South By North Strategies, Ltd.

Around The Dial – May 11

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

• The Atlanta Fed asks how many jobs are at risk due to the Gulf oil spill.
• CBPP explains how health reform can lower the federal deficit.
• Brad DeLong shares a historical portrait of the labor market.

The April National Employment Report

Last Friday, John Quinterno of South by North Strategies, Ltd. discussed the latest national employment report on WPTF-News Radio 680’s  “North Carolina Evening News” broadcast.

Click here to listen to the discussion (mp3).

Comparing Retirement Ages

The following graph created by the Economic Policy Institute compares official retirement ages in the United States to those in other advanced industrial nations. Currently, only Ireland, Iceland, and Norway have higher official retirement ages than the American one of 65.8 years old. However, this gap will close once the official American retirement completes its scheduled rise to age 67.

Around The Dial – May 10

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

• Paul Krugman argues for government competence and effectiveness.
• The Baseline Scenario explains the Eurozone’s self-rescue plan.
• Economix asks how businesses create wealth.
• Calculated Risk analyzes changes in unemployment durations.

NC Budget Proposal Analyzed

A new report from the N.C. Budget and Tax Center analyzes Gov. Beverly Perdue’s proposed changes to the 2010-11 budget for North Carolina.  From the report’s overview section …

Governor Beverly Perdue’s proposed budget reflects the impact that the deep and prolonged recession is having on the state government’s ability to fulfill its basic responsibilities. Even when including additional federal assistance, state government will be approximately 10 percent smaller than it would need to be to return to pre-recession service levels.
…
The recession continues to put pressure on state government by driving down revenues and driving up costs, thus forcing budget writers to make tough choices. The governor’s budget proposal scales back programs and services that people and communities depend on and increases fees like community college tuition and community service fees paid by probationers. The proposal would provide addition funding to a few areas, such as maintaining open enrollment in the state’s health insurance program for children and providing a salary step increase for teachers. For the most part, however, state government continues to ratchet back its overall scope of work.