Following Japan's Path

This article illustrates the disturbing trend the U.S. is following into Japanese style deflation. The graphic that accompanies the article tells us the Fed is going to have work a lot harder to generate a heartbeat out of the CPI.

The Evolution Of Economic Policy In The U.S.

History Now. The Historians PerspectiveThis is a thoughtful essay on the tangle over the years between Classical and Keynesian Economics. The origins of both are discussed as well as the favor for each that's been passed back and forth throughout the twentieth century. In the midst of the recent crisis a debate rages again as some perceive a failure in the markets and the need for government intervention. As the worst seems past, the balance in our economy between the two theories continues to be a contentious issue.

Latin America Surges As Most Of The World Flounders

A combination of pragmatism and a blooming relationship with Asia has allowed many Latin American economies to buck the trend currently plaguing the developed world. The article points out lessons that the U.S. should have adopted in retrospect such as, when the going is good....save!!!

RSA Animate – Crisis of Capitalism

RSA Animate – Crisis of Capitalism
Clicking on the link takes you to an animation video and lecture by a radical socialist economist. He conveys his unique take on the recent financial crisis and how it is endemic of a germane flaw of Capitalism. The video and lecture are very thought provoking and should stir a great deal of discussion in your classroom.

Talking Business - Financial Mistakes, Doomed to Be Repeated - NYTimes.com

Talking Business - Financial Mistakes, Doomed to Be Repeated - NYTimes.com

The Roots Of The Crisis

Foreclosures and Deliquencies

Click on the title to access a recently released map of the concentration of foreclosures and mortgage delinquencies in the U.S. It's difficult not to notice the bleak picture painted in Florida.

A.P. Economics vs. Real Life

Click on the title above to access a quiz of fundamental macro principles. The blog comment raises the concern that Econ 101 fundamentals and the recent behavior of our monetary authorities have not coincided well.

Hair Dyeing Fad Reflects Recession

Dyed hair is making a comeback. L'Oréal, the world's no.1 hair dye manufacturer, saw the sales of its hair color products surge some 30 percent in September compared to a year earlier. The sales of unusual dye including red, copper and metallic colors soared 47 percent. Experts make connections between the trend and the recession. A beauty specialist said people seek to escape reality in a recession, and dyed hair offers a kind of fantasy image. During the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis, dyed hair was also fashionable. More middle-aged people also dye their hair in an effort, experts say, to look younger and stand a better chance in the depressed job market.
It is a global phenomenon. The U.K. Telegraph called the phenomenon a "gold rush" and quoted celebrity hairdresser Andrew Barton as saying that many people are dyeing their hair blond to find an antidote to the depression. In the U.S., the term "hair dye index" was newly coined to show the link between the economy and dyeing hair. People's hair color becomes lighter as economy worsens. Hair dyeing is a counter-cyclical economic indicator roughly synonymous with an inferior good.

Is The Market As We Teach It Even Relevant Anymore?

A Race Michigan Does Not Want To Win

How Did Economists Get It So Wrong?

America and Its Deficits: Are We Broke Yet?

America and Its Deficits: Are We Broke Yet?

The Alphabet Soup Of Economic Recovery

This article reviews the variety of letters used to symbolize speculation on the type of recovery America has in store.