Posted September 19, 2008 - 01:13 by Philip Brewer
Is there a limit to how much Americans can spend? Clearly there is: All they earn, minus savings and service on their existing debt, plus new borrowing. Since the Bureau of Economic Analysis puts numbers on those very items, it's possible to see just how close we are to the edge. In a fascinating paper, Ron Laszewski does exactly that. The results are rather depressing.
Posted September 17, 2008 - 15:17 by Paul Michael
I don’t know about you, but I’m more than a little worried by recent economic events. First Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, then Lehman Brothers, and now an $85 billion loan to AIG. Some people would have us believe that despite all of this, the foundations of our economy are strong. But with trillions of dollars in debt now on the table, how long can this country keep racking up the red ink?
Posted May 10, 2008 - 11:43 by Philip Brewer
When I advocate for frugal living, people sometimes ask, "What if everybody lived like that? Wouldn't it hurt the economy?" My natural inclination toward frugal living may color my opinion, but I don't think so. I think mass frugality would be good for the economy.
Posted January 20, 2008 - 07:16 by Philip Brewer
With prices up, price statistics that look preposterous to anyone who shops, and the Fed trying to thread the needle of preventing a recession without letting inflation run out of control, I want to make sure everyone knows that we're seeing at least two other issues besides inflation.
Posted January 18, 2008 - 00:10 by Philip Brewer
Of the various ills the economy can face, inflation is simultaneously the worst for society as a whole, and yet the easiest for individuals to deal with successfully. The strategies for dealing with inflation are pretty straightforward.
Posted January 1, 2008 - 06:37 by Philip Brewer
Recessions spread. A minor downturn in one business spreads to its suppliers and then to their suppliers. Workers are laid off (or simply fear that they will be) and buy less, spreading the downturn to other sectors of the economy. Since the 1940s, governments have tried to act to limit the damage caused by recessions, but not everyone agrees that government action can help.
Posted December 28, 2007 - 09:14 by Philip Brewer
I don't know if a recession is coming. Nobody does. We may dodge the bullet for a while. On the other hand, the economy may already be in recession. You don't need to know the future, though, to make some wise moves.
Posted November 26, 2007 - 09:33 by Philip Brewer
How bad could things get? The New York Times asked that question about the economic situation. It's a good question, but they gave a really bad answer.
Posted September 21, 2007 - 14:21 by Paul Michael
I'm not sure how many of you watch the news or read the news blogs on a daily basis. I know I can't, it's way too depressing to do every day. But when I saw that George W. Bush, our President, claimed he was fiscally responsible I almost snorted tea out of my nose and onto my monitor. Fiscally responsible? Seriously?
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