U.S. gasoline prices are again moving quickly up. Some of the politicians who are looking for a scapegoat might do well to look in a mirror.
Author Archives: James_Hamilton
Specter’s antitrust bill
I share the concerns expressed at Mises Economics Blog and the Voluntary Trade Council about antitrust legislation introduced this week targeting both domestic and foreign oil producers.
An open letter to the Honorable Judge Carl J. West
My two cents worth on the multimillion dollar class-action lawsuit that was filed on my behalf against Ralphs Grocery Company.
War fears and the price of oil
More talk this week of war with Iran, and the price of oil jumps right up. Maybe the two are related, and maybe not.
Who’s grumpy about this week’s good economic news?
People who bought long-term Treasuries at 4.3%, that’s who.
The yield curve and predicting recessions
Jonathan Wright, a brilliant research economist at the Federal Reserve Board, recently completed a very interesting paper titled The Yield Curve and Predicting Recessions. Wright’s research seems to have been influential in Fed Chair Ben Bernanke’s recent assessment that the current very flat yield curve does not signify a coming significant economic slowdown.
What’s moving long-term yields?
Long-term interest rates continue to creep up.
Learning the new Fedspeak
Curious reaction from both markets and pundits to yesterday’s statement from the FOMC accompanying the decision to boost the fed funds rate another 25 basis points.
Facing the immigration question
Andrew Samwick had an extremely thoughtful post this weekend.
The politics of the deficit
Congress squawks about the horrible debt and then adds even more red ink.