It is clear that there have been significant increases in U.S. household wealth since the depths of the 2009 financial crisis, largely due to substantial increases in stock market and home valuations. In the past, large gains in household wealth have stimulated higher levels of consumer spending. This does not appear to be the case … Continued
There really shouldn’t be any question that climate changes. The real issues are; what is the rate and direction of change, what is causing it, what can or should be done about it and what makes economic sense? These are important questions. Unfortunately, they would be difficult to answer under the best of circumstances, but … Continued
In the financial markets, change tends to be measured in one of two ways, numerically, that is, the Dow Jones was up 100 points today, or, as a percentage, the Dow Jones was up approximately 0.5%. While both methods of measurement say the same thing, under some circumstances they may not be immediately seen as … Continued
So began a 1923 magazine advertisement that became legendary. The ad was developed to sell a car, the Jordan “Playboy”. Previously, car ads concentrated on practicalities, such as engine size, the number of forward gears and special features. “Somewhere West of Laramie” changed all that, to highlight the automobile as a path to adventure, as … Continued
According to Wikipedia, corporate governance broadly refers to the mechanisms, processes and relations by which corporations are controlled and directed. Governance structures are intended to identify the distribution of rights and responsibilities among different stakeholders, including; boards of directors, management, employees, shareholders, creditors, auditors, regulators and others. Interest in the corporate governance practices of modern … Continued
Over the last several months there has been a lot of discussion regarding regulation. Much of the discussion has tended to focus on regulation as an instrument to further controversial policies. It is important to recognize that regulation is not inherently bad. Society needs constructive regulation in order to function and provide all parties with … Continued
California is seeing a marked improvement in the availability of water supplies, which has led several water agencies, including San Diego and Orange counties, to declare an end to drought conditions. The gains are significant. The early February survey, conducted by the California Department of Water Resources, indicated that the statewide snow pack stood at … Continued
First, thanks to Alfred E. Newman and Mad magazine. The conventional wisdom among economists has generally held that people don’t like uncertainty and the unknowable. When faced with the prospect of disruption and changes without clear outcomes, they become less confident and more cautious about making big decisions, particularly as they relate to finances. Over … Continued
Last June in our blog titled Reverse Mortgages, we noted that, while reverse mortgages may have a role in retirement planning, some of the promotional efforts may not provide enough information regarding risks. In December 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ordered three companies to stop misleading ads and to pay combined penalties of approximately … Continued
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) recently announced an agreement to reduce oil production by approximately 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd), or about 4%. Markets responded with a 10% increase in prices. While OPEC no longer has the almost dominant position it enjoyed during the oil embargo of 1973-74, the group remains in … Continued
According to the National Coffee Association, between 2008 and 2016, the share of 18-24-year-olds who said they had bought a gourmet coffee beverage the day before rose to 36% from 13%. This may account for a Starbucks project to launch high-end coffee shops that would charge as much as $12 for a 12 ounce cup … Continued
Many market and economic forecasters like to tie some of their predictions to changes in the political scene, particularly when there is a material change in control. Typically, projections tend to examine historical market action and compare key data points to the current situation, in an effort to provide insight as to possible future market … Continued
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