Dodd-Frank Is a Big Problem for Small Business
Since the passage of Dodd-Frank in 2010, the percentage of loans to businesses of less than $1 million has plummeted. What's behind the decline, and what can be done about it?...
About: Walter McLaughlin
Posts by Walter McLaughlin
Mortgage Delinquencies Begin an Upward March
FHA delinquency rates increased to 9.02 percent in the fourth quarter of 2016, up from 8.30 percent in the third quarter. Is a recession around the corner? ...
It’s the Economic Confidence Index, Stupid
Bill Clinton led an upstart charge to the White House by effectively tapping into voter worries about the economy. Proving that history repeats itself, Donald Trump used a simple, clear strategy...
Savings: The Socialism Antidote
With the savings rate in the United States projected to fall to 3.13 percent by year end, it's no surprise that populist rhetoric offering "free" things has captured the attention of...
Negative Interest Rates: Reaganomics in Full Reverse
Although supply-side economics produced two of the longest expansions in U.S. history, the current reliance on Keynesian economic principles — including the potential for negative interest rates — is being allowed...
Recovering From the Post-Great Recession “Recovery”
Despite historically low interest rates, a massive increase in the money supply, and persistent deficit spending, the U.S. economy is growing at a subnormal rate. What's behind it all? ...
Big Gov’t, Big Payroll: Federal Civilian Workforce Balloons Out of Control
The federal civilian workforce has ballooned since 2014 and is now at the highest level of Obama's presidency. Is there a correlation between budgetary problems, employment increases, and slow GDP growth?...
Trump Versus Clinton: How Would Each Handle the Economy?
Once a new president is installed in the White House, how is he or she likely to handle the economy? ...
Brexit: Advantage, America
Although the historic Brexit vote to leave the EU initially roiled stock markets worldwide, it may well end up benefitting the United States now and down the road. ...
U.S. “Peter Pan” Economy Is Unable to Remove Its Training Wheels
The economy is still being force-fed a diet of easy money and low interest rates nearly 10 years after the Federal Reserve began its historic onslaught of loose monetary policy —...
Regulatory Overreach Is Killing Small Businesses
Small businesses are the lifeblood of the economy and appear to enjoy bipartisan support in Congress. Yet the amount of rules and regulations they are saddled with has grown dramatically over...
Robots: $15 Minimum Wage and the Law of Unintended Consequences
With the battle over a proposed $15 federal minimum wage raging, job losses are sure to be forthcoming — from not just traditional downsizing, but as has been seen in China...
Does Massive Treasuries Sell-off Point to Coming Global Recession?
With China leading the way by selling a record $187 billion of U.S. treasuries in 2015, a massive global liquidation continued during January and February of this year. What does this...
Is Trump Right About Trade?
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has made trade a signature issue of his campaign. Are trade agreements such as NAFTA and TPP bad for the U.S. economy, and if so, what...
Negative Interest Rate Policies Create Ironic Trap for Central Banks
After driving interest rates into the negative in numerous countries around the world and despite being charged with reducing systemic financial risk, central banks around the world are speculating in risk...