The Regional Economist

A Look at Credit Default Swaps and Their Impact on the European Debt Crisis

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 12:00:00 CDT

Did you know that buying a credit default swap can be like buying insurance on your neighbor’s car—and then getting paid when that neighbor has an accident? Learn the ABCs of CDS, and find out why they are so important to any discussion of the European debt crisis.

Burned by Loss of Manufacturing, Rural County Vows To Diversify

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 24:00:00 CDT

College Degrees: Why Aren't More People Making the Investment?

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 24:00:00 CDT

The benefits of a college diploma are many, including higher pay, lower unemployment, maybe even better health. Yet many high school graduates still do not pursue a college degree. This article examines several key reasons why more people aren’t making this investment in themselves.

Earnings Growth Over a Lifetime: Not What It Used To Be

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 24:00:00 CDT

A typical worker's earnings grow over his lifetime. The generation of workers born in the 1910s experienced more growth than the generation born in the 1940s.

New Technology May Cause Stock Volatility

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 24:00:00 CDT

Reader Exchange: Ask an Economist, and Letters to the Editor

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 24:00:00 CDT

Reallocation of Credit, a Measure of Financial Activity, Has Yet To Bounce Back

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 12:00:00 CDT

Recent Actions Increase the Fed's Transparency

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 24:00:00 CDT

The U.S. Economy Should Strengthen As Year Goes By

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 24:00:00 CDT

When Oil Prices Jump, Is Speculation To Blame?

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 24:00:00 CDT

Whenever the price at the pump climbs week after week, people start pointing fingers at investment banks, hedge funds and other speculators. This article quantifies the role that speculation played in the rise of oil prices during the past decade.

Bucking the Trend in Manufacturing in Grenada, Miss.

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 24:00:00 CDT

Don't Expect Consumer Spending To Be the Engine of Economic Growth It Once Was

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 24:00:00 CDT

Consumer spending has long been the engine of U.S. and global economic growth. But five trends in 2011 suggest that such spending can no longer be counted on. Finding a replacement is going to be difficult, at best.

Emerging Markets: A Source of and Destination for Capital

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 24:00:00 CDT

Increasingly, emerging markets are becoming a source of growth in the global economy. For example, foreign direct investment both into and out of these countries has shown a phenomenal increase since 2000.

Local Housing Crisis Is Similar to Nation's

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 24:00:00 CDT

On the Road to Recovery, Soft Patches Turn Up Often

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 24:00:00 CDT

Reader Exchange: Ask an Economist, and Letters to the Editor

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 24:00:00 CDT

Starting a Business During a Recovery: This Time, It's Different

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 24:00:00 CDT

The Economic Recovery—America's Investment Problem

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 24:00:00 CDT

The Economy Should Be Able To Avoid a Recession in 2012

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 24:00:00 CDT

The Role of Financing in International Trade during Good Times and Bad

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 24:00:00 CDT

The collapse of trade during the financial crisis can be tied, for the most part, to a drop in demand. Less talked about, however, is the role of financing—or lack thereof.

Economic Data—Appearances Can Be Deceiving

Sat, 01 Oct 2011 12:00:00 CDT

Gender Wage Gap May Be Much Smaller Than Most Think

Sat, 01 Oct 2011 12:00:00 CDT

Immigrants: Skills, Occupations and Locations

Sat, 01 Oct 2011 12:00:00 CDT

Is Shadow Banking Really Banking?

Sat, 01 Oct 2011 12:00:00 CDT

To those who don't know, the term "shadow banking" probably has a negative connotation. This primer draws parallels between what has been termed the shadow banking sector and the traditional banking sector—showing that they are similar in many ways.

New Data Elevate Uncertainty about the Outlook on the Economy

Sat, 01 Oct 2011 12:00:00 CDT