The Musings Of A Politics Junkie & Closet Economist

Despite the downward pressure on inflation, supply-side dynamics and numbers do not suggest the underlying inflation rate is near (or approaching) the Fed’s target. Thus the Fed should not have a shocked face each month when the underlying market data exhibits something other than a perfectly normalizing market … despite our deepest desire to see one…

2024 is the year of elections…for most voters, “It’s the economy, stupid” may reign supreme…these are 10 bellwether economies to watch in 2024…

Whether an internationalist or isolationist approach, there are some alliances that will be strategically vital with five countries being at the top of that list…

While there are some long-standing partnerships that continue to endure through time, U.S. politicians will have to become more accustomed to the transactional nature of international diplomacy…

Saudi Arabia’s reported interest in the Indian Premier League has not raised any significant discussion of “sportwashing”…Why is that the case?

The latest sequence of events in Niger is a reminder that the war in Ukraine (and sanctions against Russia) is not about a fight for democracy…

The U.S. Congress should consider switching from a federal debt ceiling as a nominal value to one fixed as a percentage of GDP. This debt ceiling should, on the one hand, be high enough that the government cannot reasonably cross it, but punitive enough that it disincentivizes profligate spending. This will save the U.S. from the annual political theater that occurs around debt ceiling talks and focus the discussion on the federal budget (and potentially taking revenue and spending decisions to actually control the deficit)…

There are some simple life lessons in business: It is hard to be liked by all people and it is hard to be liked all the time.  Leaders at central banks and investment firms know this very well… today’s economic crisis will likely end with a simple reminder of these lessons…

The tech war between countries is well-established – the U.S. and China being the least coy about this battle. There is another (more subtle) war happening…the battle for talent is quietly turning into a more global competition….

Many are wondering whether French President Emmanuel Macron’s entanglement in the Sahel is analogous to the troubles that foreign powers have faced in Afghanistan. The Wagner Group (and Russia) will likely determine the answer…