From Jeff Borland, Professor of Economics at University of Melbourne:
…95% of the time a government spends thinking about unemployment should be spent thinking about ways to promote economic growth.
Read more at Work for the Dole doesn't work – but here is what does.
Jack Rodman, president of Global Distressed Solutions LLC, spent 1999 to 2011 living in Japan and China, packaging and disposing of nonperforming loans and distressed assets. He writes on the problems facing China:
At the end of 1989, Japan’s bubble economy burst and its economic miracle came to an abrupt end. The Nikkei exchange fell from nearly 40,000 to its current 10,000 range. Over the course of 20 years, what appeared to be “unstoppable” economic growth proved to be anything but.
Today, China, in some ways, appears to be closer to following Japan than to sustaining its own economic miracle. China’s Shanghai Index (stocks) has fallen from a high of 7,000 in 2007 to a low of 2,000 for the past few years, and Chinese domestic investors have little confidence in their domestic stock market. The Japanese bubble, and its aftermath, was the result of a series of domestic financial and economic imbalances, many of which China faces today—to varying if not greater degrees….
Read more at China is now heading toward Japan-style economic paralysis if it doesnt change course – Quartz.
“….Copper is telling us that while the U.S. equity markets are being priced by such frivolous things as U.S. holiday retail sales, the global economy is experiencing a deceleration in growth [that will become evident] in the first half of next year,” said Jason Schenker, president and chief economist at Prestige Economics LLC.
Mohamed A. El-Erian, CEO of PIMCO, describes four key dynamics that will shape the future of the global economy:
“Those on the receiving end of these four dynamics – the vast majority of us – need not be paralyzed by uncertainty and anxiety. Instead, we can use this simple framework to monitor developments, learn from them, and adapt. Yes, there will still be volatility, unusual strains, and historically odd outcomes. But, remember, a global paradigm shift implies a significant change in opportunities, and not just risks.”
via The Anatomy of Global Economic Uncertainty – Mohamed A. El-Erian – Project Syndicate.
Federal Reserve officials Wednesday refrained from taking new steps to charge up the economy as they expressed some modest optimism about the recovery while they continue to debate ways to bring unemployment down without stoking inflation.Meanwhile, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, in a news conference Wednesday after the Fed announcement, offered little hope for a pickup in U.S. growth after years of economic weakness, saying the pace of progress is “likely to be frustratingly slow.”
Although there has been some noise about easing real estate curbs amid recent aggressive price cutting and subsequent protests, Li Daokui’s [academic advisor and member of the monetary policy committee of the People’s Bank of China] view is consistent with Premier Wen Jiabao’s view that curbs will be remain in place. He believes that economic growth will slow, and the growth model which relies on real estate development will end.
He added that inflation in China will probably fall from about 5.5% for this year to just 2.8% next year…..
via China will not ease up on realty – macrobusiness.com.au | macrobusiness.com.au.
