index

The Oligopolistic World of Rating Agencies

http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/content/eyes-on-rating-agencies

Europe vs. USA

http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/28/which-is-in-worse-shape-u-s-or-europe

US Job Market

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904772304576468820582615858.html

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/07/4-million-lost-here-are-the-workers-consumers-cant-rescue/242571/

‘India’s Way’ Series

NYTIMES series of articles on the Indian Economy:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/27/world/asia/27tycoon.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/09/world/asia/09gurgaon.html

Krugman vs. Brooks - Debt Ceiling Debate

Here is an interesting debate on the Charlie Rose show regarding US fiscal policy:
http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/11804

On the Indian Economy

India Looks to Liberalize Retail Sector

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903554904576462312556497014.html

India’s Hotel Sector

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903461104576461161913589794.html

Growth of Mobile Banking in India

http://blogs.ft.com/beyond-brics/2011/07/20/indian-banking-goodbye-branches-hello-mobiles/#axzz1Sw1ilGn6

Economic Reforms – Stalled?

http://www.economist.com/node/18986387

International Affairs Update

Germany looks east (Eastern Europe and East Asia) for economic solace

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/19/business/global/Germany-Europes-Powerhouse-Drifts-East.html

Tough Choices Facing Policymakers in US and Europe

http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/elerian7/English

Why Free Trade Matters

http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/bhagwati/2011/06/23/why-free-trade-matters/

Secretary Clinton’s speech in Chennai

http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2011/07/168840.htm

A truly thought-provoking piece on South Asia in the WSJ

Poor Market Design, Regional Monopolies and the African Cotton Market

Bloomberg has an excellent (and rather depressing) case study of poorly designed cotton markets in Africa. The farmers – the producers – appear to have the least amount of influence in the entire African cotton market edifice.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-19/booming-cotton-no-boon-to-farmers-in-africa-milked-by-regional-monopolies.html

Water, Water ...

Water, water, everywhere,


And all the boards did shrink.


Water, water everywhere,


Nor any drop to drink.

- 
"The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (1798)

Water supply shortage in China, India and other parts of the world is likely to be amongst the most important geo-political issues of the 21^st century.

http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/content/water-challenges-asia-powers-part-i

http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/content/water-challenges-asia-powers-part-ii

A Few Interesting Items

Law School Economics

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/17/business/law-school-economics-job-market-weakens-tuition-rises.html

Consumer Deleveraging in the US

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/17/sunday-review/17economic.html

Low Recruitment Intensity and High Unemployment Rates:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-15/why-employers-are-slow-to-fill-jobs-business-class.html

Simon Johnson on Eurozone Debt Crisis

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-17/contagion-in-three-forms-now-has-grip-on-europe-simon-johnson.html

Larry Summers on Debt Ceiling Debate

Fortune 500 Companies

Number of Chinese companies amongst the Fortune 500 in 2001: 12

Number of Chinese companies amongst the Fortune 500 in 2011: 61

US still has the most number of Fortune 500 companies at 133

Here is a list of all the Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Asia:

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/global500/2011/asia/

The Rise of Humans

Matt Ridley’s interesting column on human evolution:

“…Then suddenly—bang!—culture exploded, starting in Africa. Why then, why there?

The answer lies in a new idea, borrowed from economics, known as collective intelligence: the notion that what determines the inventiveness and rate of cultural change of a population is the amount of interaction between individuals. Even as it explains very old patterns in prehistory, this idea holds out hope that the human race will prosper mightily in the years ahead—because ideas are having sex with each other as never before.” 

US Labor Market Highlights

The following info is from the BLS:

Number of unemployed persons: 14.1 million

Civilian labor force participation rate: 64.1 %

Employment-population ratio: 58.2 %
Long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks and over): 6.3 million (44.4 % of the unemployed)


The 'jobless problem':
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-10/fed-data-cruncher-finds-no-new-normal-unemployment-with-nationwide-figures.html


Updates:


WSJ's evaluation of sectoral labor market performance during the recovery:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304584404576440203602314190.html


The Economist provides a good analysis of the July BLS report:
http://www.economist.com/blogs/freeexchange/2011/07/americas-labour-market

Debt, Taxes, Ceilings, etc.

David Brooks has a brilliant piece on the debt ceiling debate:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/05/opinion/05brooks.html

Here is an interesting look at US debt limit history:

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/04/the-us-debt-ceiling-a-historical-look/238061/

It makes one wonder what the point of a debt ceiling is when it can be changed so frequently.

The WSJ makes a great point regarding the ridiculous US tax structure:

“The average effective corporate rate varies by industry but is far less than the 35% rate, and the injustice is that some pay much less than others if they can afford lobbyists to write loopholes or they invest in politically correct purposes. Anyone not in thrall of class-war symbolism understands that the U.S. corporate tax code provides the worst of both worlds: It makes U.S. companies less competitive even as it is raises much less revenue than advertised.”

Big Business is more of a hindrance than a helpful player in the corporate tax reform debate

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/06/business/economy/06leonhardt.html

The B in BRIC

Is Growing Optimism Regarding Brazil Justified?

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/05/opinion/05iht-edcohen05.html

Recovery Comparisons

How does the current recovery compare to economic recoveries from past recessions?


See related article here:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304760604576425793342142396.html