Category Archives: Economy

Should Jobless Benefits Be Extended for the Eighth Time?

By Gerard Francis Lameiro | Published: July 19, 2010
An editorial in The Wall Street Journal this week discusses the proposal to extend jobless benefits for the eighth time since the recession started.  This extension would mean the unemployed can collect benefits for up to 99 weeks, nearly two years.  Is this a good idea from an economics point of view?  Is this compassion?  Or, are [...]
Also posted in America's Future, Depression, Double-Dip Recession, Economic Growth, Jobs, Taxes | Comments closed

Economic Optimism Down – 17 Month Low – Why?

By Gerard Francis Lameiro | Published: July 13, 2010
SPECIAL BLOG POSTING Investor’s Business Daily reported this week that economic optimism is down to a 17 month low, according to the IBD/TIPP Economic Optimism Index.  Separately, small business confidence is also declining with a lower sales outlook, according to the National Federation of Independent Business.  Why has economic optimism declined?  Are these results unexpected?  Let’s [...]
Also posted in America's Future, Double-Dip Recession, Jobs, Taxes, Unemployment | Comments closed

Low Interest Rates – Who Wins? Who Loses?

By Gerard Francis Lameiro | Published: July 5, 2010
In The Wall Street Journal this week, an op-ed piece deals with the Federal Reserve’s policy of near-zero interest rates, presumably to help our very anemic and faltering economic recovery.  Are we really in an economic recovery?  Or, are we on the edge of a double-dip recession?  Or worse yet, are we entering a depression [...]
Also posted in Depression, Double-Dip Recession, Financial Sector Regulation, Interest Rates | Comments closed

Vagueness Impedes Economic Growth – Why?

By Gerard Francis Lameiro | Published: July 1, 2010
Writing in The Wall Street Journal this week, Daniel Henninger suggests a “void-for-vagueness doctrine” for Congress.  What does he mean by “vagueness?”  And, why is this suggestion so very important for economic growth?  Let’s talk about it now. The impetus for The Wall Street Journal column was the recent Supreme Court decision that found that the [...]
Also posted in America's Future, Economic Growth, Financial Sector Regulation, Health Care System, Rule of Law | Comments closed

Are We Entering a Depression?

By Gerard Francis Lameiro | Published: June 28, 2010
Economist Paul Krugman in an op-ed column in The New York Times online edition indicates that he is fearful that we are now in the early stages of a depression, possibly the third depression in our history.  Krugman also appears to believe that the cause will be government policy mistakes.  Specifically, he sees the need for [...]
Also posted in America's Future, Depression, Jobs, Taxes | Comments closed

Taxes are Going Up – But Will Deficits and Debt Go Down?

By Gerard Francis Lameiro | Published: May 16, 2010
Lots of people have been calling for new taxes and tax increases at the Federal, state and local levels.  We also know that Washington will allow the Bush tax cuts to expire soon.  So, taxes are going up.  No doubt about it.  But, as our taxes go up and up, will our deficits and debt decline?  [...]
Also posted in Taxes | Comments closed

The $1 Trillion Euro-Bailout, Riots in Greece, and Turbulent Markets – Should Americans Care?

By Gerard Francis Lameiro | Published: May 10, 2010
An editorial piece in The Wall Street Journal this week states that: “The EU’s bailout postpones the day of fiscal reckoning.”  What does that mean for Europe and for America?  What do they mean by a day of fiscal reckoning?  Plus, why were Greeks rioting any way?  And, why should that make our markets so turbulent?  Should Americans really care [...]
Also posted in America's Economic War, America's Future, Taxes | Comments closed

Stock Market Crashes – What’s Going On?

By Gerard Francis Lameiro | Published: May 6, 2010
The stock market crashed!  The market went from bullish to bearish in a flash!  The Dow was down about 1000 points at one point during the trading day, closing at about 347 off for the day.  All 30 Dow component stocks were down, Bank of America was down around 7%.  What happened?  Why so fast?  [...]
Also posted in News | Comments closed

Fox News Channel Interview – Great People, Enjoyed Doing the Interview

By Gerard Francis Lameiro | Published: April 29, 2010
Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to be interviewed by Fox News.  It was a great experience and the Fox News Channel staff were terrific people.  If you’re interested in learning more about the interview, please read on. The live interview took place last Tuesday and went about 15 minutes from roughly 1:45 pm – 2:00 pm EDT.  [...]
Also posted in Fox News, Jobs, Taxes | Comments closed

Is a VAT Tax Back on the Table?

By Gerard Francis Lameiro | Published: April 22, 2010
A recent Yahoo news story suggests that President Obama might consider a VAT (or Value-Added Tax) – essentially a National Sales Tax.  Recently, former Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volker brought up the topic of a VAT tax as a potential way to boost taxes.  But, others thought much differently, including the U.S. Senate that voted overwhelmingly 85-13 last week in [...]
Also posted in Jobs, Taxes | Comments closed