Category Archives: The Global Economy

Blowing Bubbles

Posted on May 4, 2013 by

The stock market breached 15,000 yesterday — thar she blows!   But is this a solid advance, or does the huge rise in the stock market represent a bubble? To followers of the long-term global economy, it should be obvious.  The … Continue reading →

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Is Terror back?

Posted on April 20, 2013 by

In the 12 years since 9/11, the United States has been consumed by fear of Islamist terrorism.   Underpants bombers, Guantanamo prison, torture, Bin Laden, drone attacks — the list of news stories and issues related to conflicts between radical anti-Western … Continue reading →

Posted in The Global Economy, U.S. Politics | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Confused about North Korea? — Think Syria

Posted on April 10, 2013 by

No, I’m not saying that Korea will descend into Civil War like Syria.  However, there ARE the ingredients for an error that will produce open conflict. What Korea and Syria both have in common is unexpected rulers with shaky legitimacy. … Continue reading →

Posted in The Global Economy, The Middle East Revolts | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Told you so

Posted on April 5, 2013 by

The job figures out of Washington today were a mixed but mostly very sad story.  There were upward revisions in the January and February hiring numbers, and construction employment remained strong (houses being built on unfounded optimism of a major housing … Continue reading →

Posted in The Global Economy, U.S. Politics | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

From Russia, with thought

Posted on April 1, 2013 by

As the world “slow” pops up more and more (today, slower than expected US factory growth, and lower than expect PMI in China), it might be a good time to post a presentation I gave earlier this year in Moscow: … Continue reading →

Posted in The Global Economy | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Relentless optimism?

Posted on March 28, 2013 by

As Europe waits to see what follows the Cypress haircut and Italian political deadlock; Japan waits to see if its efforts at halting deflation produce progress, ignite excess inflation, or fail; China waits to see if it can sustain growth … Continue reading →

Posted in The Global Economy, U.S. Politics | 4 Comments

A Haircut in Cyprus

Posted on March 18, 2013 by

It’s baaaack! Many thought the EU crisis had been safely put behind us, thanks to Magic Mario and the ECB’s promise to do whatever it takes to save the Euro. Even the near deadlocked election in Italy, the continued squeeze … Continue reading →

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Same old same old

Posted on March 4, 2013 by

There hasn’t been much new to blog about except the same old, same old bad news. The Republicans and Democrats fail to produce a budget deal — is that news? About as much as dogs chewing bones or cats chasing … Continue reading →

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Foot on the Gas, Foot on the Brake — why aren’t we getting anywhere?

Posted on February 21, 2013 by

I was in London this week. Like most capital cities, the business center still looks prosperous: foreign capital is still fueling wining and dining and consumption and construction. Yet in the country at large, austerity policies are fueling a recessionary … Continue reading →

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Optimism or Fantasy?

Posted on February 4, 2013 by

The remarkable rise in the US stock market to five-year highs must make us ask — is this justified optimism? Or a fantasy? There are true grounds of optimism in some respects. The US housing market appears to be recovering. … Continue reading →

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