America: my role in its downfall
My column this week deplored the breakdown in Washington. I was having second thoughts, I said, on my previous optimism about the country’s prospects. On one side you have the unrivalled energy and...
View ArticleThe poverty of centrism
Paul Krugman and EJ Dionne agree that too much centrism is what ails the United States. What the country needs is fewer moderates and more people ready to stand firm on principle come what may....
View ArticleTime for QE3, and then some
The global beating shares just took had many causes, no doubt. Still disgusted by the US debt-ceiling fiasco, I am apt to give that masterclass in malice and incompetence more of the blame than it...
View ArticleThe Texan climate, and other unfair advantages
There’s a lot to digest about Rick Perry and the Texas Miracle/Unmiracle. ProPublica has a nice reading guide on the topic. It mentions Paul Burka’s indispensable advice to Yankee journalists and...
View ArticleA critique of pure gold
A lot of Tea Party types want to put the US back on the gold standard. One wonders how many of them even know what this means. Barry Eichengreen examines this “oddball proposal” in A Critique of Pure...
View ArticleWhat is the Fed waiting for?
In yesterday’s column I discussed some of the arguments for and against additional monetary stimulus. On balance, I’m for it–and I wouldn’t bet against it happening in the next month or two. The August...
View ArticleWall Street Journal and AFL-CIO unite
It’s not every day that you see the editors of the Wall Street Journal agreeing with the leaders of the AFL-CIO on an issue of economic policy. Both authorities deplore the Justice Department’s action...
View ArticleObama’s new stimulus
President Obama’s speech to Congress was impressive. Good to see some leading from the front, for a change. The tone was commanding, confident, and purposeful. Crucially, he took the initiative and...
View ArticleRethinking central banking
An event at the Brookings Institution launched a new report, Rethinking Central Banking, by a team of economic eminences including Barry Eichengreen, Raghu Rajan, Eswar Prasad, Carmen Reinhart, Kenneth...
View ArticleWaiting for the White House (and the Super Committee)
On Monday the Obama administration has promised to spell out its thinking on long-term deficit reduction. Something to read while you’re waiting: “What we hope to see from the Super Committee,”...
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