02 | November | 2012

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Ask the scholars: What will happen after the election?

Brittany French | November 2, 2012, 4:48 pm

As the election campaign wraps up, we turn our attention to the experts for one final comment on the future of America. Voters will be expected to choose between two very different leaders representing fundamentally distinct paths for our nation. … read more >

Politics and Public Opinion, Polls

The right question to ask: Who do you think will win the election?

Michael R. Strain | November 2, 2012, 4:20 pm

On Wednesday of this week, Gallup let us know that 54% of Americans think President Obama will be reelected. Thirty-four percent think Governor Romney will emerge the victor on election night. And 11% – for reasons passing understanding – have … read more >

Economics, U.S. Economy

‘Recovery Summer’ to arrive in 2020

Stan Veuger | November 2, 2012, 3:59 pm

The US economy added 171,000 jobs in October. My colleague Michael “Leisure is Lovely” Strain believes that that is “good,” even though the unemployment rate went up. (When the number is decidedly bad he looks at the unemployment rate as … read more >

Image Credit: The U.S. Army (Flickr) (CC BY 2.0)

Foreign and Defense Policy, Defense

Yes, America’s military is expensive. But maintaining it saves money–and lives–in the long run

Mackenzie Eaglen | November 2, 2012, 2:16 pm

Is defense expensive? You bet. Peace costs a great deal. Is fighting a war even more expensive? By any standard – in dollars and in blood – so much more. read more >

Pethokoukis

Brookings: At October pace, Jobs Gap won’t close for 11 years

James Pethokoukis | November 2, 2012, 1:22 pm

There are several different versions of the Jobs Gap. Here is how The Hamilton Project at Brookings calculates it: Each month, the Hamilton Project examines the “Jobs Gap,” which is the number of jobs that the U.S. economy needs to … read more >

Pethokoukis

Does this chart really suggest the U.S. economy is headed in the right direction? Really?

James Pethokoukis | November 2, 2012, 12:54 pm

I mean, seriously. And these earnings numbers are not even inflation adjusted. If they were, they would be negative, which partly goes to the quality of the jobs being created and partly to the slow pace of growth and job … read more >

Pethokoukis

CHARTS: The two huge gaps — growth and jobs — that are plaguing the U.S. economy

James Pethokoukis | November 2, 2012, 12:00 pm

The U.S. economy has added, roughly, 160,000 jobs a month so far this year, including a gain of 171,000 in October. And GDP expanded at a 2.0% annual rate for the third quarter. None of this data would be considered … read more >

Image Credit: World Economic Forum (Flickr) (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Foreign and Defense Policy, Latin America

Brazilian local elections: Lula’s legatees take São Paulo

Stan Veuger | November 2, 2012, 11:46 am

Sunday’s second (and last) round in Brazil’s local elections brought big victories for the parties supporting President Dilma Roussef, the successor and former right hand of the wildly popular Lula da Silva. Dilma’s center-left Workers Party (PT) won in 635 … read more >

Carpe Diem

Two interesting factoids from today’s employment report

Mark J. Perry | November 2, 2012, 10:45 am

A couple of interesting factoids from today’s Employment Situation report. 1. The unemployment rate for workers 25 years and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher fell to 3.8% in October, the lowest jobless rate for that group since December … read more >

Economics, U.S. Economy

A good employment report. But not great.

Michael R. Strain | November 2, 2012, 10:35 am

This is a good report. It’s not a great report, but it’s a good report. It suggests to me that the labor market is heading in the right direction — and at a faster pace than was previously thought. read more >