Emma Taylor of Acredited Online Colleges shared with me one of their recent blog postings: Money 101: 40 Financial Lectures to Prepare You for the Real World.
http://www.accreditedonlinecolleges.com/blog/2011/money-101-40-financial-lectures-to-prepare-you-for-the-real-world/
The site pulls together a wealth of on-line lectures by scholars and practitioners on an array of topics such as financial happiness, negotiation, investment and philanthropy, and credit, loans and retirement.
Enjoy!!!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
New Piece on Kids and Economics
The folks at Nightly Business Report invited me to give a second 60 second commentary. I spoke about kids and economics, highlighting the Rutgers' Econkids.rutgers.edu site. Here is the link to the Monday, February 7th show: http://www.pbs.org/nbr/info/video.htm.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Review of Last Week's Labor Market Commentary
Friends:
From my posts over the past year, you all now know that I spend 3-4 days prior to the first Friday of each month pouring over statistics in preparation for the release of the Bureau of Labor Statistics' unemployment rate and payroll employment growth.
The monthly report also contains information on the length and type of unemployment. For example, in December, 44% of the unemployed have been out of work for at least 27 weeks. We have almost 9 million Americans that are working part-time, but want a full-time job. Counting them as unemployed raises the jobless rate from 9.4% to 16.7%. Many call this the "real" unemployment rate.
My commentary on the labor market started with an early Wednesday morning interview on NPR's "The Takeaway". Ryan Wineland, a Block Buster Video manager and I reacted to a new study that found that 84% of those surveyed said they planned on switching jobs this year, up from 60% last year.
(http://www.thetakeaway.org/2011/jan/06/does-worker-dissatisfaction-signal-positive-job-growth-ahead/)
Thursday (Jan. 6th) was a first. I did a short commentary for the Nightly Business Report. The piece expressed my concerns about a new surge in income inequality in 2011 and beyond. The commentary presents a broad framework for us to consider. (http://www.pbs.org/nbr/info/video.html)
On Friday, I spent the morning and early afternoon at CNN. University of Maryland economist Peter Morici and I commented on the falling of the December unemployment rate form 9.8 to 9.4% for Your $$$$. (http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1101/08/cnnitm.01.html)
I also served as a resource for Mary Snow's Situation Room piece "On the Front Lines of a Job Search." http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/business/2011/01/07/tsr.snow.searching.for.a.job.cnn?iref=allsearch. She highlighted the job search experiences of not only the unemployed, but also the 9 million Americans that want to work full-time, but only have part-time hours.
My last bit of input was to help CNN staff writer Aaron Smith shine a greater light on the disparate impacts that the recession and now the weak jobs recovery are having across age, race and gender. http://money.cnn.com/2011/01/07/news/economy/unemployment_racial_gap/index.htm
If there is a common thread to my commentary, it is to remind us of the recovery's various contours of experience.
From my posts over the past year, you all now know that I spend 3-4 days prior to the first Friday of each month pouring over statistics in preparation for the release of the Bureau of Labor Statistics' unemployment rate and payroll employment growth.
The monthly report also contains information on the length and type of unemployment. For example, in December, 44% of the unemployed have been out of work for at least 27 weeks. We have almost 9 million Americans that are working part-time, but want a full-time job. Counting them as unemployed raises the jobless rate from 9.4% to 16.7%. Many call this the "real" unemployment rate.
My commentary on the labor market started with an early Wednesday morning interview on NPR's "The Takeaway". Ryan Wineland, a Block Buster Video manager and I reacted to a new study that found that 84% of those surveyed said they planned on switching jobs this year, up from 60% last year.
(http://www.thetakeaway.org/2011/jan/06/does-worker-dissatisfaction-signal-positive-job-growth-ahead/)
Thursday (Jan. 6th) was a first. I did a short commentary for the Nightly Business Report. The piece expressed my concerns about a new surge in income inequality in 2011 and beyond. The commentary presents a broad framework for us to consider. (http://www.pbs.org/nbr/info/video.html)
On Friday, I spent the morning and early afternoon at CNN. University of Maryland economist Peter Morici and I commented on the falling of the December unemployment rate form 9.8 to 9.4% for Your $$$$. (http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1101/08/cnnitm.01.html)
I also served as a resource for Mary Snow's Situation Room piece "On the Front Lines of a Job Search." http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/business/2011/01/07/tsr.snow.searching.for.a.job.cnn?iref=allsearch. She highlighted the job search experiences of not only the unemployed, but also the 9 million Americans that want to work full-time, but only have part-time hours.
My last bit of input was to help CNN staff writer Aaron Smith shine a greater light on the disparate impacts that the recession and now the weak jobs recovery are having across age, race and gender. http://money.cnn.com/2011/01/07/news/economy/unemployment_racial_gap/index.htm
If there is a common thread to my commentary, it is to remind us of the recovery's various contours of experience.
Monday, December 27, 2010
The Economy and Labor Market in 2011
Friends:
Here is a link to a story that NPR's Tamara Keith did for last Sunday's Weekend Addition.
http://www.npr.org/2010/12/26/132328098/experts-see-economy-turning-corner-in-new-year
I am cautiously optimistic about the economy's recovery. The new stimulus will help the recovery accelerate, but its impact may not be as large as predicted. We have several drags on the economy:
-State and local governments are doing "anti-stimulus". Due to balanced-budget requirements, they are raising taxes and/or cutting expenditures.
-Many home owners remain underwater or have lost a serious amount of equity in their homes. As a result, they will continue to be cautious about spending money. Further, many can't move to areas where job are available.
-Along with the 15 million Americans that are searching for a job, we have an unprecedented 9 million Americans who are working part-time, but want full-time work. Creating a large number of jobs without stoking inflationary fears will take time.
Let's end the year on a positive note. In 2010, the labor market turned the corner:
-Private sector job creation occurred in every month.
-Growth in temp employment, a precursor to full-time job creation occurred in every month except one.
-Increases in hours worked, also a precursor to full-time job creation occurred.
-Retail sales during the Holiday season are up from the previous year!
In 2011, with the second stimulus' help, the labor market will accelerate out of the turn.
Happy New Year!!!!
Bill
Here is a link to a story that NPR's Tamara Keith did for last Sunday's Weekend Addition.
http://www.npr.org/2010/12/26/132328098/experts-see-economy-turning-corner-in-new-year
I am cautiously optimistic about the economy's recovery. The new stimulus will help the recovery accelerate, but its impact may not be as large as predicted. We have several drags on the economy:
-State and local governments are doing "anti-stimulus". Due to balanced-budget requirements, they are raising taxes and/or cutting expenditures.
-Many home owners remain underwater or have lost a serious amount of equity in their homes. As a result, they will continue to be cautious about spending money. Further, many can't move to areas where job are available.
-Along with the 15 million Americans that are searching for a job, we have an unprecedented 9 million Americans who are working part-time, but want full-time work. Creating a large number of jobs without stoking inflationary fears will take time.
Let's end the year on a positive note. In 2010, the labor market turned the corner:
-Private sector job creation occurred in every month.
-Growth in temp employment, a precursor to full-time job creation occurred in every month except one.
-Increases in hours worked, also a precursor to full-time job creation occurred.
-Retail sales during the Holiday season are up from the previous year!
In 2011, with the second stimulus' help, the labor market will accelerate out of the turn.
Happy New Year!!!!
Bill
Thursday, October 21, 2010
African Americans and the "Great Recession"
Friends:
Here is the link to an opinion piece that I just did for CNNMoney on the disproportionate impacts that the "Great Recession" had on African Americans:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/10/20/inam.money.great.recession/index.html
If you look at reader reactions, I clearly struck a nerve. I look forward to your comments and suggestions on follow up.
Bill
Here is the link to an opinion piece that I just did for CNNMoney on the disproportionate impacts that the "Great Recession" had on African Americans:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/10/20/inam.money.great.recession/index.html
If you look at reader reactions, I clearly struck a nerve. I look forward to your comments and suggestions on follow up.
Bill
Kids and Economics
Friends:
You can see the segment that Christine Romans did on financial and economic literacy at:
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2010/10/04/am.dnt.romans.sitnr.kids.cnn?iref=videosearch.
Enjoy!!!!
Bill
You can see the segment that Christine Romans did on financial and economic literacy at:
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2010/10/04/am.dnt.romans.sitnr.kids.cnn?iref=videosearch.
Enjoy!!!!
Bill
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Economic and Financial Literacy Finally Get Their Due
This weekend (CNN's Your $$$$$) and on Monday (CNN's American Morning), Christine Romans will shine a light on economic and financial literacy. It is an answer to the following question.
Want to help stimulate the economy, spend time with your child, and reduce the chances that the financial crisis occurs in the future?
Until Christine's report and forthcoming book (Smart is the New Rich: If You Can't Afford It- Put it Down), a long-term strategy not receiving enough attention is strengthening the economic literacy of our youth. One way to prevent a financial crisis from happening again is to better educate today's youth on economic principles, such as consumption, saving, and investment. Almost all states have economic content standards that begin in Kindergarten, but as parents, we must play a bigger role.
Prior to the financial crisis, parents and teachers had few well-known resources for identifying children's books that teach kids about the importance of saving and the importance of not living beyond one's means. For several years a little known "free" resource has existed at http://econkids.rutgers.edu/.
The concept behind the youth-oriented and user-friendly website is simple. Rutgers economics Professor Yana Rodgers and Williamsburg, VA K-5 reading specialist Shelby Hawthorne have developed a "living" catalog of children's literature that teaches a wide range of economic concepts that are linked to state curriculum standards. The site provides quick lesson ideas that are based on current research in economics and education.
Based on objective research criteria, you can click on an economics concept and obtain a list of the site's "Top Five" choices for acclaimed children's books that use enjoyable stories to teach economics.
The site encourages return visits. It profiles a new book each month, reviews new children's books and identifies their economic content. I am a labor economist , so one of my favorites is "Click Clack Moo," a wonderful story about some cows who go on strike because they want blankets and a duck, who serves as the arbitrator.
For sure, using http://econkids.rutgers.edu will not solve the credit card problems that many young adults have gotten themselves into. Nor will it solve the sub-prime lending mess that played a big role in dragging the economy into the worst recession since WWII. However, the site provides some neat stocking stuffer ideas for the holidays that will help your children become savvier and smarter consumers.
In short, you will be investing in your child's future and the nation's return to prosperity. If these economic rationales are not clear, then maybe you, too, will benefit as you read to your child.
Enjoy the Site and enjoy the time with your child!!!!
Want to help stimulate the economy, spend time with your child, and reduce the chances that the financial crisis occurs in the future?
Until Christine's report and forthcoming book (Smart is the New Rich: If You Can't Afford It- Put it Down), a long-term strategy not receiving enough attention is strengthening the economic literacy of our youth. One way to prevent a financial crisis from happening again is to better educate today's youth on economic principles, such as consumption, saving, and investment. Almost all states have economic content standards that begin in Kindergarten, but as parents, we must play a bigger role.
Prior to the financial crisis, parents and teachers had few well-known resources for identifying children's books that teach kids about the importance of saving and the importance of not living beyond one's means. For several years a little known "free" resource has existed at http://econkids.rutgers.edu/.
The concept behind the youth-oriented and user-friendly website is simple. Rutgers economics Professor Yana Rodgers and Williamsburg, VA K-5 reading specialist Shelby Hawthorne have developed a "living" catalog of children's literature that teaches a wide range of economic concepts that are linked to state curriculum standards. The site provides quick lesson ideas that are based on current research in economics and education.
Based on objective research criteria, you can click on an economics concept and obtain a list of the site's "Top Five" choices for acclaimed children's books that use enjoyable stories to teach economics.
The site encourages return visits. It profiles a new book each month, reviews new children's books and identifies their economic content. I am a labor economist , so one of my favorites is "Click Clack Moo," a wonderful story about some cows who go on strike because they want blankets and a duck, who serves as the arbitrator.
For sure, using http://econkids.rutgers.edu will not solve the credit card problems that many young adults have gotten themselves into. Nor will it solve the sub-prime lending mess that played a big role in dragging the economy into the worst recession since WWII. However, the site provides some neat stocking stuffer ideas for the holidays that will help your children become savvier and smarter consumers.
In short, you will be investing in your child's future and the nation's return to prosperity. If these economic rationales are not clear, then maybe you, too, will benefit as you read to your child.
Enjoy the Site and enjoy the time with your child!!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
