South By North Strategies, Ltd.

Around The Dial – July 27

The State of The NC Job Market

John Quinterno of South by by North Strategies recently was a guest on the syndicated radio program News & Views. Quinterno discussed the current condition of the North Carolina labor market, the prospects for a recovery, and the consequences of long-term unemployment.

The Future of Fiscal Policy

Martin Wolf of The Financial Times is not optimistic about the United States’ ability to address long-term fiscal issues. Writes Wolf:

Finally, with one party indifferent to deficits, provided they are brought about by tax cuts, and the other party relatively fiscally responsible (well, everything is relative, after all), but opposed to spending cuts on core programmes, US fiscal policy is paralysed. I may think the policies of the UK government dangerously austere, but at least it can act.
…
This is extraordinarily dangerous. The danger does not arise from the fiscal deficits of today, but the attitudes to fiscal policy, over the long run, of one of the two main parties. Those radical conservatives (a small minority, I hope) who want to destroy the credit of the US federal government may succeed. If so, that would be the end of the US era of global dominance. The destruction of fiscal credibility could be the outcome of the policies of the party that considers itself the most patriotic.
…
In sum, a great deal of trouble lies ahead, for the US and the world.
…
Where am I wrong, if at all?

Around The Dial – July 26

Economic policy reports, blog postings, and media stories of interest:

• The News & Record reports on rising community college enrollments.
• Economist’s View wonders about “trickle-down meanness.”
• The Charlotte Observer looks at restarting emergency unemployment benefits.
• Economix looks at the consequences of long-term unemployment.

In The News: June Local Employment

South by North Strategies’ analysis of the June local employment report for North Carolina was featured in several media stories.

• The Durham Herald-Sun: “Triangle jobless rate creeps up”
• The Winston-Salem Journal: “Jobless rate rose in June, ESC says”
• The High Point Enterprise: “Jobless picture mixed”