Business & Economics
Business & Economics
Setting the stage for stagflation
Prices rose 2.7 percent during 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ recent update of the Consumer Price Index (CPI). This is a worrisome fact because last year’s unemployment rate averaged more than 9 percent. This trend may signal a return of “stagflation,” a merger of stagnation and inflation. ...
Business & Economics
The War Against Free Parking
From San Diego to Susanville, Californians know that a free parking space is hard to find. Such spaces may be even harder to find under SB 518, proposed by state senator Alan Lowenthal. Like much of what emerges from Sacramento, the measure is at least instructive. Free parking only encourages ...
Business & Economics
Uncertainty about government creates sluggishness
The economy shed 85,000 jobs in December, to the surprise of most analysts. Meanwhile, the Obama administration continues to push for health care reform and other measures that will require higher taxes. But such activism is largely to blame for the prolonged economic slump. Some politicians speak of creating jobs ...
Business & Economics
Obama Takes Deficits To New Frontier
In his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama said that “families across the country are tightening their belts and making tough decisions,” so the “federal government should do the same.” The following week, the president presented his new budget, which contains $1.267 trillion in new deficit spending. So ...
Business & Economics
Cut taxes to boost employment
Californias unemployment rate, according to the most recent figures, is 12.4 percent, fifth highest in the nation behind only such economic basket cases as Michigan and South Carolina. Californias second-largest city, San Diego, is known as Americas Finest City but hasnt been immune to unemployment problems. San Diegos unemployment rate ...
Business & Economics
Declining unions, increasing stranglehold
The new figures on union membership are out from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. They reveal a decidedly non-union American workforce, and a union movement in continuous decline. That has been known for some time, but the figures reveal a new milestone in unions clout with government. Only 7.2% ...
Business & Economics
Insurance czar’s cheap political ploy
One of the best ways to evaluate the merits of any politicians’ proposed new rule or power grab is to first consider whether it’s something you would support if your political foes were in power. Unfortunately, Republican Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner apparently hasn’t employed that (or any other) common-sense test ...
Business & Economics
Rep. Issa: Was Obama ‘Just Lying to Congress’ on Tort Reform Pledge?
Health care spending consumes 17 percent of the economy, or about $2.5 trillion, and is projected to reach $4.7 trillion by 2019. The committee report contends that putting some restraints on medical malpractice lawsuits will reign in medical costs. It is estimated that these additional liability-based medical care costs adds ...
Business & Economics
Repair California’s Fiscal Problems Ourselves – or the Capital Markets Will
Events in Washington, D.C. have overshadowed the ongoing fiscal calamity in Sacramento, where earlier this month state legislators basically rejected the governors reforms almost as soon as they were released. Despite the uncertainty shrouding the capital, the budget crisis will be solved one way or another. This certainty is ...
Business & Economics
2010 Tort Liability Index Ranks States’ Tort Climate
2010 Tort Liability Index Ranks States’ Tort Climate —Alaska ranks best, New York and New Jersey worst— San Francisco—The Pacific Research Institute (PRI), a free-market think tank based in San Francisco, and the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI, a public policy and economic research organization based in Arlington, VA, announced today the release ...
Setting the stage for stagflation
Prices rose 2.7 percent during 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ recent update of the Consumer Price Index (CPI). This is a worrisome fact because last year’s unemployment rate averaged more than 9 percent. This trend may signal a return of “stagflation,” a merger of stagnation and inflation. ...
The War Against Free Parking
From San Diego to Susanville, Californians know that a free parking space is hard to find. Such spaces may be even harder to find under SB 518, proposed by state senator Alan Lowenthal. Like much of what emerges from Sacramento, the measure is at least instructive. Free parking only encourages ...
Uncertainty about government creates sluggishness
The economy shed 85,000 jobs in December, to the surprise of most analysts. Meanwhile, the Obama administration continues to push for health care reform and other measures that will require higher taxes. But such activism is largely to blame for the prolonged economic slump. Some politicians speak of creating jobs ...
Obama Takes Deficits To New Frontier
In his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama said that “families across the country are tightening their belts and making tough decisions,” so the “federal government should do the same.” The following week, the president presented his new budget, which contains $1.267 trillion in new deficit spending. So ...
Cut taxes to boost employment
Californias unemployment rate, according to the most recent figures, is 12.4 percent, fifth highest in the nation behind only such economic basket cases as Michigan and South Carolina. Californias second-largest city, San Diego, is known as Americas Finest City but hasnt been immune to unemployment problems. San Diegos unemployment rate ...
Declining unions, increasing stranglehold
The new figures on union membership are out from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. They reveal a decidedly non-union American workforce, and a union movement in continuous decline. That has been known for some time, but the figures reveal a new milestone in unions clout with government. Only 7.2% ...
Insurance czar’s cheap political ploy
One of the best ways to evaluate the merits of any politicians’ proposed new rule or power grab is to first consider whether it’s something you would support if your political foes were in power. Unfortunately, Republican Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner apparently hasn’t employed that (or any other) common-sense test ...
Rep. Issa: Was Obama ‘Just Lying to Congress’ on Tort Reform Pledge?
Health care spending consumes 17 percent of the economy, or about $2.5 trillion, and is projected to reach $4.7 trillion by 2019. The committee report contends that putting some restraints on medical malpractice lawsuits will reign in medical costs. It is estimated that these additional liability-based medical care costs adds ...
Repair California’s Fiscal Problems Ourselves – or the Capital Markets Will
Events in Washington, D.C. have overshadowed the ongoing fiscal calamity in Sacramento, where earlier this month state legislators basically rejected the governors reforms almost as soon as they were released. Despite the uncertainty shrouding the capital, the budget crisis will be solved one way or another. This certainty is ...
2010 Tort Liability Index Ranks States’ Tort Climate
2010 Tort Liability Index Ranks States’ Tort Climate —Alaska ranks best, New York and New Jersey worst— San Francisco—The Pacific Research Institute (PRI), a free-market think tank based in San Francisco, and the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI, a public policy and economic research organization based in Arlington, VA, announced today the release ...
