One more advocate of setting the record straight on consumer spending. Don Marron takes up the crusade that Michael Mandel started to accurately portray the contribution that consumer spending makes to GDP. Journalists, commentators, and economists often say that consumer spending makes up 70% of the U.S. economy. Indeed, it’s easy to find several examples […]
Archive for May 27th, 2010
Posted in 
Tags: 
UAW Looks Towards Clawbacks
Posted by Tom Lindmark on May 27th, 2010
I suppose this was to be expected, but that doesn’t make it any less disappointing. The WSJ reports that Ron Gettelfinger, the outgoing President of the UAW, said today that he expects that the resurrection of Chrysler and GM will prompt the union to bargain to claw back some of the concessions they made to […]
Moving On From Fixed Rate Mortgages
Posted by Tom Lindmark on May 27th, 2010
Arnold Kling has some interesting thoughts on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages today. 1. The U.S. is the only country with the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. Other countries get along fine without it. 2. The core of my argument against the thirty-year fixed-rate mortgage is that without government intervention I believe that more borrowers would prefer mortgages where […]
Playing With Numbers Congressional Style
Posted by Tom Lindmark on May 27th, 2010
Today’s lesson on how Congress goes about the nation’s business comes from Keith Hennessey: House Democrats have modified their “extenders” bill and appear to be bringing it to the floor for a vote today. Monday’s version would have increased the deficit by $134 B over the next decade. Today’s version would increase the deficit by $84 B […]
