06 | December | 2012

Monday, May 20, 2013

The first lesson of economics vs. the first lesson of politics

Mark J. Perry | December 6, 2012, 10:39 pm

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Household net worth improves in Q4 to highest level since 2007; real estate values increased by $1 trillion this year

Mark J. Perry | December 6, 2012, 10:30 pm

The Federal Reserve released data today for the net worth of U.S. households in Q3, here are some highlights: 1. The net worth of U.S. households increased to $64.77 trillion in the third quarter, which was an increase of $6.11 … read more >

Image Credit: MunicipioPinas (Flickr) (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Foreign and Defense Policy, Latin America

Ecuador’s Correa: Shameless shill for Iran and terrorism

Roger Noriega | December 6, 2012, 3:28 pm

Ecuador’s president Rafael Correa is not the first anti-western radical to apologize for terrorism and verbally attack Israel, but he may be the most shameless. In a recent interview with C5N Television in Argentina, Correa delivered fresh proof of his … read more >

Image Credit: The Official CTBTO Photostream (Flickr) (CC BY 2.0)

Pethokoukis

Did Reagan’s tax cuts cause those big 1980s budget deficits? Or was it Paul Volcker’s inflation fighting?

James Pethokoukis | December 6, 2012, 3:18 pm

“It is undeniable that the sharp reduction in taxes in the early 1980s was a strong impetus to economic growth.” - President Bill Clinton’s Council of Economic Advisers, 1994 Growth. Sure. Whatever. But what about the deficits? All that tax cutting … read more >

Carpe Diem

Economic updates

Mark J. Perry | December 6, 2012, 2:42 pm

1. Home sales in the city of Seattle increased 41% in November from a year ago. For the entire metro area, sales increased 19%, while the median sales price increased 20%. 2. The number of housing markets considered “improving” according … read more >

Image Credit: Robert Neff (Flickr) (CC BY 2.0)

Economics, Entitlements, Pethokoukis

10 charts showing America’s stunning entitlements explosion

James Pethokoukis | December 6, 2012, 2:14 pm

AEI scholar Nick Eberstadt’s latest book, A Nation of Takers, provides a sobering analysis of the entitlements explosion and its effect on the American economy and culture. It’s a reminder that without significant, Reagan-style growth and/or massive spending cuts, our … read more >

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Photo Credit: MPD01605 (Flickr) (CC BY 2.0)

Economics, International economy

Out of denial at the European Central Bank

Desmond Lachman | December 6, 2012, 1:15 pm

If the first step towards crisis resolution is recognition of a problem, this morning’s decision by the ECB to slash its European economic growth forecast has to be seen as a positive development for the European economy. read more >

Image Credit: Gage Skidmore (Flickr) (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Society and Culture

Congratulations to Senator DeMint

Arthur C. Brooks | December 6, 2012, 11:36 am

I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know and work with Jim DeMint in the US Senate, and I look forward to working with him as the president of the Heritage Foundation. Senator DeMint is a patriot who loves his … read more >

A man looks at buildings damaged by what activists said were missiles fired by a Syrian Air Force fighter jet loyal to President Bashar al-Assad at Jessreen area in Ghouta east of Damascus. Source: REUTERS

Foreign and Defense Policy, Middle East and North Africa

Endgame in Syria

Danielle Pletka | December 6, 2012, 11:27 am

The Assad regime is on its last legs. More than 40,000 Syrians have been murdered, and the Obama administration suspects that in a last ditch effort to hang on to power, Assad may use chemical weapons. Multiple reports indicate that … 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. […]