Overview for economy

Cain's 999 'Plan' is Just a Slogan

At last night's Republican debate, Michele Bachmann said "If you turn 999 upside down, the devil is in the details." It was a clever line. Problem is that when it comes to Herman Cain's 999 plan, there are no details, because there is no plan. What there is is a slightly longer list of talking …

Written by Mytheos Holt on Wednesday October 12, 2011

A Template for a GOP Economic Plan

America is now coping with the debt binge of the past decade and stagnating incomes across the board. Trying to provide some cushion for those left economically behind may be a good short-term strategy. But policy makers also need to work toward a restructuring of America's economic architecture. …

Written by Fred Bauer on Wednesday September 28, 2011

Why Canada Can't Win Forever

In my column for the National Post , I ask if Canada is about to face an economic downturn: Is Canada’s luck finally running out? Through three bad economic years, Canada has emerged as an island of relative stability amid the global storm. More Canadians are working today than were …

Written by David Frum on Saturday September 24, 2011

A Recovery Menaced By Dysfunctional Politics

In a time of fundamental uncertainty, what do we know for certain? No, that’s not a Yogi Berra kind of question. Timing of passage of an increase of some size in the national debt ceiling remains uncertain. Which side will blink first remains uncertain. Final form of the legislation …

Written by Steve Bell on Friday July 29, 2011

The Economy Can't Survive Abrupt Spending Cuts

An economic precedent that is remotely comparable to an abrupt hit-the-wall 44% cut in federal government spending is the defense build-down at the end of World War II. I'm trying to think of an economic precedent even remotely comparable to an abrupt hit-the-wall 44% cut in federal government …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday July 12, 2011

Fiscal Stimulus Didn't Work, Now What?

A White House report touting the success of the fiscal stimulus program is not the good news it is reported to be. A report from the White House Council of Economic Advisers has indicated that the stimulus added 2.3 to 3.2 percent to gross domestic product in the first quarter relative to …

Written by Hank Adler on Tuesday July 5, 2011

Romney Goes for Obama's Jobs Record

Here's a powerful Romney ad that (unlike those unintentionally hilarious Pawlenty ads) actually delivers its message. Here's a powerful Romney ad that (unlike those unintentionally hilarious Pawlenty ads) actually delivers its message:

Written by David Frum on Thursday June 30, 2011

Obama is His Own Worst Enemy

The way to defeat Obama is to focus on his own weaknesses and failings, not to invent new ones. David Brooks wrote a perceptive column today about the deficiencies in President Obama's leadership style. He can expect a barrage of negative comment from conservatives who will reject Brooks' …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday June 28, 2011

Are Obama's Billions Backfiring?

Sustained productivity growth comes only as a result of capital investment that meets market needs. Simply throwing money at building roads, bridges, manufacturing plants or whatever doesn’t do the trick. The question worth asking now is pretty simple: will America’s current capital investment …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Monday June 13, 2011

Incredible Shrinking Workers' Income

Workers' share of US national income continues to decline. Which prompts two questions for the GOP contenders seeking the presidential nomination. Workers' share of U.S, national income is collapsing. Two questions for the Republican presidential candidates: 1) Is this a problem? …

Written by David Frum on Sunday June 12, 2011

No Quick Cure for America's Sick Economy

Americans received another disappointing jobs report in May. Why is the U.S. economy growing so slowly? Americans received another disappointing jobs report in May. Only 54, 000 net new jobs: barely a nibble out of the 16-million-plus unemployed and discouraged. Why is the U.S. economy growing so …

Written by David Frum on Saturday June 11, 2011

America's New Consumer Divide

Chrystia Freeland reports new research that suggests that 10% of US households account for 50% of US consumer spending. Chrystia Freeland reports new research that suggests that 10% of US households account for 50% of US consumer spending. Remember how folk singers back in the 1960s used to …

Written by David Frum on Friday June 10, 2011

More Tax Cuts Won't Mean More Hiring

Many conservatives are arguing for another round of cuts in capital gains taxes and other taxes on capital. But these cuts might not spur businesses to add workers. A cruel joke about politics: "It's not that Mr. X lacks principles. It's that he does not understand the principles he has." I …

Written by David Frum on Friday June 10, 2011

Sweden's Health Care Pays Off

The people of Avesta, Sweden look much better cared for than their US or UK counterparts. In 24 hours, haven't spotted a single obese person. More casual Swedish empiricism: The people of this industrial town look much better cared for than their US or UK counterparts. I haven't seen a single …

Written by David Frum on Friday June 10, 2011

Did Geithner Really Kill The Recovery?

The Left is focusing their ire on Treasury Secretary Geithner, accusing him of pushing austerity measures that have weakened the economic recovery. Zachary Goldfarb’s reporting in the Washington Post has revealed an important piece of information about why the economy is slowing down. Forget …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Thursday June 9, 2011

Pawlenty's Blue-Collar Blues

Pawlenty supporters cite his blue-collar origins as reason to hope he can reach more voters. After his economic speech Tuesday those hopes are unlikely to be realized. Tim Pawlenty supporters cite their man's blue-collar origins as reason to hope that he can reach voters unreachable by say Mitt …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday June 8, 2011

Pawlenty's Tax Cuts Won't Boost Jobs

Tim Pawlenty wants his economic policy to generate jobs, but lower taxes on upper-income earners might not do the trick. During the Q&A session of Pawlenty's economic policy speech Tuesday in Chicago, he was asked a simple question: why do we need even more tax cuts? The questioner noted that …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Tuesday June 7, 2011

Is GOP's Default Talk Slowing Recovery?

In the D.C. Examiner Michael Barone accuses Obama of harming business confidence and weakening the recovery. If that's right, what about the GOP's default threat? Michael Barone is one of the smartest and most even-tempered observers in Washington. In today's D.C. Examiner he offers his …

Written by David Frum on Monday June 6, 2011

Does Pawlenty Have a Jobs Plan?

On Tuesday, Tim Pawlenty will unveil his economic policy. So far, he's focused on tackling the debt, but will his speech also have serious policies to spur job growth? On Tuesday, Tim Pawlenty will deliver his big economic policy speech in Chicago, promising a "specific plan for boosting the …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Monday June 6, 2011

Weak Economy May Hurt GOP Worse Than Dems

Recent signs of an economic slowdown -- stock market declines, so-so job numbers, sluggish growth -- could well end up hurting Republicans in Congress. Recent signs of an economic slowdown -- stock market declines, so-so job numbers, sluggish growth -- aren’t a good reason for Republicans to …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Friday June 3, 2011