President Obama attempted Friday to improve his chops as an international leader working hard to protect American workers and save Europe from its own political dysfunction. But his morning appearance in the White House briefing room is likely to be remembered, instead, for a single sound bite he surely wishes he could take back: “The …
Government
Jumpstart Nation: The Clinton Global Initiative Tackles America’s Jobs Crisis
The Clinton Global initiative was created in 2005 to “inspire, connect, and empower a community of global leaders to forge solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.” Seven years ago, when developed economies were …
Dire Jobs Report Throws Washington into the Pressure Cooker
It’s bad, man. The May unemployment report released Friday morning didn’t just announce one month of lethargic job growth–69,000 added, fewer than necessary to even keep up with population growth. The government’s regular estimates can be off by enough to turn whispers of doom to shouts of joy. These things are fickle. But …
No, President Obama Isn’t Against Capitalism — but He’s Not Defending It Loudly Enough
“I can’t think of another presidential candidate in history who has ever tried to win the presidency by running against capitalism.” So said Rush Limbaugh of President Obama last week. Asked for a response during a Fox News …
Why Everyone’s Trying to Measure Well-Being
It’s mid-afternoon, and I’m sharing a long lunch with a colleague at a sidewalk café in Paris. There’s a basket of fresh-baked bread on our table and a parade of well-dressed shoppers passing by. At the next table, three …
Which Advanced Economy Has the Most Debt?
With all the talk of Greece’s impending exit from the euro zone, debt is once again in the headlines. Greece’s massive public sector debt, coupled with its inability to devalue its currency, has put the country at risk of …
How Cash Keeps Poor People Poor
Want to help the poor? Start by taking money out of their hands. More specifically, cash — coins and paper bills are the silent enemy of the poor, with costs often out of proportion with their day-to-day convenience.
Is the Stock Market Wildly Overoptimistic?
Stocks appear to be flying too high in light of the enormous number of risks that the U.S. economy faces over the next 12 months.
Chicago’s Parking Meter Debacle: The Check Is Not in the Mail
Sounding a bit like an angry motorist who’s just gotten what he considers an unfair parking ticket, Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel announced last week that he wasn’t going to pay a $14 million bill sent to the city by the company …
What Happens When the Next Too-Big-to-Fail Bank Goes Under?
One of the great thorns in the side of the American public is that the too-big-to-fail banks that were the cause of the financial crisis are still around today. They are employing many of the same people and paying dividends to …
European Voters Have Rejected Austerity—So What Happens Next?
Why Aren’t There More Jobs?
Mediocre growth, overly cautious corporations and government cutbacks figure to stifle employment gains until there is some comprehensive economic policy