Economic Report: Initial Jobless Claims
The number of people filing for first time unemployment benefits eased slightly in the latest week, temporarily halting a sharp upward trend that began during the first part of this new year. This comes after witnessing abrupt declines during the holiday-shortened weeks, according to the US Department of Labor. For the week ending February 7th, initial jobless claims came in at 623,000, a decrease of 8,000 .. read more
Economic Report: Retail Sales – January
According to the monthly Commerce Department report, retail sales, which account for about one-third of US gross domestic product, jumped a surprising 1.0% in January, after a downwardly-revised 3.0% decline in December and a 2.4% drop in November. It is the first monthly increase since June 2008 and the largest since November 2007. And rising gas prices didn’t have much .. read more
Judy Shelton: Let’s Go Back to a Gold Standard
I often speak about sound money on this blog. In fact, in my answer to Just One Thing, I chose sound money. Walter Block answered the same. Now Judy Shelton, writing in the WSJ, makes the case for a parallel currency, backed by gold, to compete with Federal Reserve Notes. She makes the case logically .. read more
Andy Kessler’s Bank Plan
Andy Kessler, in a WSJ editorial, lays out the most rational plan for the bad banks I’ve seen yet: Mr. Geithner should instead use his “stress test” and nationalize the dead banks via the FDIC — but only for a day or so. First, strip out all the toxic assets and put them into a holding .. read more
Intel To Invest $7 Billion For New US Facilities
Via MarketWatch: SAN FRANCISCO — Semiconductor maker Intel Corp. said Tuesday that it plans to spend $7 billion over the next two years to build advanced manufacturing facilities in the U.S., a major capital investment at a time of uncertainty in the chip industry. The announcement comes just a few weeks after Intel announced that .. read more
Just One Thing – John Chapman
Just One Thing – Economist Survey Dr. John Chapman John Chapman was an economics instructor and research assistant at the University of Georgia before becoming an NRI fellow and joing the American Enterprise Institute. He is currently currently working on a book about the history and impact of private equity. Dr. Chapman’s Response: “The significant linkage between .. read more
Just One Thing – Bryan Caplan
Just One Thing – Economist Survey Dr. Bryan Caplan Bryan Caplan is an economics professor at George Mason University. His webpage is here. Many of you know him from his contributions to the Econlog blog. Dr. Caplan’s Response: “I would allow free immigration.” Dr. Caplan’s books: The Myth of the Rational Voter: Why Democracies Choose Bad .. read more
Just One Thing – Tyler Cowen
Just One Thing – Economist Survey Dr. Tyler Cowen Tyler Cowen is professor of economics at George Mason University and at the Center for the Study of Public Choice. He is also the Director of both the James Buchanan Center and the Mercatus Center. Most know him from his contributions to the blog, Marginal Revolution. Dr. Cowen’s .. read more
