your daily dose of economic commentary
Bill McBride discusses the mixed performance of rail freight volumes, highlighting growth in carloads and stagnation in intermodal traffic amid economic uncertainty.
Pierre Lemieux reflects on James Buchanan's views on life, death, and the enduring spirit of classical liberalism as expressed in his work and interviews.
An argument that Africa has made progress in various development areas but still faces significant economic and political challenges, hindering its growth potential.
The discussion focuses on the importance of selecting appropriate models for understanding complex realities, highlighting failures in economic and military applications due to poor model choices.
The post analyzes local housing market data for May, highlighting trends in sales, inventory, and mortgage rates compared to previous years.
Wailin Wong discusses rising U.S. labor productivity and explores various theories behind this trend with insights from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago president.
An argument that America is mired in corruption, exemplified by the behaviors of Trump and Musk, undermining democratic principles and the rule of law.
The May employment report showed job growth above expectations, but previous months' payrolls were revised down, indicating ongoing labor market challenges despite solid overall performance.
Scott Horsley discusses the addition of 139,000 jobs in May and the steady unemployment rate amidst a shrinking workforce.
Bill McBride discusses the May employment report, highlighting job growth, unemployment rates, and revisions to previous months' payroll data.
Steve Inskeep discusses Sen. Tim Kaine's views on the potential impact of Trump's tariffs on federal debt and the broader economy.
The post explores the implications of the separation between Trump and Musk for SpaceX and Tesla, highlighting the complexities of government reliance on Musk's enterprises.
A plan to drastically reduce the workforce of Voice of America from 1,300 to 81 employees is discussed, highlighting significant cuts in the agency.
Menzie Chinn discusses the implications of American consumption levels on the economy and trade, highlighting the need for fiscal rebalancing and potential reforms.
David Henderson discusses Adam Smith's arguments against imperialism, highlighting his analysis of the costs and benefits related to British colonialism.
Menzie Chinn discusses the recent inversion of the 10-year and 3-month Treasury yields and the ongoing depreciation of the dollar, indicating a weaker GDP outlook.
Nate Silver discusses the escalating feud between Elon Musk and Donald Trump, analyzing its implications for American politics and the influence of social media on public perception.
An argument that trade balances are not the primary cause of economic disparities in regions, highlighting automation's role over international trade in shaping local economies.
The post discusses significant increases in housing inventory and new listings, while median list prices remain stable, indicating trends in the real estate market.
Kevin Corcoran critiques regulatory overreach in vehicle design, highlighting how safety rules can restrict personal freedom and comfort for consumers.