The Bowtie Economist's Daily Dose of 70-Word Wisdom

I want to take the opportunity and wish you all the best for 2011. To health, happiness and prosperity — especially in risk adjusted terms.

10 From a historical standpoint, the yield on the S&P 500 (2%) is very low. This smacks of a market top and underscores the point that the market is too optimistic; investors are willing to forgo yield because they assume…

If there is a positive theme that transcends the weak U.S. economy it’s ag! Farm incomes are way up & indications suggest more increases in ’11. This is due to increasing demand for food, especially proteins, from rising living standards…

Yields on Greek & Spanish bonds (credit downgrade looms) are up; Irish bond yields are also up to 8.4%, which, in real terms is over 10%. Something is going to give because that is unsustainable when real GDP is CONTRACTING…

2010 NOV U.S. retail sales up 0.8% but Autos down 0.8%, Furniture/appliances down 0.5%, Electronics down 0.6% & Building materials down 0.1%. What was up? Groceries 0.8% Gas 4.0% Drug stores 0.9% & Clothing 2.7% What we had was a…

Some economists say higher income taxes keep people from working. This is the substitution effect–because leisure becomes relatively cheaper people consume more of it. But higher taxes also reduce after-tax income so one might work more due to higher taxes.…

The risk of front-loaded fiscal austerity in the UK is that big cuts in spending, subsidies, public employment & increases in taxes will have a recessionary effect on an anemically recovering economy. A credible early commitment to gradual fiscal consolidation…