« February 2008 | Main | April 2008 »
March 31, 2008
Quote of the Day for Monday, March 31, 2008
 |
|
March 30, 2008
Quote of the Day for Sunday, March 30, 2008
 |
|
March 29, 2008
Quote of the Day for Saturday, March 29, 2008
 |
|
March 28, 2008
Quote of the Day for Friday, March 28, 2008
 |
|
March 27, 2008
Quote of the Day for Thursday, March 27, 2008
 |
|
March 26, 2008
Quote of the Day for Wednesday, March 26, 2008
 |
|
March 25, 2008
Quote of the Day for Tuesday, March 25, 2008
 |
|
March 24, 2008
Quote of the Day for Monday, March 24, 2008
 |
|
March 23, 2008
Quote of the Day for Sunday, March 23, 2008
 |
|
March 22, 2008
Quote of the Day for Saturday, March 22, 2008
 |
|
March 21, 2008
Fidel's Legacy
Fidel Castro came to power in Cuba early in 1959. It's the understatement of the past half century to say the rest of the world has passed Cuba by:
. . . While poor compared to the United States, Cuba in 1958 had a per capita GDP of $3,170 according to the OECD. (Canada's was $8,947.). But Cuba outranked all other Latin American countries except four: Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Tellingly, in 1958, the island nation's per person wealth was higher than any East Asian country or colony, save Japan, which barely beat Cuba at only $3,290. Hong Kong had a per capita GDP of $2,924, Singapore's was $2,294, the Philippines' was $1,447, Taiwan's per person GDP stood at $1,387 and South Korea's was $1,112.
Thus in 1958, Cuba was almost as rich as Japan, one and half times as wealthy as Singapore, richer than Hong Kong, and three times as prosperous as South Korea.
Fifty years later, Cuba is one of the poorest countries in Latin America. . . . [Source: Calgary Herald]
That's what staying true to the "revolution" will do for you.
Posted by John at 10:17 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBackQuote of the Day for Friday, March 21, 2008
 |
|
March 20, 2008
Remittances to Mexico Drop at a Record Pace
Another sign of significant weakness in the U.S. Hispanic market: in January, remittances to Mexico from the United States fell by the fastest rate, down 5.9%, since the Mexican central bank started tracking such figures in 1985. [Source: Reuters]
Posted by John at 10:10 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBackWith Many Troubles at Home, U.S. Exports Carry the Economy
In addition to Georgia, the rest of the country needs to be rooting for growth in global markets; PPI explains why:
Posted by John at 3:34 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBackIn total, exports accounted for a third of last year's 2.2 percent GDP growth. As waves of bad news began to wash in last winter -- foreclosures, tumbling dollar, falling retail sales, more recently investment bank rescues -- exporters were the only thing keeping the national nose and lips above the recessionary waters. (The domestic economy shrank by -0.3 percent between October and December; export growth accounted for 0.9 growth; ergo, barely positive national 0.6 percent growth.)
Those searching for scarce good news can find some in January's trade report. This suggested another export-boom year ahead, with sales to China, Russia, Europe, and the Middle East all continuing to soar, while exports to Mexico, Canada, and Japan began to perk up. Interesting note as well: Last year's U.S.-Peru Free Trade Agreement entered into force in January, and exports to Peru hit $420 million, nearly double the $240 million for January 2007. Worsening news from the real estate, financial-market, and consumer sectors mean exporters may not be able to fend off a national recession this year. But their likely trio of round-number records -- $1 trillion in manufacturing exports, $500 billion in services exports, $100 billion in farm exports -- will ease its ferocity.
Quote of the Day for Thursday, March 20, 2008
 |
|
March 19, 2008
Georgia Shouts "How 'Bout Them Asians!"
University of Georgia Bulldog fans like to holler "how 'bout them Dawgs" when rooting for their athletic teams. All Georgians, regardless of their sports preferences, should be rooting for the Asian economies, particularly China.
More than three-fourths of the total import volume processed through the Port of Savannah during the current fiscal year arrived from Asia. Moreover, just over half of the total export volume during the same period was bound for Asia. [Source: Connect Savannah]
Remember, the overall economic impact Georgia's ports have on the state is enormous, and much of that volume is due to trade, both imports and exports, with Asia, and China in particular.
To say Georgia is a stakeholder in Asia's growth in a mild understatement.
Posted by John at 6:17 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBackAlabama Attracts U.S. Migration
Due to its strong economic performance, driven in part by its embrace of the opportunities of a global economy, Alabama has joined Southeastern neighbors Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina as a recipient of strong net migration. Net gains of out-of-staters moving to Alabama has tripled over the last three years. More from the Birmingham News.
Posted by John at 6:00 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBackQuote of the Day for Wednesday, March 19, 2008
 |
|
March 18, 2008
U.S. Gains Intellectually (and Otherwise) From Indian Immigrants
Indian nationals in the United States, including those allowed in the country on student and H-1B visas, have contributed to almost 14% of all U.S. global patents. [Source: Economic Times].
It's a benefit, extraordinarily difficult to quantify but tangible nonetheless, worth remembering as we debate caps on H-1B visas.
Posted by John at 4:54 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBackCumulative Investment in Post-Reform China Reaches $2.11 Trillion
According to the China's State Administration For Industry and Commerce, foreign investment in the country from 1978, the year economic reforms began, to 2007 cumulatively adds up to $2.11 trillion. [Source: China Daily]
That's slightly less than the current annual GDP of the entire German nation, the fifth largest economy in the world.
Posted by John at 4:22 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBackQuote of the Day for Tuesday, March 18, 2008
 |
|
March 17, 2008
Quote of the Day for Monday, March 17, 2008
 |
|
March 16, 2008
Mobile Embraces Globalization . . . and Reaps the Benefits
Mobile, Alabama has become one of America's fastest growing small cities, and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer explains why:
Posted by John at 11:01 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBackHow did this happen? Mobile officials cite an embrace of globalization, an outpouring of Southern hospitality toward big business and an ability to put aside political differences at all levels of government.
. . . "Our target for recruitment is not just limited to the U.S.," [Mobile Mayor Sam] Jones said. "It's global."
As Mobile sheds an outdated backwater image, local perceptions are changing, too.
Mobile County Commissioner Stephen Nodine said that until recently, he was skeptical of free trade. "I've always been a buy-American person," he said. "I was closed-minded about how global of an economy that we live in. Within the defense industry, everything is global."
Now, the Republican leader finds himself welcoming foreign corporations. "I keep reminding people," Nodine said of the French and the Spanish, "they're the ones who founded Mobile 300-something years ago." . . .
China Passes the U.S. in Number of Internet Users
According to this InformationWeek story, China now has over 216 million internet users.
Posted by John at 10:33 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBackQuote of the Day for Sunday, March 16, 2008
 |
|
March 15, 2008
Quote of the Day for Saturday, March 15, 2008
 |
|
March 14, 2008
Quote of the Day for Friday, March 14, 2008
 |
|
March 13, 2008
Quote of the Day for Thursday, March 13, 2008
 |
|
March 12, 2008
Quote of the Day for Wednesday, March 12, 2008
 |
|
March 11, 2008
Quote of the Day for Tuesday, March 11, 2008
 |
|
March 10, 2008
Quote of the Day for Monday, March 10, 2008
 |
|
March 9, 2008
Quote of the Day for Sunday, March 9, 2008
 |
|
March 8, 2008
NAFTA and Unemployment in Ohio
Don Boudreaux has the numbers; unemployment in Ohio was 6.5% and falling at the time NAFTA took effect on January 1, 1994. The state's unemployment rate hit a low of 3.9% by February 2001, and is currently 5.8%.
In other words, it's hardly evidence of tremendous harm done by freer trade between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
Posted by John at 11:43 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBackYes, We Can . . . Expect Some Better Facts on NAFTA
Philip Levy makes the case, in an essay in The American I recommend you read in full:
Posted by John at 11:35 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack. . .what about the factory workers in Ohio? Are they just imagining those lost jobs? Of course not. Manufacturing employment in the United States did hit a peak and then begin a steady decline. The problem is that the peak was in 1979, 15 years before NAFTA came into force. The long-term decline of American manufacturing jobs has much more to do with technological change than with trade. We’re producing more stuff with fewer workers.
But is there any harm if someone decides to run the same old Washington textbook campaign, take a few shortcuts of reasoning, and hold NAFTA responsible for the pain of displaced workers? There is. It offers false hope. It leads beleaguered citizens to think that a U.S. withdrawal from NAFTA would make their lives better, when it would almost certainly make their lives worse.
Can we demand better analysis and a more responsible approach from our aspiring political leaders? Yes, we can.
Quote of the Day for Saturday, March 8, 2008
 |
|
March 7, 2008
Quote of the Day for Friday, March 7, 2008
 |
|
March 6, 2008
Quote of the Day for Thursday, March 6, 2008
 |
|
March 5, 2008
Quote of the Day for Wednesday, March 5, 2008
 |
|
March 4, 2008
Quote of the Day for Tuesday, March 4, 2008
 |
|
