While labor productivity growth is very weak, we can improve it. Broadly speaking, government policies work best when they address needs that the private sector ignores. These include basic research, infrastructure, early childhood education, schooling, public health and so on.…
The standard deduction in 2017, if married is $12,700; $6,350 if single. Trump proposes doubling it. This will eliminate itemizing for married households with deductions between $12,701 and $25,400. Based on 2015 data, the average itemizing household with AGI of…
The average cost of an employer-offered family health insurance plan in 2017 was an eyewatering $18,764, up 3% from 2016. Employees paid an average of $5,714 or 31% of the premium. For an individual worker, coverage cost $6,690, a 4%…
Because single-family construction activity is rising much too slowly while multifamily activity shrinks, housing inventory has declined Y-o-Y for 27 straight months, prices keep rising faster than wages, and affordability is at its lowest level since early 2009. As a…
The Friday File: The movie that destroyed the most cars is Transformers 3 at 532 vehicles, next is Matrix Reloaded at 300. In third, Fast & Furious 5 which wrecked 260, followed by Junkman with 150 vehicles. Fifth is A…
With the competition to lure Amazon’s second headquarters in full swing, I think the competition really boils down to just Austin, Atlanta, Dallas, and Nashville. All are relatively inexpensive, have good airports and universities, are large enough for Amazon not…
As the Fed reduces its huge balance sheet over the next several years, what will its eventual holdings consist of? Traditionally, it’s only been Treasuries. Now, holdings include $1.8 trillion in mortgage-backed securities, bought to support housing, and $2.5 trillion…
While over a year away, based only on presidential popularity, if the 11/18 mid-term elections were held now, the Republicans would be expected to lose 40 House seats, giving control of the chamber to the Democrats. This result is based…
Headline inflation as measured by the CPI is 1.94%, and, after falling for some months, is again rising, partly on the back of rising rent inflation. The core rate, which excludes food and energy, and is a better measure of…
The Friday File: In addition to being the nation’s oldest first-term president, its wealthiest, and the first with no military or governmental experience, President Trump is the first President since Andrew Johnson (1865-1869), and only one of three without a…