Econ70

The Friday File: With GDP under attack for focusing on output and not well-being, look to the 2018 World Happiness Report. The happiest nation is Finland, followed closely by Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Switzerland, all small, reasonably homogeneous, wealthy democracies.…

The average American who travels outside their home county for Thanksgiving departs at 3:40pm today and travels 300 miles before arriving at their destination at 9:40pm, where they’ll stay for almost three days. Every $10,000 increase in county median income…

While total household debt rose by $219 billion to $13.51 trillion in 18Q3, the ratio of debt to personal disposable income rose just slightly, from 86% in 18Q2 to 86.54% in 18Q3. This ratio has been remarkably steady since late…

In 18Q3, GDP in Germany (the world’s 4th biggest economy) shrank at a rate of 0.8%/year, Japan’s economy (3rd biggest) shrank at a rate of 1.2%/year, and China (2nd biggest) grew at a rate of 6.5%/year; slowest since 09Q1. US…

The Friday File: Used first by Queen Puabi of Ur approximately 4500 years ago, global lipstick sales totaled $11.2 billion in 2017. Outside of the $14 million H. Couture Beauty Diamond Lipstick, that comes in a diamond encrusted case, the…

Since 1/1/2008, US public debt has risen from $5.1 trillion to $15.9 trillion. Luckily, rates have been low. In 2017, interest costs were $263 billion, 6.6% of government spending and 1.4% of GDP; very manageable. However, by 2028, and assuming…

With oil prices down 25% due to rapidly rising supply, slowing world growth, and more waivers than expected for Iranian oil purchases by nations such as China and India, OPEC has two unpleasant choices. Cut production to keep prices up…

The price gap between new and used vehicles is as wide as it’s been in years, pushing buyers towards used cars. New cars are bigger, come packed with fancy technology, and average almost $37,000. Conversely, a used 3-year-old car costs…

World War I ended on November 11th at 11:00am, making yesterday the 100th anniversary of the armistice. It’s known as the Great War, as the number killed and wounded was unfathomably high. The last soldier killed; American Henry Gunter at…

The Friday File: This week, Michigan became the 10th state to legalize recreational weed. In 1969, 12% of Americans favored legalization, it hit 50% in 2011, and it’s now 66%. 75% of Democrats favor legalization, it’s 71% for Independents, and…