April 2012
1 post
14 tags
AJE Q&A: Expatriates, Buffett Rule, OWS, and...
First, thank you to every one who has waited for me to post. After back-to-back illnesses, it is nice to get back to AJE. Second, after a review of my emails from readers, I noticed a pattern of questions, hence this post’s title. I am just answering the three burning topics that seem to be of concern for my readers. Although the wording of the questions was different, a paraphrase of these...
January 2012
3 posts
Germany's Role in Europe and the European Debt...
By George Friedman
Germany’s Role in Europe and the European Debt Crisis is republished with permission of STRATFOR.
The German government proposed last week that a European commissioner be appointed to supplant the Greek government. While phrasing the German proposal this way might seem extreme, it is not unreasonable. Under the German proposal, this commissioner would hold power over...
8 tags
The Buffett Rule: The Hypocritical Issue
When the newly proposed AMT rate of 30% is signed into law, a crucial issue comes into play. An economic one, and one that many people do not understand, not do they grasp.
Legal vs. Economic Incidence
As Jeffery Brown, a Forbes.com contributor stated in his article, “Warren Buffett is not the Oracle of Public Finance,” Congress and Mr. Buffett fails to grasp a basic principle of tax...
8 tags
New Year and New Issues
Image by niallkennedy via Flickr
CNBC is a fickle news source. They have people predicting US Dollar-centric attitude and investments. The housing issue has bottomed, people are flocking to stores, restaurants and other delights. However, take away the platitudes for their anchors’ favorite stocks and investment strategies, and a different set of issues are overlooked.
I am an optimist...
December 2011
1 post
November 2011
3 posts
8 tags
Europe's Crisis: Beyond Finance
By George Friedman
Everyone is wondering about the next disaster to befall Europe. Italy is one focus; Spain is also a possibility. But these crises are already under way. Instead, the next crisis will be political, not in the sense of what conventional politician is going to become prime minister, but in the deeper sense of whether Europe’s political elite can retain power, or whether new...
20 tags
Washington D.C. Closes the Free Market System;...
Image via Wikipedia
Scary title, but is this is not far from fantasy. History has a way of repeating itself, and we have to look at the Russian Federation. The Russians had an authoritarian monarchy, then transitioned to a Marxist-Communist system. Finally, they have a republic/free market system. Although each transition was difficult, and fraught with violence and anarchy, the Russian...
10 tags
Europe, the International System and a...
Image via Wikipedia
By George Friedman
Europe, the International System and a Generational Shift is republished with permission of STRATFOR.
Change in the international system comes in large and small doses, but fundamental patterns generally stay consistent. From 1500 to 1991, for example, European global hegemony constituted the world’s operating principle. Within this overarching framework,...
October 2011
4 posts
8 tags
The Continuing Decline of US Tax Revenue
Back in June, I reported on the increasing number of ex-patriots reported by the Treasury Department, and the consequences thereof. Now, the Q2 numbers are out, and they say that tax revenue is declining at a sharper rate. As reported, the Q2 number of reported ex-patriots is 519. That is 20 more than the previous quarter; it is still higher than the quarterly average of 2010. Q2 2011 is the...
10 tags
Special Series (Part 1): Assessing the Damage of...
Editor’s Note: This is the first installment in a two-part series on the European banking crisis.
Europe faces a banking crisis it has not wanted to admit even exists.
The formal authority on financial stability, International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Christine Lagarde, made her institution’s opinion on European banking known back in August when she prompted the European Union to engage in an...
WatchObama Long-Term Care Program Gets the Ax
The Obama administration said it wouldn’t implement a long-term care insurance program that is part of the 2010 health overhaul, its first major reversal on its signature domestic achievement. Janet Adamy has details on The News Hub. (Photo: Getty Images)
13 tags
Why "Occupy Wall Street" is both a success and...
I am reminded about the Monty Python movie, “The Life of Brian,” when I recently viewed footage from the Occupy Wall Street crowd. The scene that I am referencing is after Brian and his girlfriend have “relations.” Once Brian opens the window, a crowd of followers is below it. After a long debate, Brian states, “You are all individuals. You have your own thoughts. You...
September 2011
2 posts
8 tags
The Crisis of Europe and European Nationalism |...
The Crisis of Europe and European Nationalism is republished with permission of STRATFOR.
By George Friedman
When I visited Europe in 2008 and before, the idea that Europe was not going to emerge as one united political entity was regarded as heresy by many leaders. The European enterprise was seen as a work in progress moving inevitably toward unification — a group of nations committed to a...
12 tags
America to Congress and Mr. Obama: We Have No...
After the US President announced a jobs plan to a joint session of Congress, the voters decided that: We have no confidence this will work. Why?
First, the first two stimulus plans failed to lower unemployment below 9%. Then, only 2 of the last twelve quarters showed a rise in employment. Finally, the debt ceiling debacle cascaded in a no-confidence vote in both parties. Now, the “American...
August 2011
2 posts
10 tags
Global Economic Downturn: A Crisis of Political...
Global Economic Downturn: A Crisis of Political Economy is republished with permission of STRATFOR.
By George Friedman
Classical political economists like Adam Smith or David Ricardo never used the term “economy” by itself. They always used the term “political economy.” For classical economists, it was impossible to understand politics without economics or economics without politics. The two...
4 tags
WatchFormer Labor Sec. Robert Reich explains the credit downgrade, and the consequences for further downgrades.
July 2011
1 post
8 tags
Germany's Choice: Part 2 | STRATFOR
Germany’s Choice: Part 2 is republished with permission of STRATFOR.
By Peter Zeihan and Marko Papic
Seventeen months ago, STRATFOR described how the future of Europe was bound to the decision-making processes in Germany. Throughout the post-World War II era, other European countries treated Germany as a feeding trough, bleeding the country for resources (primarily financial) in order...
June 2011
4 posts
17 tags
The Decline of US Tax Revenue
We have seen, heard, and even spoken of the phrase, “Increase taxes on the rich.” However, the US tax code only targets US citizens and resident aliens. So, how is this a result of declining tax revenue? Answer: More wealthy US citizens are becoming expatriates (at least in the tax sense).
In the movie, and play, “Noises Off!” two characters in the play, “Nothing...
20 tags
Debt Ceiling Vote, Now What?
The Obama Administration should have seen this coming. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner should have seen this. The Dow and average citizen knew this was happening.
With the negative vote by the House of Representatives allowing to raise the debt ceiling, both parties are looking to duke it out over an issue that is the heart of the matter: Fiscal Accountability. This issue transcends the political...
tumblrbot asked: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE INANIMATE OBJECT?
Old blog lost, new service found!
It is funny how things workout. We have had a service that worked for us, then failed.
We would like to thank those people who have followed us on the previous server, and now see a “blank blog,” if you excuse the alliteration.
In the next few months, we will begin rebuilding our blog, again.
The Average Joe Economic Show by Brandon Holm (Host) is licensed under a Creative Commons...
March 2010
1 post
10 tags
China's Challenge
By Jennifer Richmond and Rodger Baker
China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) remains in session. As usual, the meeting has provided Beijing an opportunity to highlight the past year’s successes and lay out the problems that lie ahead. On the surface at least, China has shown remarkable resilience in the face of global economic crisis. It has posted enviable gross domestic product (GDP)...
February 2010
1 post
10 tags
Germany's Choice
By Marko Papic and Peter Zeihan
The situation in Europe is dire.
After years of profligate spending, Greece is becoming overwhelmed. Barring some sort of large-scale bailout program, a Greek debt default at this point is highly likely. At this moment, European Central Bank liquidity efforts are probably the only thing holding back such a default. But these are a stopgap measure that can hold...
July 2009
1 post
12 tags
The Russian Economy and Russian Power
By George Friedman
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to Georgia and Ukraine partly answered questions over how U.S.-Russian talks went during U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit to Russia in early July. That Biden’s visit took place at all reaffirms the U.S. commitment to the principle that Russia does not have the right to a sphere of influence in these countries or anywhere in the former...