HICKS: Thelma and Louise approach the fiscal cliff
Reaching an agreement on our budget deficit requires one or both sides to concede central parts of their arguments.
Economic Analysis
Articles
HICKS: Inspired leader needed to survive next big crisis
The potential for widespread municipal bankruptcies and the effective bankruptcy of as many as a dozen states will present historic difficulties for the nation, and much will depend on effective leadership from the president.
HICKS: The problems with polling and predictions
Just days before a presidential election, there’s no doubt we will be bombarded with poll results and election models designed to predict winners and losers. It is useful to explain how these work without technical jargon.
IU economists predict more of the same in 2013
The economy in 2013 is likely to mirror the slow-growing one of this year, economists from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business predicted Thursday morning. And it could be even worse.
HICKS: Some additional clarity on gender and pay
The facts by themselves offer no cause or understanding of the issue, much less an explanation of potential policy interventions.
HICKS: Is family composition an economic issue?
The proximal causes of poverty—dropping out of school (one in five kids) and single parenthood (two in five kids)—are best described as failures of families.
HICKS: No lying, just bad news, in U.S. job numbers
Let me dispel the myth of a conspiracy to rig unemployment numbers. I have two reasons to know these data are not contrived.
HICKS: Bernanke sheds light on Fed during Indy speech
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke spoke in Indianapolis on Oct. 1, and I was lucky enough to sit with a group of smart folks during his talk. I found three elements particularly interesting.
HICKS: Immigration brings hope to the Midwest
No new business employing U.S. citizens will heal urban decay in many Midwestern cities.
HICKS: Teach teachers to value performance evaluations
If schools are to get better—and they must—we’ll have to ask more of teachers, parents and students as well as taxpayers.
HICKS: Corporate greed an easy target for criticism
A reader recently suggested that I write a critique of corporations akin to that offered for unions. That is a fine idea, so I will begin with a couple of points:
HICKS: Global slowdown makes its way to Wyoming
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke recently spoke of a slowing world economy at the annual fete of world economists in Jackson Hole, Wyo. His speech was the typical measured prose of someone whose choice of adverbs has the capacity to send markets diving. However, to an experienced listener, two interesting tidbits emerged.
HICKS: Observing the transformation of unions on Labor Day
In this column, on a sunny Labor Day five years past, I asserted that the American labor movement was dead. Given what has transpired since, it would appear my diagnosis was a bit optimistic.
HICKS: The arts matter … when art lovers are free
The measurement of value in an artistic endeavor will always lie in the hearts of men and women.
HICKS: College diplomas are worthless, but education priceless
This week, students are arriving at my university and others. I believe this is a good time to say something both provocative and nuanced: A college diploma is virtually worthless.
U.S. economic recovery weakest since World War II
The recession that ended three years ago this summer has been followed by the feeblest economic recovery since the Great Depression. Growth has never been weaker in a postwar recovery. Consumer spending has never been so slack. Only once has job growth been slower.
HICKS: All this clucking over chicken reveals fallacies
The hullabaloo over gay marriage and Chick-fil-A exposes three astonishing falsehoods of modern political economy that distract us from weightier issues.
HICKS: Reflecting on a half century of economic growth
This summer marks the 50th year of Walmart, America’s manned space exploration and—youthful appearances notwithstanding—your columnist.
HICKS: Short-term fixes unlikely to ease downturn
Almost all the economic forecasts that appear monthly or quarterly have been revised downward, some for the third time. And the smallest tidbit of good news dominates the news cycles without moving financial markets
HICKS: Job creation, destruction not mutually exclusive
I am always saddened and more than a bit disappointed when I hear politicians promise to create jobs.