BOHANON AND CUROTT: Recession can’t be predicted by single indicator
Since at least the time of John Maynard Keynes, if not earlier, economic pundits have been looking for a “golden” economic signal that predicts economic downturns.
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BOHANON &CUROTT: Trade wars are not waged on level playing field
Any tariff the United States imposes on foreign imports can be offset by interventions in the currency market.
BOHANON & CUROTT: Our spiraling debt will lead to crisis
The budget deal signed into law by President Trump spotlights the federal government’s fiscal irresponsibility.
Economic diversity index puts Pennsylvania first, Indiana next to last
Bloomberg analyzed the contribution to gross domestic product by industry and government in all 50 states to create the diversity index. Indiana’s GDP is most dependent on manufacturing and least dependent on government.
BOHANON & CUROTT: Remember that increasing government benefits has a cost
Pick your poison: dysfunctional incentives for those who receive benefits or massive budget-busting programs.
BOHANON & CUROTT: Income-redistribution schemes make for dubious public policy
With more than 20 candidates for president and perhaps more in the offing, lots of wacky policy proposals to redistribute income are bound to emerge.
BOHANON & CUROTT: Federal Reserve should not cave to political pressure
Investors now predict a 100% chance that the Federal Reserve will lower its interest rate target at its next meeting on July 31. The impending interest rate cut is a reversal of the Fed’s recent policy stance.
BOHANON & CUROTT: June unemployment report helps explain crisis at border
Among the foreign-born residing in the United States, the labor-force participation rate is 65.8%. For the native-born population, the labor-force participation rate is lower: 62.9%.
BOHANON & CUROTT: Overtime pay advocates, be careful what you wish for
Extending overtime pay to millions of Americans who aren’t currently eligible will burden millions of American businesses. But workers probably stand to lose the most.
BOHANON & STYRING: Economist honored by Trump is neither hero nor villain
The president just awarded 78-year-old economist Arthur Laffer the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Some call the namesake of the so-called Laffer curve a kook and a fake; others see him as a hero.
BOHANON & CUROTT: Viewing Ann Dancing through lens of a public good
The statue’s boosters are trying to raise $262,000 to ensure its permanent presence. Critics argue Ann has had her day and the funds could be better used elsewhere.
BOHANON & STYRING: D-day anniversary reminds us to be vigilant against tyranny
While we honor the remaining nonagenarians who bravely fought at the beaches of Normandy, let’s not forget that the odious philosophy they fought against, National Socialism, still has traction in some circles.
BOHANON & CUROTT: Indiana will be big loser in Trump’s war with Mexico
If President Trump’s new round of tariffs–this time aganst Mexico–is implemented, it will raise costs for producers, lower returns for investors, raise prices for consumers, and destroy jobs.
BOHANON & CUROTT: How farm-labor cost concerns led to creation of giant strawberry
Because a worker can pick a greater mass of strawberry with each muscle movement, a bigger berry–like machinery–substitutes for more expensive labor.
BOHANON & CUROTT: Nation’s student-loan crisis was created by government
Over the last 15 years, total student loan debt exploded from $600 billion to more than $1.5 trillion and now exceeds credit card debt.
BOHANON & CUROTT: Beware of gloomy predictions, economic or otherwise
Where do dire prognosticators go wrong? We think it comes from seeing the world economy as a zero sum-game.
BOHANON & CUROTT: ‘Rational ignorance’ results from voters’ lack of influence
Becoming a truly informed voter takes a lot of time. But the odds that an individual’s vote decides an outcome is vanishingly small. So most voters conclude it isn’t worth the effort.
BOHANON & CUROTT: Democratic socialism raises a fundamental question
Democratic socialism is much more than bumping up federal social spending. It is designed to generate fundamental changes in our economic order.
BOHANON & CUROTT: Population slowdown problematic for economy
Unfortunately, the size of the working age population has been growing slowly and even shrank slightly last year. This poses a real problem for our nation’s finances.
BOHANON & CUROTT: Lots to consider in debate over rising insulin prices
Last month, Indy-based Eli Lilly and Co., the original innovator in insulin, introduced the first low-priced “generic” version of its current insulin product.