What U.S. Economic Recovery? Five Destructive Myths

[mheslep]

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2011/10/21/50-amazing-numbers-about-the-economy-.aspx"

I picked item's #23 and #26 as a test cases, feel free to pick and agree with or dispute as you wish. Any comments on these two items ? I would love to see multiple sources agree with or dispute this data...

Rhody...

The last point in particular shows how a large government debt provides a large conflict of interest for the government spending class to work against the best interest of the country:
should inflation ramp up requiring an increase in interest rates to stem inflation, then the government interest on the debt explodes. Thus the government has a motivation to allow inflation which eats away personal savings.

 

[rhody]

America is still by far the largest economy in the world, nearly three times the size of China's or Japan's economy, and nearly five times the size of Germany's. We have the best schools, the deepest financial system, the most advanced innovation, and the brightest entrepreneurs.

Sigh... This gives me a good feeling from the list I posted above if true, which I hope it is.

Rhody...

 

[mheslep]

Sigh... This gives me a good feeling from the list I posted above if true, which I hope it is.

Rhody...

What is the source of that quote? There's no chance that US primary education is the world's best as it says there. Edit: I see now, its from a reader on your Motley Fool link. The Fool must be referring to US universities. While they may be the best in an absolute since, I doubt it they're the best for the dollar. - a consideration given the thread context.

 

[rhody]

What is the source of that quote? There's no chance that US primary education is the world's best as it says there. Edit: I see now, its from a reader on your Motley Fool link. The Fool must be referring to US universities. While they may be the best in an absolute since, I doubt it they're the best for the dollar. - a consideration given the thread context.

Agree, mheslep,

The larger issue is how credible and accurate is Motley Fool to begin with ? That's why I said multiple sources that corroborate or refute each claim that is made. For those who know, please jump in here. There are still plenty of points to discuss. Some with figures so they are generally easier to check.

Rhody...

 

[JonDE]

I don't think that GNI numbers are not that different then GDP numbers. You also missed the point. Phantom GDP doesn't have to do with ownership.

Consider the extreme case where a company manufactures most of a good over seas, ships it to an American plant and sticks a label on the product like Nike or something. If it costs almost nothing to produce it over seas then subtracting the over seas cost from the total coast of production makes it look like the American factors are adding significant value to the product per worker when in fact the bulk of the work is done over seas. Measuring productive output is very difficult and trying to use the net production costs of a product does not give any relevant apples to apples comparison.

Sorry I kinda forgot about this thread. But you are thinking about it wrong. Consider this example.
An American corporation runs a factory in China that produces a product for $1. It then spends $1 to ship it to Europe where it then sells for $10. What value did it add to the American economy? Well the company ends up with $8 per product sold nothing was taken from the economy, so the total addition to the economy is $8 (assuming a non-american shipper).
Now assume that same company sells it in America. $10 is taken out of the economy but $8 of it is kept in the country. This is what GNI does, it adds our foreign sales in and subtracts what we spend outside. GDP does the same thing, when you account for the trade deficit/surplus.
Another way to think of it is this, the factory is China IS producing $10 of stuff, The American Corporation is just paid to "steal" it from them at a fraction of the cost. There is still a net gain for the American economy in that situation. While the American corporation is not adding value, it is stealing value.

 

[WhoWee]

Sorry I kinda forgot about this thread. But you are thinking about it wrong. Consider this example.
An American corporation runs a factory in China that produces a product for $1. It then spends $1 to ship it to Europe where it then sells for $10. What value did it add to the American economy? Well the company ends up with $8 per product sold nothing was taken from the economy, so the total addition to the economy is $8 (assuming a non-american shipper).
Now assume that same company sells it in America. $10 is taken out of the economy but $8 of it is kept in the country. This is what GNI does, it adds our foreign sales in and subtracts what we spend outside. GDP does the same thing, when you account for the trade deficit/surplus.
Another way to think of it is this, the factory is China IS producing $10 of stuff, The American Corporation is just paid to "steal" it from them at a fraction of the cost. There is still a net gain for the American economy in that situation. While the American corporation is not adding value, it is stealing value.

No, the Chinese factory is producing $1 of stuff. If they could sell it for more - they would.

The shipper is contributing $1 of value. Next the wholesale company, marketing company, and retailer are adding (producing) $8 of value to ultimately sell the product for $10 - it could just as easily sell for $1 - $2 again if the value isn't produced.

Label this IMO - I have a shed full of product samples with $0 retail value in excess of production + shipping cost. I can give them away - but need to spend money on marketing to sell them for more than I would pay.

 

[Astronuc]

I found this an interesting talk - Dr. Jeffrey Sachs @ The Commonwealth Club
Mon, Oct 10 2011 - 7:00pm

Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, Director, Earth Institute, Columbia University, Special UN Advisor; Author, The Price of Civilization

... Michael Moritz, Managing Member, Sequoia Capital - Moderator

Sachs gives a startling account of the inadequacies of US-style capitalism. He offers a bold plan of reforms relating to sustainable infrastructure, taxes, job training, etc., that he says must be taken to avoid further damage. One of the most influential international economic advisors, Sachs was the director of the UN Millennium Project and is the president and co-founder of Millennium Promise Alliance.

Location: Schultz Cultural Hall, Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto

Also know: In association with Oshman Family JCC

http://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2011-10-10/dr-jeffrey-sachs


I think Sachs, or perhaps it was a reporter on Marketplace, that most of today's wealthy did not inherit money, but worked for it.

I should point out that Sachs is rather critical of Ayn Rand and folks like Alan Greenspan.

 

[John Creighto]

Sorry I kinda forgot about this thread. But you are thinking about it wrong. Consider this example.

An American corporation runs a factory in China that produces a product for $1. It then spends $1 to ship it to Europe where it then sells for $10. What value did it add to the American economy? Well the company ends up with $8 per product sold nothing was taken from the economy, so the total addition to the economy is $8 (assuming a non-american shipper).

I'm not sure we should assume that $8 of value is added to the American economy. If they were doing this in an efficient and low cost way then sure I could agree. If they are making huge margins and incurring all sorts of unnecessary cost like a large amount of marketing and administration then I think that much of the supposed value creation is due to inherent inefficiencies.


That said even if the $8 was due to reasonably efficient and competitive business practices it says nothing about gains in American manufacturing efficiency. Well manufacturing output statistics may be account for if the product was shipped directly to a store, the statistics often show phantom gains when the final stage of production is done in America.

Moreover, much of the gains achieved this way are achieved through keeping the Chinese currency artificial low through dollar PEGs. That is we are not paying fair value to Chinese workers for the products we buy. Is this analogous to slavery or is it simply a forced savings by the Chinese to develop their industrial capacity. Additionally if it is a form of forced savings should it come at the expense of American industry.

Now assume that same company sells it in America. $10 is taken out of the economy but $8 of it is kept in the country. This is what GNI does, it adds our foreign sales in and subtracts what we spend outside. GDP does the same thing, when you account for the trade deficit/surplus.

So you are effectively saying GNI and GDP are pretty simmillar measures.

No, the Chinese factory is producing $1 of stuff. If they could sell it for more - they would.

The shipper is contributing $1 of value. Next the wholesale company, marketing company, and retailer are adding (producing) $8 of value to ultimately sell the product for $10 - it could just as easily sell for $1 - $2 again if the value isn't produced.

Label this IMO - I have a shed full of product samples with $0 retail value in excess of production + shipping cost. I can give them away - but need to spend money on marketing to sell them for more than I would pay.

What is a reasonable amount to spend on marketing?

 

[JonDE]

No, the Chinese factory is producing $1 of stuff. If they could sell it for more - they would.

The shipper is contributing $1 of value. Next the wholesale company, marketing company, and retailer are adding (producing) $8 of value to ultimately sell the product for $10 - it could just as easily sell for $1 - $2 again if the value isn't produced.

Label this IMO - I have a shed full of product samples with $0 retail value in excess of production + shipping cost. I can give them away - but need to spend money on marketing to sell them for more than I would pay.

I think we are kind of arguing the same thing. My point was to Johnny who said that the marketing company and retailer aren't adding value. Your view and mine are just different ways of thinking about the same thing.

 

[WhoWee]

What is a reasonable amount to spend on marketing?

That's going to depend upon several factors including where the product is in it's lifecycle.

1.) Is this a product that is known to consumers - offering a price advantage - such as a flashlight? This will require Point of Sale marketing materials in high traffic locations - very low budget.

2.) Is this an improvement to an existing product type - such as a new kind of portable electric saw? This will require some consumer education focused on competitive advantages and value, point of sale materials and placement on shelves. Depending upon cost might be a candidate for infomercials. A definite plus if used on cable TV remodeling shows. Depending upon the scope of the distribution - perhaps $50k for a regional rollout

3.) Is this a "new-fangled" item that is new to consumers - such as a hand held gyro ball that simulates the effect of ben-wan balls (a real product). This is the most expensive and complicated product launch. It requires a complete marketing plan that includes product, price, place, and promotion. The product must first be sold to distributors. If they don't believe it will sell - it's a big challenge. Next, you need to create a market by educating the consumers. They don't know what is is, how to use it, or why they'd want to use it (or be seen with it). If possible, it's a good idea to show the fun/cool/social aspects to kids. This might include social media, print, point of sale - anything and everything visual - along with in-store instruction and trial. This product would eventually need TV exposure. The $.50 cost of the item (a 2" item in container quantities) might increase to $15 to $20 per item and the first (only) container (might ultimately be) sold only on the counter of health food stores or medical equipment locations. (Label IMO on this product and note it's based on a true story)

 

[mheslep]

I have lost any use for Sachs as everything he writes or speaks lately seems wholly absent argument and is instead loaded with sermons propped up by hubris.

Sach's has a new book out, The Price of Civilization, that has been reviewed, interestingly, by US Representative Paul Ryan, WI.

America's Enduring Ideal
Jeffrey Sachs is only the latest in a long line of thinkers to reject the values of our commercial republic.
By PAUL RYAN

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903703604576589090204327736.html

Quote from Sach's book:

Yes, the federal government is incompetent and corrupt—but we need more, not less, of it.

 

[rhody]

Some good news on oil boomtown jobs in North Dakota, but it has potential for a downside as well:

http://money.cnn.com/2011/11/01/pf/America_boomtown_education/"

Jim Stout, an English professor at Williston State College in Williston N.D., started losing some of his best students to the oil fields last year.

It was too hard to compete: The students could either spend thousands of dollars on a college education or earn $100,000 a year working on the rigs, performing maintenance on oil wells or driving trucks.

"At some point they decide, 'Well, college will always be here ... but the oil boom won't,'" he said.

and

And as the classes grow more crowded there's another challenge that's popping up: The oil fields are taking some of the college's professors and staffers, too.

Since spring of 2010, Williston State has had a 25% employee turnover rate. Recently, two diesel technology instructors were among a handful of teachers who quit to take higher-paying oilfield-related jobs, said Stout.

Hiring new teachers -- or any other school employees -- is extremely difficult, because of the housing crisis.

Looks like some can't resist the good money without a full college degree, in many cases that stay just long enough to get a background in a needed skill, welding for example, and then they quit to work for the oil industry. It will be interesting to see if the "boom" lasts. If not, will the students who gave up the education for the easy money regret it later.

Rhody...

 

[JonDE]

Some good news on oil boomtown jobs in North Dakota, but it has potential for a downside as well:

http://money.cnn.com/2011/11/01/pf/America_boomtown_education/"


Looks like some can't resist the good money without a full college degree, in many cases that stay just long enough to get a background in a needed skill, welding for example, and then they quit to work for the oil industry. It will be interesting to see if the "boom" lasts. If not, will the students who gave up the education for the easy money regret it later.

Rhody...

Hopefully they are smart enough to save some of that money. If they can save 5-10k a year they could eventually go back to college and pay for it and not leave college loaded with debt, although I have a feeling that most won't do this.

 

[rhody]

Hopefully they are smart enough to save some of that money. If they can save 5-10k a year they could eventually go back to college and pay for it and not leave college loaded with debt, although I have a feeling that most won't do this.

JonDE,

Great idea. If young people can have the foresight to do this in their early 20's, their sense of fiscal restraint and ability to save will serve them well later in life. We still manage our daughter's finances, early 20's, only allowing her to withdraw so much from her bank account, so that she always has a reserve in case of emergencies. She is paying off a student loan too. I just checked, her gov't loan is at 6.55 %.

Rhody...

 

[WhoWee]

JonDE,

Great idea. If young people can have the foresight to do this in their early 20's, their sense of fiscal restraint and ability to save will serve them well later in life. We still manage our daughter's finances, early 20's, only allowing her to withdraw so much from her bank account, so that she always has a reserve in case of emergencies. She is paying off a student loan too. I just checked, her gov't loan is at 6.55 %.

Rhody...

I have a friend that spent 10 years as a Merchant Marine - saved about $150k. Another friend (SEAL) was injured in Desert Storm and retired. After 2 years of recovery and additional college, he rode a few lobster boats to accumulate cash - enough to start a business and buy a house.

 

[mheslep]

I found this an interesting talk - Dr. Jeffrey Sachs @ The Commonwealth Club
Mon, Oct 10 2011 - 7:00pm

Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, Director, Earth Institute, Columbia University, Special UN Advisor; Author, The Price of Civilization

... Michael Moritz, Managing Member, Sequoia Capital - Moderator

Sachs gives a startling account of the inadequacies of US-style capitalism...

Sachs and historian/author Niall Ferguson had a http://www.distressedvolatility.com/2011/11/jeffrey-sachs-vs-niall-ferguson-on.html" that US revenue dipped down to 26% of GDP. However, US revenue from all government levels was 37% of GDP in 2007, and above 34% continuously from 1995 through 2001. The truth gap is the problem here. This year total revenue is back up to 31% of GDP.

 

[WhoWee]

Isn't it a bit deceptive to compare US spending to other countries in percentages rather than dollar amounts?

 

[mheslep]

Isn't it a bit deceptive to compare US spending to other countries in percentages rather than dollar amounts?

Yes.

 

[WhoWee]

Should we laugh or cry? my bold

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...en-g20-summit/2011/11/03/gIQAIN6BiM_blog.html

"Yet Obama, facing his own economic problems at home, has few resources at his disposal to use as leverage, with the United States unlikely to offer significant financial assistance for the bailout.

Instead, Obama has been offering his European counterparts advice gleaned during his response to the U.S. recession two years ago.

“The U.S. and this administration acted with overwhelming force and put up the necessary resources to deal with the crisis--we insisted on robust stress tests, financial institutions dramatically increased by double their capital,” Froman said. “One thing we can contribute is our experience and ideas moving forward and support in doing so.”

After his bilateral meetings, the president took part in a gathering of the L-20, a collection of top labor leaders, before heading into a formal round of G-20 meetings Thursday afternoon.

Analysts said the president could have a difficult time rallying support for a common agenda, considering that the U.S. has offered a muddled message so far.

“On the one hand, you have both the president and Secretary Geithner saying, we have full confidence Europe can handle this issue; they have the resources; we know they can do it. And then you waffle back and [they are saying] Europe is scaring the world; get your act together,” said Heather Conley, director of the European program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

“Secretary Geithner has repeated visits to Europe . . . [but] European finance ministers have not been fully appreciative of U.S. advice and counsel on how to deal with the European crisis because of U.S. domestic challenges,” Conley added. “So it’s a point where we’re not seeing that coalescing of leadership to resolve the issue. We’re starting to see where tensions and nervousness are rising.”"

 

[rhody]

The $8 Trillion Internet: McKinsey's Bold Attempt to Measure the http://www.theatlantic.com/business...e-e-conomy/247963/?google_editors_picks=true"

The Internet -- that 200 million-person, $8 trillion global economy -- accounted for 21 percent of GDP growth in the world's largest economies over the last 5 years, McKinsey found in a report released this week.* As an entity, it accounts for more GDP than the Spanish or Canadian economies, and it's growing faster than Brazil. As a sector, it is now larger than these countries' agriculture or energy industries.

and

There is a lot of Internet to measure, with two million global consumers and $8 trillion in total revenue. So McKinsey's report limited its scope to the online economy in the G-8 countries plus five more: Brazil, China, India, South Korea and Brazil. It defined Internet activities as private consumption (electronic equipment, e-commerce, broadband subscriptions, mobile Internet, and hardware and software consumption); private investment (from the telecommunications industry and the maintenance of extranet, intranet, and Web sites); public expenditure (spending and buying by government in software hardware and services); and trade (which accounts for exports of Internet equipment plus business-to-business services with overseas companies).

If internet were a sector here's where it would fall as a percentage of total GDP, 2009
Interesting, no, assuming the data as reported is verifiable and accurate from the Atlantic Monthly source.

• Real estate 11.0
• Financial services 6.4
• Health care 6.3
• Construction 5.4
• Discrete manufacturing 5.2
• Transportation 3.9
• Internet 3.4
• Education 3.0
• Communication 3.0
• Agriculture 2.2
• Utilities 2.1
• Mining 1.7

Rhody...

 

[WhoWee]

The $8 Trillion Internet: McKinsey's Bold Attempt to Measure the http://www.theatlantic.com/business...e-e-conomy/247963/?google_editors_picks=true"


If internet were a sector here's where it would fall as a percentage of total GDP, 2009
Interesting, no, assuming the data as reported is verifiable and accurate from the Atlantic Monthly source.

• Real estate 11.0
• Financial services 6.4
• Health care 6.3
• Construction 5.4
• Discrete manufacturing 5.2
• Transportation 3.9
• Internet 3.4
• education 3.0
• Communication 3.0
• Agriculture 2.2
• Utilities 2.1
• Mining 1.7

Rhody...

I have to wonder how much of the commerce on your list was accounted for in this internet calculation?

 

[rhody]

I have to wonder how much of the commerce on your list was accounted for in this internet calculation?

WhoWee,

No guarantees but I plan to contact their research department to see if they can provide me with the source of the reported data. Will see if they respond. It can be a hit or miss process, depends on whose inbox the request lands and how swamped they are. Will report if I hear anything.

Rhody...

 

[JonDE]

A little late, but the October jobs report was less then spectacular in some areas, but maybe slightly improved overall. Job growth for the month was 80k (less then 125k needed to keep up with population growth). but previous months were revised up 102k.
Personally I like to add the revised numbers into the current month i.e. 80k +102k = 182. Which is better then the 125k needed. I do this because, I can't go back in time to change how I felt about previous jobs reports (stupid relativity).
The other bright spot I see is that government layoffs is starting to trend downwards. This has been one tough spot for employment as the government sector has laid off around 500k people since the beginning of 2010.

 

[Astronuc]

Poll: 76 percent think economic structure is out of balance
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/poll-76-percent-think-economic-structure-balance-155330346.html

Polls taken in recent weeks have suggested that the basic message of the Occupy Wall Street protesters--that too much of country's economic gains go to the very richest Americans, and too little to ordinary folks--is popular. And a new survey offers further evidence.

, but the solutions vary.

 

[WhoWee]

Poll: 76 percent think economic structure is out of balance
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/poll-76-percent-think-economic-structure-balance-155330346.html

, but the solutions vary.

From the link - how many times have we heard the second half of this argument?

"The government should not provide financial aid to corporations and should not provide tax breaks to the rich.""

If the "tax break" allows a person or a company to deduct money (they actually spent) from revenues - it's hardly a break. It's more a fair accounting. Most poor people don't need tax breaks - do they? On the other hand, poor people do receive tax money - that's something of a "break" perhaps?

As for the financial aid to corporations - does that include "jobs Bills", stimulus spending, "green energy investments" by the Government, financial aid to attend private schools, research grants, etc.?

 

[rhody]

Here is a new twist: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB100...2001207017044.html?google_editors_picks=true"

The advisers' pitch: For a lump-sum amount, investors could purchase pieces of the pensions—offered up by pensioners wanting instant cash in exchange for their future monthly checks—that could yield them 6% or 7% a year. The retiree would sign a contract pledging to hand over part of each month's check for a specific number of years.

The burgeoning business of investing in someone else's pension has never been easier—or more controversial and risky.

Does anyone want to jump in here ? What if the person repaying the debt has his pension go south through no fault of his own, where does that put the institution holding the note ? And the person getting the one time payment is not much better off either, giving up more than half his pension for the one time payout. Looks like legal Loan Sharking to me.

For some pension recipients, the deals seem like the way out of a financial crisis. Joseph Serina, a metal-fabrication worker who spent 21 years in the Navy, received $57,450 three years ago from a group of investors in return for promising them $125,280 in pension payments over eight years.

The difference of $67,830 is paid to investors as interest payments and as fees to the financial arrangers.

Rhody...

 

[WhoWee]

Here is a new twist: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB100...2001207017044.html?google_editors_picks=true"

Does anyone want to jump in here ? What if the person repaying the debt has his pension go south through no fault of his own, where does that put the institution holding the note ? And the person getting the one time payment is not much better off either, giving up more than half his pension for the one time payout. Looks like legal Loan Sharking to me.


Rhody...

Putting my insurance hat on - I have to wonder if they required a physical exam and access to his medical records?

 

[rhody]

Putting my insurance hat on - I have to wonder if they required a physical exam and access to his medical records?

Yep, that is one angle I failed to forsee. Your post reminds me of a story of a friend of mine who bought a house that had been abandoned by its previous owner who was a doctor who had incurable cancer. He went to a bank, took out the biggest home loan he could manage, and then disappeared and was never seen from again. Leaving the bank holding the bag.

Rhody...

 

[rhody]

http://moneyland.time.com/2011/11/21/nine-jobs-of-the-near-future/?iid=pf-article-latest"

• Precision Toolmaker
• Genetic Counselor
• Elder Care Worker
• Patent Lawyer
• Cyber Security Specialist
• Vertical Farmer (roof-top farms cropping up in urban areas)
• Statistician
• Underwater Welder
• Sustainability Professional

My guess is that the three items listed highlighted in blue above do not have matching college curriculum to prepare students for these jobs. I am sure there will be many more jobs created by changing demand in our rapidly changing times. This is an example of how fast paced our needs will be in the fuiture. The challenge as I see it is to develop strategies into our education system to deal with it. As always, the leaders in these emerging job categories will be bright forward thinking entrapaneurs (people like Bill Gates, the late Steve Jobs) who will lead the way without needing formal training to do so.

Rhody...

 

[WhoWee]

http://moneyland.time.com/2011/11/21/nine-jobs-of-the-near-future/?iid=pf-article-latest"

• Precision Toolmaker
• Genetic Counselor
• Elder Care Worker
• Patent Lawyer
• Cyber Security Specialist
• Vertical Farmer (roof-top farms cropping up in urban areas)
• Statistician
• Underwater Welder
• Sustainability Professional

My guess is that the three items listed highlighted in blue above do not have matching college curriculum to prepare students for these jobs. I am sure there will be many more jobs created by changing demand in our rapidly changing times. This is an example of how fast paced our needs will be in the fuiture. The challenge as I see it is to develop strategies into our education system to deal with it. As always, the leaders in these emerging job categories will be bright forward thinking entrapaneurs (people like Bill Gates, the late Steve Jobs) who will lead the way without needing formal training to do so.

Rhody...

I have a friend that's doing very well developing green rooftops. He has a method of sealing the roof and covering with multiple layers to create a working eco-system. His specialty is tall buildings (not certain of the limits of the pumping equipment).

It only makes sense this activity would create a need for "Vertical Farmers".

 

[rhody]

Sigh... as if we needed to be reminded why Congress's approval rating is 9%.

The 5 Biggest Failures of the 112th Congress

• The Supercommittee
• The FAA Shutdown
• The Near-Shutdown
• The Debt-Limit Stalemate
• Nominations

If the 113th Congress was a Shakespeare character, it would be Hamlet. Perhaps, on one of their April night-trips to the White House, where they negotiated around a probable government shutdown, John Boehner and Harry Reid saw the ghosts of Reagan and FDR, and were spooked.

Rhody...

 

[rhody]

WSJ Article: European debt crisis in eight graphs

The place to start with the European debt crisis is, well, with European debt. Put simply, the crisis in the euro zone is that the market doesn’t trust that Greece, Italy, Spain, Ireland and Portugal can pay back their debts, and so they don’t want to lend them more money except at exorbitant rates.

With the US economy inextricably linked to Europe, negative effects on us as a result of their debt crisis can only slow our economic recovery.

Rhody...

 

[lisab]

WSJ Article: European debt crisis in eight graphs

With the US economy inextricably linked to Europe, negative effects on us as a result of their debt crisis can only slow our economic recovery.

Rhody...

Great link, Rhody. The explanation of why Germany has done so well is really good, I think:

Typically, as a developed country becomes more productive and its exports become more popular, its currency appreciates, which makes its exports more expensive, and less popular. Conversely, when weaker countries see their economies fall apart, their currency depreciates, and that makes their exports cheaper and helps them recover.

But Germany’s currency hasn’t appreciated very much, because it’s tied to the euro, which is dragged down by the weak economies in southern Europe. And the southern European countries haven’t seen their currency depreciate very much, because they’re tied to the euro, which is propped up by stronger economies like Germany. The net result has been a big, artificial boost for Germany’s export sector, and a big obstacle to recover for much of the rest of Europe.

Also the graphs showing the exposure of French banks to Italian and Greek bonds are surprising.

 

[rhody]

That must be the reason I have engineering blood running through my veins, Lisa, when the economies of the major European countries can be described in a few crisp precisely worded sentences or paragraphs, exposing the big picture along with graphs of supporting data to back their claims, I am impressed. IMHO, the WSJ researchers (Ezra Klein and Sarah Kliff) did a good job with this story.

Rhody...

 

[mheslep]

... IMHO, the WSJ researchers (Ezra Klein and Sarah Kliff) did a good job with this story.

Rhody...

That's the Washington Post, not the Wall Street Journal.