Category: Economy
The Sovereign Debt Crisis and Confirmation Bias
The myth that Greeks are lazy and Germans are industrious and that this has some significance in the sovereign debt crisis is everywhere one turns. It is false. The issues for Greece are not about working longer hours but are ones of productivity, industrial organisation, and demographics. That won’t stop people from spinning the tales of lazy Greeks and workaholic Germans
The Bifurcated Society
There is less mobility in the work force because the computers are not simply displacing jobs, they are taking out the middle. Because they take out the middle, it is a lot harder to pursue the American dream by working your way up the ladder
Roach Sees ‘Relatively Contained’ Recession in Europe
Stephen Roach told Bloomberg television earlier today that he does not expect the recession in Europe to be severe. Therefore, he believes the impact on other economies, particularly in Asia that depends on Europe for external demand for exports, will be limited. Video below
Successful Auctions Boost Tone in Europe
Better than expected reception to Spain and Italy’s debt auctions have spurred risk on; dollar softer. BoE, as expected, left policy unchanged, ECB expected to do the same; Japan’s current account shrinks. US advanced retail sales expected to rise to 0.3% from 0.2%; thoughts on the EM central bank outlook
India: Land of Energy Opportunity
Quick, what country is the economic engine that will power world growth? If you answered “China,” you’re far from alone. But there’s another country that deserves as much attention and better yet, is much friendlier to investment: India, home to 1.2 billion people. To electrify all those houses, power the industries that keep all those people employed, and fuel the vehicles that more and more Indians own, India’s energy needs are shooting skyward
Thoughts Ahead of Spanish and Italian Bond Auctions
Spain and Italy begin this year’s funding operations with bond auctions tomorrow and Friday. Although the euro is bouncing along its recent trough against not only the dollar, but against many of the other major currencies as well, there has been a modest improvement in some of the measures the market has focused on as metric of stress. Of course there are other signs that still show a high level of paralysis, including the fact that overnight deposits at the ECB continue to set record levels and are approaching 500 bln euros
Chart of the Day: Greek workers work 48% more hours than Germans
While many will be initially surprised by the data, on reflection it makes intuitive sense. In crude terms, wealthier countries typically work smarter–more capital intensively–than poor countries, not longer
Germany is in recession already with the rest of the euro zone
The eurozone is in a recession right now. And it is the banking sector where downside risk lies. Will the US also double dip? What about China’s faltering housing and stock markets
Mosler: I advocate tax relief and jobs, but forecast muddle through at best
Warren Mosler proposes a full FICA suspension, a $150 billion one time distribution to the states and an $8/hr federally funded transition job for anyone willing and able to work. However he believes these proposals will likely not be followed and predicts muddle through at best as a result
Brief Note on Big Surge in US Consumer Credit
Late yesterday the US reported the biggest jump in consumer credit in a decade. It reinforces the signal of the gradual healing of the labor market and the resilience of the US consumer. The report increases the risk that the November personal consumption expenditures are revised higher from the initial 0.1% estimate
Mild Corrective Forces Unfold
The light news stream, adequate bill auction receptions and comments from Fitch suggesting France’s AAA rating is secure this year encouraged short-term players to take profits. However, sentiment is still wholly euro negative and a large investment bank was out today with new calls to sell the euro. Resolution of credit watch decisions are still awaited from Moody’s and S&P. Separately France defied expectations and contradicted poor PMI readings by posting a 1.1% jump in November industrial output. The consensus was for a 0.1-0.2% gain
The expansionary fiscal contraction bust
If you argue that austerity works in cutting deficits over the longer-term but the short-term pain is worth it, that’s a different argument than the one Republicans are making – and one not likely to get one elected, which is why they’re not making it