11 | May | 2012

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

From Delta Airlines CEO Richard Anderson writing in Delta’s Sky Magazine (May issue): “Why do gasoline prices remain stubbornly high? The reason is that the commodity futures markets have become the new stock market for the 21st century. No matter … read more >

Carpe Diem

Cartoon of the Day

Mark J. Perry | May 11, 2012, 4:21 pm

Economics

Washington breaking up big banks now ‘possible’—Wall Street research firm

James Pethokoukis | May 11, 2012, 3:42 pm

Wow. This, from the highly influential Washington Research Group of Guggenheim Securities: The JP Morgan announcement has brought new attention to FDIC Director Hoenig’s plan to force commercial banks to sell their broker-dealers. Our View · We believe the Hoenig plan … read more >

Foreign and Defense Policy, Europe and Russia

New report suggests it’s high taxes, not spending cuts, killing Europe

James Pethokoukis | May 11, 2012, 3:28 pm

A new budget and economic forecast from the European Commission shows pretty clearly what has gone wrong in Europe. The above chart shows the composition of EU austerity. In 2011-2012, 1.3 percentage points of GDP retrenchment comes from taxes, while … read more >

Foreign and Defense Policy

Best of the foreign policy blogs (May 5 to May 11)

Marc Thiessen | May 11, 2012, 3:09 pm

Here is the best of what AEI’s foreign and defense policy scholars are reading this week: Robert D. Kaplan at Stratfor Global Intelligence on NATO’s worrisome impotence in NATO’s Ordinary Future. Yochi J. Dreazen at National Journal on improving Saudi-US … read more >

Economics, Regulation

JP Morgan’s losses prove that the Volcker rule is unworkable

Peter J. Wallison | May 11, 2012, 2:53 pm

Much of the commentary about the JP Morgan Chase losses suggests that either this is proof of the need for the Volcker rule, or is a reason to get the Volcker rule in place promptly. Neither is true. In fact, … read more >

Economics, Taxes and Spending

Facebook co-founder flees America’s coming tax deluge

James Pethokoukis | May 11, 2012, 2:52 pm

From Bloomberg: Eduardo Saverin, the billionaire co-founder of Facebook Inc. (FB), renounced his U.S. citizenship before an initial public offering that values the social network at as much as $96 billion, a move that may reduce his tax bill. Facebook … read more >

Carpe Diem

Producer Price Inflation Eases in April to 1.9%

Mark J. Perry | May 11, 2012, 2:52 pm

The BLS reported today on producer prices for April, here are some highlights: 1. Prices for finished goods increased annually by 1.9% through April, the seventh straight month of slowing year-over-year inflation rates following a 7% increase for the 12 … read more >

Economics, U.S. Economy

More on China’s banks coming to America

James Pethokoukis | May 11, 2012, 2:27 pm

Recall when the Brits nixed Barclays buying Lehman back in 2008, not wanting to import America’s financial woes. Well, the Fed just gave the thumbs up for China’s megabanks to push into the U.S. market. Bloomberg columnist Jonathan Weil reports … read more >

Economics

Government jobs and the black middle class

James Pethokoukis | May 11, 2012, 2:11 pm

From NPR: Blacks are 30 percent more likely than nonblacks to work in the public sector, according to the University of California, Berkeley’s Center for Labor Research and Education. And roughly 21 percent of black workers are public employees, compared … read more >

The Uses of Scandal
One of the greatest uses of scandal is to vividly demonstrate what new laws are needed and to create the political conditions to get them enacted. […]
Lean In… to Government?
Sheryl Sandberg's runaway best-selling book Lean In has managed to offend both the Left and the Right. Sandberg touts female hard-headedness, yet also calls for an elaborate government- and employer-supplied support system for women. […]
Are American Voters Racist?
Racial prejudice plays a very small role in American politics, but a highly disciplined sense of self-interest on the part of one group may play a very large role in the way the federal government functions. […]
The Perpetual Passion for Paper
Paper is becoming less important in some respects, but its strengths — prestige, utility, permanence, and security — are more essential than ever. […]