31 | May | 2012

Sunday, May 19, 2013

April Restaurant Index Above 100 for 6th Month

Mark J. Perry | May 31, 2012, 7:11 pm

“The outlook for the restaurant industry remained positive for the coming months, as the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) stood well above 100 in April. The RPI – a monthly composite index that tracks the health of and … read more >

Carpe Diem

March U.S. Oil Production Highest Since 1998

Mark J. Perry | May 31, 2012, 6:27 pm

Domestic Oil Production is Booming in North Dakota and Texas on Private Land: It’s the Fuel of the Future The Department of Energy released data today showing that U.S. field production of crude oil came close to reaching a 14-year … read more >

Economics, Energy and the Environment

On Earth Two, this is Romney’s climate change policy

James Pethokoukis | May 31, 2012, 3:59 pm

Jonathan Adler, a professor at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law, looks at free-market approaches to dealing with climate change in The Atlantic: First, the federal government should support technology inducement prizes to encourage the development of commercially … read more >

Economics

Again, a four-year, liberal arts degree is not for everyone

James Pethokoukis | May 31, 2012, 3:42 pm

One of the many very good ideas embraced by former presidential candidate Jon Huntsman was this one: One effective and market-oriented solution is working closely with cutting-edge private sector employers to ensure that available technical and community college training is … read more >

Economics

Andrew Lo on JPMorgan and hedging

James Pethokoukis | May 31, 2012, 3:10 pm

What’s hedging? What’s trading? You would have to be Solomon to figure out the difference. Maybe not. Andrew Lo of MIT: There is one very simple question that you can ask — which has a definitive answer — about the … read more >

Economics

Romney goes to Solyndra

James Pethokoukis | May 31, 2012, 2:29 pm

ABC News: Mitt Romney arrived at the shuttered headquarters of Solyndra Inc. this morning, a surprise visit that was shrouded in secrecy and part of the presumptive GOP presidential candidate’s attack on President Obama’s record on jobs creation. Solyndra is … read more >

Economics, U.S. Economy

The importance of growth

Nick Schulz | May 31, 2012, 1:30 pm

My pal Eddy Elfenbein has a fascinating post here. It includes this remarkable chart: Eddy notes: For a 40-year stretch, from 1966 to 2006, the economy grew at a 3.1% annualized pace and it didn’t stray too far from that … read more >

Economics, Energy and the Environment

U.S. hits brakes on natural gas exports

Kenneth P. Green | May 31, 2012, 1:00 pm

The Obama administration has added yet another fossil-fuel domain to its “slow-walk” roster: natural gas exports. It seems several natural gas companies, awash in the stuff, are seeking to export it to Europe and Asia, which face much higher natural … read more >

Economics, Financial Services

Big banks and Too Big To Fail

James Pethokoukis | May 31, 2012, 12:54 pm

I just wrote a piece for The Weekly Standard—on newsstands now!—on breaking up America’s very biggest banks. But there are certainly other ideas for how to deal with the Too Big (and Interconnected) to Fail issue. Here are a few … read more >

Economics, Energy and the Environment

Energy fact of the week: Oil and gas growth thump renewables

Steven F. Hayward | May 31, 2012, 10:26 am

One of the oldest misleading statistical tricks is to cite percentage growth from a low base. For example, if the units of something produced go from 1 to 2, that’s 100 percent growth! But if you go from 100 units … read more >

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. […]
Could California Make a Comeback?
An unexpected glimmer of hope might cast a new light on the Golden State. […]