Outside the Beltway

All in all, not looking like it will be a fun summer.

A profile of George Mason economist and blogger Tyler Cowen offers this amusing description: “Cowen, 49, has round features, a hesitant posture, and an unconcerned haircut.”

“Our records indicate that your annual income for the 2011 taxable year was $2,170,000,000,000. You have requested a credit limit of $17,000,000,000,000. These figures exceed the American Public’s guidelines for credit issuance”

Will days of strong economic growth ever return? And what happens if they don’t?

The systemic risks of financial institutions haven’t changed much since 2008.

Speaking before Congress yesterday, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke debunked the assertion that the GOP’s relatively modest $61 billion spending cut package would significantly harm economic growth.

We can’t rely on private companies, the stock market, or the taxpayers to maintain our lifestyle in our golden years.

What happened to the 15 million jobs that were supposed to be created in the past 10 years but weren’t?

Fed examiners made a bank take down a “Merry Christmas, God With Us” sign. Then the “system” kicked in.

As things stand right now, the dynamics don’t look good for President Obama in 2012

President Obama is likely join the ranks of the unemployed come noon on January 20, 2013 if a Fed forecast is right.

The latest forecast from the Federal Reserve foresees stagnant growth and high unemployment for the next two years.

The finger-pointing about the global economy continues.

Food prices are rising in China. For us higher food prices mean we get fat a little more slowly; for a poor Chinese family it means starvation stalks a little closer.

The Federal Reserve is injecting $ 600,000,000,000 into the economy, primarily in the hope that it will boost stock prices and, in turn, the economy. It might work, but if it doesn’t the consequences could be severe.

Another round of GDP growth figures are out, and they show that the U.S. economy continues to grow far slower than necessary to sustain job growth. Is this a temporary problem, or something we can expect to live with for the foreseeable future?

Has Uncle Sam got a deal for you: Lend the Treasury money for five years and it will only cost you negative 0.55 percent!

There isn’t much doubt that China is manipulating its currency for competitive advantage. What can be done about it?

David Brooks blames our economic woes on a change from a culture that valued productive work to one of gentility. And Bill Cosby.

Another set of bad economic numbers are out today, and one wonders when we’ll start getting the good news.

Take a good look at that dollar coin, because you’re unlikely to see it circulation any time soon.

Lenders and Borrowers seem poised to make the same mistakes that brought about the last Housing Bubble all over again.

The latest GDP numbers are nothing but bad news for Democrats.