John A. Parnell, Ph.D.
Greg Lukianoff wrote an interesting op ed in today’s Wall Street Journal. It deserves serious attention because it illustrates the complex web of government control within higher education. The U.S. Departments of Education and Justice recently investigated the mishandling of sexual assault cases at the University of Montana, determining that the school failed to comply […]
Read MoreAndrew Wilkow and I recently discussed Paul Krugman’s piece in the New York Times. The left-leaning economist called for more inflation as a cure for the nation’s economic ills. My comments on the show generated a lot of email so I am following up with a blog post. Before we get to Krugman, let’s start […]
Read MoreAndrew Wilkow and I had an interesting discussion on his show Thursday about the global flight of capital. I want to address this on the blog and explain why it’s relevant to all of us. It’s very simple. People flee persecution, and so does money. It finds its way to places where it is less […]
Read MoreI’ve received several emails lately that cite the stock market’s recent surge as evidence of the long awaited economic rebound. Is this a valid argument? Not necessarily…Here’s why. Stock prices are based on a number of factors that are indirectly related to the economy. In theory, a stock’s value should reflect the expected short- and […]
Read MoreThe Bank of Japan followed the US Federal Reserve and other central banks, unveiling its own package of easy-money policies on Thursday. By doubling its holdings of government bonds and the amount of yen circulating in the economy, the Bank of Japan is essentially printing money to create inflation and drive down the value of […]
Read MoreNegotiators reached a last-minute deal earlier today to stave off the Eurozone’s first eviction. While the arrangement does not include the direct confiscation of deposits, it is not without its flaws. Complete details are not yet available, but the agreement includes the closure of the country’s second largest bank, resulting in substantial losses for those with […]
Read MoreThe EU’s bailout of Cyprus took a chilling turn over the weekend when it required (more or less) the Cyprian government to confiscate a minimum of 6.75% of deposits in Cyprian banks as part of the deal. The confiscation rate is 9.9% of balances above 100,000 Euros, resulting in a total seizure of $5.8 billion […]
Read MoreThe Swiss have taken another step to control executive pay. The drumbeat for similar action in the U.S. continues (see http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324678604578338171658493636.html). Don’t be surprised if the President follows suit as part of his ongoing anti-corporate agenda. I don’t expect Obama or the Democrats to propose a strict pay limit, however. Proponents of government pay controls rarely […]
Read MoreThe sequester has already been analyzed to the hilt but 2 points are worth underscoring. First, the spending cuts–which are only decreases in increases–amount to only $85 billion compared to a $3.6 trillion budget. If the President is correct and these types of cuts will be devastating to our way of life, then how will […]
Read MoreThe federal government spent over $2 billion last year as part of its Lifeline (AKA, Obama phone) program, which is designed to provide cell phones for low income Americans so they can “connect to jobs, family, and 911 services.” The Lifeline program is funded by the Universal Service Fund (USF), which fills its coffers through […]
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