South By North Strategies, Ltd.

Great Recession, Not Boomers, Boosted Federal Debt

Working Economics explains why the recent run-up in the federal debt as a share of GDP is a function of the “Great Recession” rather than generational warfare being waged by the Baby Boomers.

Around The Dial – October 10, 2012

Economic policy reports, blog postings, and media stories of interest:

• James Kwak discusses “capital gains tax rates and savings.”
• Economix traces trends in involuntary part-time work.
• The News & Observer reports on the gubernatorial candidate’s education plans.
• The Brookings Institution attempts to forecast unemployment trends.

Midweek Humor: Undecided Voters Edition

Saturday Night Live sheds some light on the questions driving America’s undecided voters.

America’s Two Job Problems

In an interview with the United States Studies Center at the University of Sydney, Prof. Arne Kalleberg of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill explains the two major problems troubling America’s labor market: a lack of jobs and a lack of quality jobs.

Around The Dial – October 9, 2012

Economic policy reports, blog postings, and media stories of interest:

• James Kwak explains what one “job creator” wants for America.
• The Greensboro News & Record reports on community college retraining programs.
• Rortybomb still worries about banks that are too big to fail.
• John Cassidy debunks some jobs figure conspiracy theories.
• The New York Times discusses the problems of hourly billing.