Category Archives: Economics

World Economic Forum Global Risks 2012

Posted on January 15, 2012 by macromon

The World Economic Forum is out with their Global Risks 2012 report.   Great video presentation.  Click here for PDF copy. Economic imbalances and social inequality risk reversing the gains of globalization, warns the World Economic Forum in its report Global … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Swan Watch, Economics, Policy, Politics, Sovereign Debt, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , | 1 Comment

France and Germany push financial transaction tax

Posted on January 9, 2012 by macromon

(click here if video is not observable)

Posted in Economics, Equities, Fiscal Policy | Tagged , | Leave a comment

HSBC Brazil PMI Shows Weakest Deterioration Since Decline

Posted on January 3, 2012 by macromon

“The main message from the latest HSBC Manufacturing PMI index is that the deterioration in Brazil’s manufacturing sector business conditions continued to ease in December. The headline index remains just under the 50.0 waterline (49.1), indicating that the sector is … Continue reading →

Posted in BRICs, Economics | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Eurozone Q4 ’11 manufacturing growth weakest since mid-2009

Posted on January 2, 2012 by macromon

“Eurozone manufacturing is clearly undergoing another recession. Despite the rate of decline easing slightly in December, production appears to have been collapsing across the single currency area at a quarterly rate of approximately 1.5% in the final quarter of 2011. … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Euro | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Hourly Compensation Costs in Manufacturing

Posted on December 22, 2011 by macromon

Great data from the BLS comparing hourly compensation for manufacturing.   The second chart looks at the benefits component of the hourly cost. The data are from 2010 and sensitive to exchange rate movements.   We will post a follow-up chart in … Continue reading →

Posted in Charts, Dollar, Economics | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Trends in U.S. Inflation

Posted on November 22, 2011 by macromon

Here is an informative chart from the BLS.   What gets lost in all the noise and doom and gloom out of Europe is the U.S. consumer price index has been running at 3.5 percent on annual basis since early spring.   … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Inflation/Deflation | Tagged | 1 Comment

60 Minutes: Christine Lagarde

Posted on November 21, 2011 by macromon

Christine Largarde’s interview with 60 minutes last night was very impressive.  She is a doer and contradicts the stereotypical “meet and discuss” (over nice lunches) do nothing Eurocrat. Not mentioned was that as an exchange student in the U.S. she … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Euro, General Interest, Policy, Whales | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Nonlinear Thinking: Sixth-Grade iApp Developer

Posted on November 11, 2011 by macromon

This is amazing.  Exactly what the world needs more of.  Click here for more on Thomas’ background. (click here if video is not observable)

Posted in Demographics, Economics, Technology | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Niall Ferguson: The 6 killer apps of prosperity

Posted on November 4, 2011 by macromon

This is good stuff.   Make time to listen to the 20 minute lecture. “Today the average Korean works 1,000 hours more a year than the average German.” (click here if video is not observable)

Posted in Economics, General Interest, Interviews, Video | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Stiglitz: Lessons from Iceland’s Economic Crisis

Posted on November 3, 2011 by macromon

Interesting take from Nobel prize economist, Joe Stiglitz, on Iceland’s response to its debt crisis, which is becoming a model for some in European periphery.    Austerity is so passé! (click here if video is not observable)

Posted in Black Swan Watch, Economics, Euro, PIIGS, Policy, Sovereign Debt, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , | Leave a comment