If you are wondering why we are having an idiotic debate about economic policy, read the document linked here from Surplus magazine, which was taken over by a news agency. In it, Germany’s largest trade unions complain about the attacks on the welfare state that are carried out almost daily by the governing parties. …
Readers repeatedly point out that I should take note of the fact that long-term interest rates are currently not following the short-term rates set by the central bank, as I normally assume they do. They point out, for example, that long-term interest rates in Germany are currently tending to rise, …
Jeffrey Sachs says: ‘A country’s trade deficit (more precisely, its current account deficit) is not an indication of unfair trade practices by the surplus countries. It points to something quite different. A current account deficit means that the deficit country is spending more than it produces. …
Now they are all up in arms. Nasty Trump has made good on his threat. He has indeed imposed tariffs on products from half the world, which should ensure that US imports rise less quickly and the US current account deficit falls. …
