Thoughts from the Frontline: Economists Are (Still) Clueless By John Mauldin Economists set themselves too easy, too useless a task if in tempestuous seasons they can only tell us that when the storm is past the ocean is flat again. - John Maynard Keynes, A Tract on Monetary Reform There can be few fields of human endeavor in which history counts for so little as in the world of finance. Past experience, to the extent that it is part of memory at all, is dismissed as the primitive refuge of those who do not have the insight to appreciate the incredible wonders of the present. - John Kenneth Galbraith Hitler must have been rather loosely educated, not having learned the lesson of … [Read more...]
The Economics of Disasters Like Hurricane Sandy
Many people believe the fallacy that wars and disasters are good for the economy, perhaps because some people like defense contractors and home-builders benefit. But it is important to understand how wealth works. If you build a house from raw materials you are richer. For instance suppose you take $50,000 worth of raw materials and add $50,000 worth of labor and come out with a house worth $150,000. in that case you created $50,000 worth of wealth out of thin air. But if someone comes along and knocks your house down and you rebuild it: 1) Are you better off? 2) Worse off? 3) The Same? ~ Tim McMahon, editor In this article Kerk Phillips looks at "hurricane economics". Even Economically, … [Read more...]
The World Is in the Grip of a Bear Market–Have You Noticed?
Global Markets, Economies Mired in Early Stages of Biggest Disaster Ever By Elliott Wave International The following is a sample from Elliott Wave International's new 40-page report, The State of the Global Markets -- 2013 Edition: The Most Important Investment Report You'll Read This Year. This article was originally published in Robert Prechter's September 2012 Elliott Wave Theorist. Global markets and economies are mired in the early stages of the biggest disaster ever. Most people think both areas are in the early stages of a prolonged recovery, but in fact they are on the cusp of the second downturn, which will be of epic proportion. The world is in the grip of a bear market. … [Read more...]
Selling Your Scrap Gold During The Economic Downturn
Selling Your Scrap Gold Economic downturns are a fact of life and you never know when you might be caught up in events outside your control. That is why you always have to be prepared for the circumstances life might throw at you. If during good times you have accumulated some gold either as jewelry or coins, then selling your scrap gold is one such step that you can take when times are rough. There are many advantages of having some gold as an insurance policy against tough times. What is "Scrap Gold"? In its simplest terms, scrap gold is any gold that is sent back to the refiner for recycling. Mostly it is broken jewelry that is no longer needed. Gold coins are rarely melted down … [Read more...]
In 1929, Deflation Started in Europe Before Overtaking the U.S.
Marcus Aurelius was the last of the "Five Good" Roman emperors and is also considered one of the most important members of the Stoic philosophers. He ruled Rome from 161 to 180 AD. He brilliantly said, "Look back over the past, with its changing empires that rose and fell, and you can foresee the future, too." Today we may be seeing the beginning of the end of the American Empire. As Americans we don't like to think of ourselves as having an empire but according to Daniel Larison, The U.S. treats several key regions of the world as privileged space where it is supposed to have military and political supremacy, and regional challengers to that supremacy are treated as potential … [Read more...]
Australia- Iron Ore, Housing and Unemployment
Speculation Mounts Over RBA October Meeting As the RBA heads towards it October meeting, there are a number of important issues on the agenda. The price of iron ore which was one of the major topics of the September meeting have now seen a 26% resurgence in price and the world’s fourth biggest exporter of iron ore, Fortescu Metals, has announced that its US$4.5-billion debt deal will now enable it to refinance any outstanding deals. The central banks in Europe and the United States have announced their intentions to fight off inflation and stimulate asset prices by printing unlimited money while China will be contributing a $150-billion package to the mix. Unemployment Despite … [Read more...]
Are Businesses Quietly Preparing for a Financial Apocalypse?
By Dan Steinhart, Casey Research US corporations are sitting on more cash than at any point since World War 2. That's without including banks. I'm only talking about non-financial corporations – the ones that sell goods and services and make the economy go. Those businesses hold $1.4 trillion. In absolute terms, that's the most ever. In relative terms, it's the most since World War II. As investors, we can infer quite a bit from corporations' inability (or unwillingness) to deploy their cash. For one, it indicates that business have assumed a very defensive stance. Cash, of course, is a buffer against uncertainty - the uncertainty that business slows for any reason. … [Read more...]
What is the Difference Between Micro and Macro Economics?
Microeconomics vs. Macroeconomics- Economics can be described as the social science that examines how people use limited resources to produce, distribute, and consume goods and services to satisfy their unlimited needs and desires. Although microeconomics and macroeconomics are not the only disciplines and paths of specialization to exist within the broader context of economics, these two related, tightly bound, but nonetheless disparate fields are likely the most prominent. Microeconomics and macroeconomics do exactly what their names indicate. Microeconomics focuses on close-up snapshots of people, businesses, and non-profit organizations acting within economies while macroeconomics … [Read more...]
Aussie Costs of Spending, Living and Credit
Aussie Credit Card Reforms The recent credit card reforms, enforced starting July 1, have stirred up quite the debate on the matter, with analysts and experts rushing to argue whether or not the reforms are actually beneficial for the end-user. However, the habits, debts and expenditure afforded by that very end-user are causing an extended discussion of their own. Where does the truth lie? Is Australia really sinking under credit card debt? Are the new reforms going to spell a slow, yet certain and agonizing death for plastic? Or is the state of the nation’s money far more positive than we imagine—and simply suffering at the hands of global recession-induced cries of panic? … [Read more...]
Recruiters Cost Cutting Strategies
Australian Job Market According to a recent report published by News.com.au, the Australian job market, albeit relatively secure for the time being, does have its sore spots. There are numerous types of employment, which, due to the altering economic landscape and shifts caused by the global recession, globalization and the spread of outsourcing and offshoring, are simply not safe anymore. Read on to learn what those unsafe job sectors are, to figure out what recruiters are looking for, in these trying times and to find out about possible strategies employed by companies which are recruiting on a tight budget. Travel. Travel has come to be regarded as a luxury, during a time when the … [Read more...]
