Uncategorized Archives - Page 8 of 10

1 Jul 2008

Gaming Industry Recession-PRONE, not Recession-Proof

Oops, Wall Street got another industry wrong. After proclaiming that casinos were recession-proof, they’ve recently learned just the opposite. Here’s what one mutual fund manager said before the downturn: “Gaming stocks perform much more like …

25 Jun 2008

Oil and Recession: The Wall Street Journal survey

Back in August 2004 the Journal asked its economic forecast panel how high oil prices would have to go to trigger a recession. Here's the results: Just for the record, here's how long it's been: …

20 Jun 2008

Doing Business in China – or Peoria

Dan Harris over at China Law Blog has a great discussion about doing business in China–or anywhere else outside of your hometown. Key takeaway: "One of the things we are always telling our clients is …

19 Jun 2008

Another “Recession-proof” Myth Busted

Myth: "The used car market is recession-proof, because when times are hard, people buy used cars." CarMax, the large used car chain which reported a steep drop in earnings last quarter, now says that the …

10 Jun 2008

How Economic or Business Consultants Add Value

My younger son came home from his summer job as a programmer talking about a bug he had found. The start-up company where he works had been using some code for six months, with occasionally …

9 Jun 2008

Income Distribution: What Business Needs to Know About the Rich

There's evidence that those at the upper end of the income distribution are doing much, much better. (The evidence regarding the poor and middle class is much more cloudy.) Should businesses target the luxury market? …

5 Jun 2008

Inflation: Tim Duy on What the Fed Should Do

In the latest issue of the Businomics Audio Magazine, I interview University of Oregon professor Tim Duy about inflation. Interviews can be accessed for free: click here.

31 May 2008

Recession Hits the Luxury Market: Yacht Business Sinking

That headline overstates the situation, but who can resist? I especially want to take on the oft-heard remark that luxury goods businesses are recession proof because "the rich will always have money." I debunked this …

29 May 2008

Government Debt: Defaults through Repudiation and Inflation

There's nothing like a good financial crisis to make me yearn for historical perspective. I got just that in a paper called "This Time Is Different: A Panoramic View of Eight Centuries of Financial Crises" …

28 May 2008

Business Spending Up: A Nice Sign

Companies increased their orders for durable equipment last month, a very nice sign. Surveys of business confidence have shown a lot of gloom, both among Fortune 500 CEOs as well as small business owners. The …

27 May 2008

Is “Free” the Future of Business?

Chris Anderson argues in Wired: "Free! Why $0.00 is the Future of Business." (Hat tip: Club for Growth) Take a look at the short video if you don't feel like reading the entire article. Anderson …

27 May 2008

What Does Consumer Confidence Say About the Economic Forecast?

The Conference Board reported their latest survey of consumer confidence, and it's no surprise that their results mirrored the gloomy report issued last week by the University of Michigan: What does consumer gloom mean for …