Public Policy Archives - Page 6 of 6

8 Nov 2006

The Next Election & Economic Policy

Business Strategy Economy Investments Public Policy

If you’re not totally sick and disgusted with politics yet, you may want to look ahead to Economic Stances of the Likely and Declared 2008 Presidential Candidates. Brian Gongol rates the candidates by combining his …

2 Nov 2006

Manufacturing Jobs

Economy Public Policy

Paul Krugman recently wrote: "We have a big trade deficit and a highly inflated housing sector. One result has been that we’ve lost a lot of manufacturing jobs." (Thanks to Brad DeLong.) Well, let’s take …

25 Oct 2006

What Can a State Do in a Recession?

Business Strategy Economy Public Policy

What can a state do in a recession? I testified on this topic before the Oregon legislature today. Download OrLegTestimony200610.pdfIn the testimony I discuss the risk of recession, the nature of a recession if one …

10 Oct 2006

Dynamic Capitalism

Public Policy

Today’s Wall Street Journal has a great column by the newest Nobel prize winner in economics, Edmund Phelps. For those with subscriptions, the link is here. The article is entitled "Dynamic Capitalism" and it contrasts …

5 Sep 2006

Can the Economy Be Strong If Poverty Is Not Falling?

Business Strategy Economy Public Policy

Business leaders have asked me that, reacting to concerns that the income gains have been primarily at the upper end of the income distribution. I take these concerns with a grain of salt. First, estimates …

29 Aug 2006

Poverty Steady By One Approach

Economy Public Policy

Today’s announcement that the poverty rate was stable will lead to renewed calls for using a measure of “relative poverty.” Our current practice establishes the poverty line as a multiple of a minimal food budget. …

12 Aug 2006

Capitalism and the Poor

Books Public Policy

Interesting pre-review over at Crooked Timber (thanks to Mark Thoma at Economist’s View for the tip): The best recent books about capitalism and the circumstances in which it helps poorer people escape their poverty are …

27 Jun 2006

Funny Listening

Public Policy

I just learned that the Capitol Steps have many of their new songs on line. Listen here.If you’ve been to a major convention in Washington, DC, you may have heard their hilarious songs about current …

23 Jun 2006

All Not All Deficits Are Created Equal

Economy Investments Public Policy

That’s a critical point made by economist John Tatom in an article published in the Financial Analysts Journal. (The link points to an earlier version of the paper; the final version is not available on …

26 May 2006

Is There a Value to Energy Independence?

Public Policy

Would energy independence protect us from higher gasoline prices? Before we embark on a huge national energy conservation program, or a huge subsidy to drilling, let’s look at some economics and some facts. If gasoline …

14 Apr 2006

Immigration’s Impact on Low-Wage Americans

Public Policy

Nice, short, readable article by an economics professor (wow!) about immigration. Read it here. Key takeaways from Alan Krueger’s article:1) the best research suggests that foreign immigrants don’t depress the wages or employment opportunities of …

8 Apr 2006

Is Bad Government Better Than No Government At All?

Public Policy

This question isn’t directly relevant to America. For all of our complaints, we really don’t know what bad government is. For Somalia, though, the question is relevant. It turns out the answer is that no …