EconVue Weekly Spotlight

posted by Lyric Hughes Hale on May 2, 2016 - 10:24am

Stories in our Spotlight This Week

1.  Helicopter Kuroda: A Bonus For Workers, Not Japan, Inc.
Article By Lyric Hughes Hale 4/27/16 Huffington Post

My latest in the Huffington Post. I'm recommending that the Bank of Japan begin real economy measures such as ensuring higher pay for temporary workers, rather than purchasing shares in Japanese companies that already have bloated balance sheets.

2.  Why Mixed-Ownership Reforms Cannot Fix China's State Sector
Article By Curtis J. Milhaupt, Wentong Zheng 1/14/16 Paulson Institute

This makes sense to me, especially the point that government intervention in the form of mergers of dinosaur state-owned companies will move the Chinese economy further away from the reform process, not accelerate it. Another great point: there is not much of difference between the large state-owned companies and large private companies. They are both operating in the same uncompetitive environment. Ownership is not the issue, which is also why the stock market does not respond to market forces. 

3.  Harriet Tubman To Replace Andrew Jackson on $20 Bill
Article By AP/ NBC New York 4/21/16 

Between negative interest rates and Fintech, cash won't matter by 2030. But it was a nice thought. 

4.  China Endorses Donald Trump
Article By Tim Mak 4/18/16 The Daily Beast 

Worth reading why.

5. What's Wrong With Negative Interest Rates?
Article By Joseph E. Stiglitz 4/13/16 Project Syndicate

Clarity on negative interest rates.

6. The Top 50: Ranking Future-Ready Cities Around The Globe
Article By Dell 4/10/16 

Chicago is #22 worldwide, ahead of Beijing and Munich.

EconVue Research and Insights

Kuroda: Panel Discussion Richard Katz and Lyric Hughes Hale
We invite you to participate in our panel discussion on Japanese Central Bank policy with Richard Katz and Lyric Hughes Hale. 

FOMC Leaves Door Open For Rate Hike In June Mike Lewis
As universally expected, the FOMC took no action on policy today. They also studiously avoided giving any hints as to what the near-term direction of policy might be. Paradoxically, that leaves the door open for a rate hike as soon as the next meeting in June. If the upcoming data support one, that is.