Today’s March trade release brought unwelcome news, making the advance release (discussed by Jim here) appear optimistic by comparison. From Reuters:
Author Archives: Menzie Chinn
Chinn-Ito Financial Openness Index Updated to 2013
The Chinn-Ito index revised and updated to 2013 is now available here.
Kansas Short Term Economic Outlook: Not So Great
Here’s the Philadelphia Fed’s revamped coincident index and the six month forecast for Kansas economic activity.
Newly Revamped Coincident Indices Indicate … Wisconsin Still Lags
and is forecasted to continue to lag.
What Remains of the High Policy Uncertainty-Lagging Investment Thesis?
The abstract from the recent IMF’s World Economic Outlook chapter on investment:
Private fixed investment in advanced economies contracted sharply during the global financial crisis, and there has been little recovery since. … business investment accounts for the bulk of the slump, and the overriding factor holding it back has been the overall weakness of economic activity. In some countries, other contributing factors include financial constraints and policy uncertainty. These findings suggest that addressing the general weakness in economic activity is crucial for restoring growth in private investment.
Foreign Reserve Accumulation Tails Off
And actually decline, in dollar terms.
Currency Manipulation, the RMB and Misalignment, Yet Again
In his criticism of the Trans Pacific Partnership, Senator Schumer discussed at length the need to counter currency manipulation, with particular reference to China. (See developments here.)
Trends in Poverty in Wisconsin
Poverty, estimated using the official criteria and poverty threshold, or including taxes and non-cash benefits, rises in Wisconsin (while the officially reported Census measure declines in the US). [minor edits to clarify MDC 4/23]
Three Four Five Graphs Regarding Wisconsin Economic Policy
Wisconsin employment falls in March; continues to lag the Nation.
Springtime for Walker and Wisconsin
Winter for …
From Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
The University of Wisconsin-Madison will eliminate about 400 positions, most of them vacant, and will close or restructure several academic programs across campus over the next two years in response to state budget cuts, Chancellor Rebecca Blank announced on her blog Friday.