Hicks: Fed might as well throw in the towel on easing
At the Philadelphia meeting of the American Economic Association, economist Charles Plosser argued that the continued quantitative easing should be quickly reduced.
Economic Analysis
Articles
Hicks: North Korea is epitome of an economic system
The U.S. economy is not a system; it is a series of markets that by their very nature cannot be organized. The People’s Republic of Korea is the contemporary bastion of economic systems; North Korea is the most centrally planned state of modern times.
Hicks: Fed’s easing plan barely makes an impact
The Federal Reserve’s recent decision to ease efforts to stimulate the economy were widely expected. What was unexpected about the announcement was just how minimal the changes were.
Hicks: How to cut labor costs? Improve quality of life
Attractive regions will attract households with greater location choices. These households will inevitably be better educated and command a higher income. However, all things being equal, workers in these places will not require quite as high a wage to live in these places as they would to live in a less-desirable place.
Hicks: Hoosiers get bargain with IEDC, study shows
Over the past few weeks, the research center in which I work published three studies evaluating the role of economic development programs in Indiana. The results held surprises and some not-so-surprising findings.
Hicks: Health reform among forces stifling economy
Over the next couple of weeks, I will be traveling to many of Indiana’s cities to explain my 2014 economic forecast. I will tell audiences that the national economy will perform poorly, and that we will not return to pre-recession employment numbers this year.
Hicks: Economic geography changed with labor
In 1940, vibrant cities had big factories, rail yards and lots of associated workers. In 2010, vibrant cities had lots of people in many occupations whose product is mostly consumed locally. This doesn’t mean there aren’t a few fantastic towns with factories, but it is the vibrant town that ultimately makes the difference.
Hicks: Let’s debate gay marriage in our homes
I have written that the marriage amendment is a poor use of our legislators’ time, but I believe we should have an honest discussion about the matter.
Hicks: News media often misread rotten job numbers
At first blush, 200,000 new jobs noted in the latest jobs report would be welcomed news, as it is almost half the number of jobs we need each month to return labor markets to normalcy by the end of the decade. Alas, the Department of Labor publishes much more detailed data, and in that lurk dark shadows of a still-stagnant economy.
Hicks: A different 1 percent pack a big influence
Veterans of our large wars have returned to remake the world. The more recent wars have been fought by a mix of regular and citizen soldiers, and so I believe will leave a lasting mark on our nation.
IU economists: Sluggish growth to continue into 2014
Thank the government for a subpar outlook, Indiana University economists said prior to kicking off their annual forecast road show Wednesday morning in Indianapolis.
Hicks: Better ways to help minimum-wage workers
Much of the rhetoric about the costs and benefits of the minimum wage is pure bunk. Life as an adult minimum-wage worker is tough, but not because of salaries.
Hicks: Odds of Affordable Care Act failure keep rising
It is far too early to call the rollout of the Affordable Care Act a failure; most new programs have rocky starts. But this one has most of the signs of inevitable failure. If the situation doesn’t remedy itself quickly, the complete redo of the law will be hastened considerably.
Study: 15 percent of U.S., Hoosier youth out of school, work
Indiana finished 35th among states on the report's Opportunity Index, mostly because of a subpar score in education. The percentage of Hoosiers ages 16-24 not in school or not working mirrored the national average of nearly 15 percent.
Hicks: Economists don’t know why economy is ailing
The first slowdown seems to have been at least partially remedied by the Federal Reserve’s massive purchase of assets known as quantitative easing, the most recent of which was accompanied by a marked short-term improvement in the economy. That improvement seems to have run its course.
Hicks: Welcome this debate, even if it ain’t pretty
Voters’ expressing only anger and frustration over D.C. politics simply won’t do. It is intellectually lazy, cowardly and un-American to wish that everyone should settle their argument like this is a school playground.
Hicks: Sometimes it’s about spending, not taxes
No matter the result of last week’s budget debate, we are in need of a serious discussion about tax and spending policy.
Hicks: We’ll spend more and more on health care
Like most Americans, I am confused by the ACA. I don’t have a spare couple of months to read it in its entirety, but am certain there are things about it I will like and some I will detest. On balance, though, it is increasingly clear that it will require Herculean fixes.
HICKS: Yellen understands the Fed’s conflicting roles
With Janet Yellen as the clear front runner for Federal Reserve chairwoman, rampant speculation regarding her approach to monetary policy fills blogs and editorials.
HICKS: Now is not the time to backtrack on school reforms
My local paper recently published an opinion piece criticizing virtually all recent education reform efforts, including those by the Bush, Obama, Daniels and Pence administrations. The piece was naively rich with irony.