Roche and Krugman are birds of a feather. They don't know what austerity is, but Roche does know that we haven't had any "extreme" austerity yet. Austerity is amputating the gangrenous leg. It's hard and it's painful, but at least the patient can live and not die.
Fewer, Richer, Greener: The End Of The Population Explosion And The Future For Investors [View article]
There will be fewer, and they may be greener, but they won't be richer. Take a look at Japan: http://bloom.bg/UCioN3
Japan's population dropped by 212,000 in 2012. Remember that when the fertility rate (number of live births to each woman of child-bearing years) falls below 1.5, it is not possible to reverse the downward spiral. Maybe it all ends with a whimper, or a death rattle.
Bizarre Barron's Article On Deflation [View article]
OK, don't call it deflation, just say the Fed is losing its battle against falling asset prices. Benanke has stated that his goal is rising asset prices to bring about the so-called "wealth effect". He has not been able to do that (including home prices). So if we can't enjoy the wealth effect, the large money supply just sits there; there is no money velocity, and asset values fall.
Friday's Fabulous Rally Finish: All Downhill From Here? [View article]
Ask yourself: Who gets called into the White House frequently for consulation? It ain't the Republicans; it's Jamie and Floyd and that GE guy. They are the new crony socialists. Bring back honest GOP guys for some good advice for our country. Phil, I'm very disappointed in your reasoning powers.
Corn and wheat may be trading near ten-month highs, but farmers are hardly profiting. With razor-thin margins and food crops priced well-below the cost of production, many growers are quitting. From the U.S. to Australia, from beef to vegetables, farmers globally are facing the same crunch. [View news story]
"Farmers who run good operations have never had it so good". Farmers who till the black loam soil of the upper midwest who don't have irrigation systems can still be regarded as good operators, but they are looking at the U.S. Drought Monitor and seeing a "black swan". The year 2012 may be the year in which good farmers have never had it so bad.
As an old farm boy, I don't agree that Deere could be a way to play higher crop prices due to drought. You can get a higher price per bushel, but fewer bushels won't bring in enough money to buy machinery.
The U.S. Drought Monitor is starting to get a lot of attention after showing more drought existing and expected in the midwest. Also, a front page article in the Chicago Tribune on Friday is calling attention to the dry conditions and may cause more buying of grain futures.
If there is a demographic dividend ensuing from a lower fertility rate and, therefore, a lower population, it cannot have a long life. With fewer people, fewer houses, cars, clothes, and energy sources are needed. All those people who might have gone into the production of houses, cars, clothes, and energy will be without a job. There will be deflation and a downward spiral in economic activity. This is why Japan is on the edge of such a downward move; and it is why China will get old before it gets rich.
Not So Golden Years: How An Aging Society Can Impact The Markets [View article]
"(so long as we are replacing ourselves)". Aye, there's the rub--we are not replacing ourselves. Unless, the fertility rate among child-bearing women is at 2.1 or higher, we are going to lose population, and the populace will be older, on average. Just look at Japan as an example.
Not So Golden Years: How An Aging Society Can Impact The Markets [View article]
Lawrence, you keep talking about how long people live; what you need to consider is how many people are being born--that's the key. For whatever reason, fewer people are being born, and that's what causes an aging population.
This Is Austerity? [View article]
Commodity Chart Of The Day: Gold [View article]
Fewer, Richer, Greener: The End Of The Population Explosion And The Future For Investors [View article]
http://bloom.bg/UCioN3
Japan's population dropped by 212,000 in 2012. Remember that when the fertility rate (number of live births to each woman of child-bearing years) falls below 1.5, it is not possible to reverse the downward spiral. Maybe it all ends with a whimper, or a death rattle.
Bizarre Barron's Article On Deflation [View article]
Governments Have It Backwards, It's Lowering Taxes That Increases Revenue Not Raising Them [View article]
Looking Forward To QEIII? Don't! [View article]
wants our country to avoid the chasm ahead.
Friday's Fabulous Rally Finish: All Downhill From Here? [View article]
Corn and wheat may be trading near ten-month highs, but farmers are hardly profiting. With razor-thin margins and food crops priced well-below the cost of production, many growers are quitting. From the U.S. to Australia, from beef to vegetables, farmers globally are facing the same crunch. [View news story]
Agriculture Shares Move Higher Despite Market Sell-Off [View article]
Commodity Chart Of The Day: Oats [View article]
ECRI's Weekly Leading Index At 20-Week Low [View article]
Global Demographic Megatrends [View article]
Signal Of Distress In The Electricity Sector [View article]
Not So Golden Years: How An Aging Society Can Impact The Markets [View article]
Not So Golden Years: How An Aging Society Can Impact The Markets [View article]