tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51246597897975134472012-01-09T05:44:34.076-08:00Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.comBlogger781100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-67282542371837682682012-01-05T05:09:00.000-08:002012-01-05T05:09:23.995-08:00

By Gary Roberts Robertson School of Government Luke 12:47-49 (King James Version) 47And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to

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By Gary Roberts Robertson School of Government Deuteronomy 1:27-29 (New Living Translation) You complained in your tents and said, ‘The Lord must hate us. That’s why he has brought us here from Egypt—to hand us over to the Amorites to be slaughtered. Where can we go? Our brothers have demoralized us with their report. They tell us, “The people of the land are taller and more powerful than we are

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By Gary Roberts Robertson School of Government 2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am

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By Gary Roberts Robertson School of Government The battle over time is one of the great spiritual warfare struggles. Satan uses our addiction to activity and works to impede our relationship with God. Time can become an idol when our schedules become more important than obeying God. The underlying principle resides in one of the foundational commandments, though shall have no other Gods before

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-26364565150640040872011-09-19T11:49:00.000-07:002011-09-19T11:49:50.825-07:00

Dr. Gary Roberts Robertson School of Government Matthew 18:7 “What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.” One of the most humbling aspects of leadership is to recognize that as shepherds of the flock, we possess a great responsibility to not discourage our employees and tempt them to sin.

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-37634014230144573252011-08-22T10:27:00.000-07:002011-08-22T10:27:28.352-07:00

Dr. Gary Roberts Robertson School of Government Exodus 20:20: “Don’t be afraid,” Moses answered them, “for God has come in this way to test you, and so that your fear of him will keep you from sinning!” NLT As an educator and a life-long learner, I am very comfortable with the notion that our time on earth consists of a series of “tests.” We are simultaneously “cramming” and taking exams of one

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Justin Murff Admissions Recruiter, Robertson School of Government “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19 The beginning of the semester brings a sense of newness, excitement, and a healthy dose of trepidation for others. Beginning a graduate degree is challenging enough, but

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James A. Davids Assistant Professor of Government & Law, Regent UniversityI like Sen. Tom Coburn.  In 2007, after the electorate threw out his party’s majority in the Senate, Coburn said:  “I think [American voters were] wise to want change. The Republicans didn't do what they said they were going to do. They deserve the wrath of the voters."  Refreshing.  Coburn was and is a fearless

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Dr. Gary Roberts Robertson School of Government He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done (Matthew 26:42, KJV). As we approach Good Friday and the upcoming joyous good news of the resurrection, it is critical to reflect on the passionate suffering of Jesus. In order for us to experience the

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Dr. Gary Roberts Robertson School of Government “When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. ‘Do you understand what I have done for you?’ he asked them. ‘You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-79849586384685130842011-03-18T06:59:00.000-07:002011-03-18T07:00:40.883-07:00

James Davids, J.D. Robertson School of Government Shutting down government, or at least stalling its progress, seems to be a rite of spring these days. Last year a Republican filibuster delayed passage of the health care reform bill in the U.S. Senate. This spring, the Democrats in the Wisconsin Senate and the Indiana House decided to shut down reform efforts in their states by taking their “

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-21126569811071628002011-03-11T08:24:00.000-08:002011-03-11T08:24:13.346-08:00

Dr. Gary Roberts Robertson School of Government What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting (Matthew 18:7). One of the most humbling aspects of leadership is to recognize that as shepherds of the flock, we possess a great responsibility to not discourage our employees and tempt them to sin.

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-49565534424347844832011-02-22T07:49:00.000-08:002011-02-22T07:55:52.344-08:00

Dr. Gary Roberts Robertson School of Government The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4). Our Christian walk is a glorious adventure, but with hidden spiritual warfare dangers. One of the most pernicious is strongholds. Os Hillman has a very clear definition of a stronghold: A stronghold is

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-80154045105695365992011-02-09T06:40:00.000-08:002011-02-09T06:42:14.203-08:00

Dr. Gary Roberts Robertson School of Government If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-86684575676008877362011-01-27T06:09:00.000-08:002011-02-09T06:42:55.408-08:00

Dr. Gary Roberts Robertson School of Government Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he has rejected you as king (1 Samuel 15:23, NLT). For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night (Psalm 51:3, NLT). But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-53383296002296237232010-12-22T06:33:00.000-08:002010-12-22T06:35:38.146-08:00

Dr. Gary Roberts Robertson School of Government I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them (John 13:16-17). The faculty-student relationship at Regent University is a great privilege and joy. This week’s devotional is inspired by reflections from a

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Dr. Gary Roberts Robertson School of Government But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Genesis 50:20 (KJV) What is the purpose of pain and suffering in our lives? This existential question is a foundational element of a religious worldview. Christianity posits that in God’s economy, none of our

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-63702302807167677182010-11-30T08:26:00.000-08:002010-11-30T08:26:54.012-08:00

Dr. Mary Manjikian Robertson School of Government In 1946, George F. Kennan, a senior foreign service officer at the American Embassy in Moscow sent the so-called “Long Telegram” back to Washington. In the five cables which comprised the telegram, he speculated about how the United States should proceed in crafting its foreign policy toward the Soviet Union in the post-World War II era. These

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Dr. Gary Roberts Robertson School of Government For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat (2 Thes. 3:10).Work is central to God’s plan and purpose for humanity. From the beginning, man was given dominion over the earth with the responsibility of tending the Garden of Eden. After the fall, the scope and breadth of work expanded given

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-75911662387203633962010-10-01T08:52:00.000-07:002010-11-06T14:42:14.880-07:00

Dr. Gary Roberts Robertson School of Government I need not remind you that the workplace is competitive, even "cutthroat," by its very nature. As Christians, we are called to compete, but against what and whom? One key to uncovering the truth is grasping the nature of excellence, but how does God define it? It is not accidental that the Bible does not contain a single reference to the modern

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-89410242282039871162010-09-11T15:13:00.000-07:002010-11-06T15:05:26.150-07:00

Dr. Gary Roberts Robertson School of Government "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me" (2 Cor. 12:9).One of the great truths of Christianity is that faith without works is dead. The same principle applies to the relationship between

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Dr. Gary Roberts Robertson School of Government Servants, do what you're told by your earthly masters. And don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-46333719357025713952010-06-30T18:11:00.000-07:002010-06-30T18:12:17.952-07:00

Dr. Gary Roberts Robertson School of Government Workplace stress levels are higher than ever before. A recent American Psychological Association life stress survey indicated that 69% of those polled experience serious job stress.  How employees respond in their attempt to relieve stress is one of the major public health issues of our day given its link with a whole host of costly physical and

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-46297375800825630302010-06-30T17:33:00.000-07:002010-06-30T17:33:51.813-07:00

Dr. Gary Roberts Robertson School of Government For most members of society, it is self-evident that life is more complicated and busier than ever. This constantly increasing pace reflects global change in societal values, information age technology, shifting family composition, elevated work demands, higher levels of mobility, and increased economic pressures, among others. The progressive

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-38858617785960309322010-06-27T17:09:00.000-07:002010-06-27T17:28:38.081-07:00

Dr. Douglas O. Walker Robertson School of Government Next year will be the centennial of Ronald Reagan's birth and the thirtieth anniversary of this great man's assumption of the Presidency. These two important dates in American history will be celebrated at Regent's Sixth Annual Ronald Reagan Symposium and make it a truly special event. Past symposiums have been a great success, and the next

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-83207767968696645372010-06-27T16:35:00.000-07:002010-06-27T16:35:42.267-07:00

Dr. Gary Roberts Robertson School of Government It is very tempting for employers to take advantage of workers during recessionary periods. The high unemployment rate in conjunction with few job openings provides employers with a powerful “hammer” to increase workloads, decrease staffing levels, cut wages, reduce safety standards, and eliminate or reduce benefits irrespective of the actual

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-64644132944780175272010-06-03T10:49:00.000-07:002010-06-03T10:49:59.895-07:00

Dr. Gary Roberts Robertson School of Government I do not have to remind those who are looking for work that today’s labor market is the most competitive in decades. Recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that there are 5.6 applicants per job opening in March 2010 compared to only 1 per vacancy in 2000. These odds are daunting in themselves, but they understate the level

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-51471240796486515202010-05-28T15:14:00.000-07:002010-05-28T15:14:20.978-07:00

Dr. Mary Manjikian Robertson School of Government April 15 has in recent years become a strange sort of national holiday in America. Stores offer citizens free coffee and donuts as consolation for having to pay taxes, while newscasters sympathize with viewers completing last-minute paperwork. Citizens line up at the post office and increasingly take to the streets to protest against wasteful

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-75420369910595000122010-05-27T21:20:00.000-07:002010-05-27T21:28:14.797-07:00

Dr. Douglas O. Walker Robertson School of Government Some links to videos on economic subjects and RSG events: 1. Nouriel Roubini, a professor of economics at New York University, discussing the financial crisis at the London School of Economics can be accessed here along with other videos from the LSE. In contrast to most observers, the renown “Dr. Doom” suggests that financial crises are more

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-70518898745620026282010-05-19T18:17:00.000-07:002010-05-19T18:17:49.451-07:00

Dr. Douglas O. Walker Robertson School of Government A week ago, in the wake of its continuing financial crisis and in response to the panicked imploring of Mr. Jean-Claude Trichet, the increasingly anxious President of the European Central Bank, the leaders of the European Union adopted a package of measures intended to stabilize financial markets and support the adjustment of the weaker

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-40116077314945381052010-05-10T11:57:00.000-07:002010-05-10T12:04:25.829-07:00

Dr. Douglas O. Walker Robertson School of Government "Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the center cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity." William Butler

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-82232012361461385862010-05-06T10:17:00.000-07:002010-05-06T10:18:46.246-07:00

Dr. Douglas O. Walker Robertson School of Government Some items of interest to students of international politics: 1. Peter Boone and Simon Johnson, economists at the London School of Economics and MIT, respectively, do not think that the Greek "rescue" package is anywhere near enough to stabilize the eurozone. The picture they present is not at all pleasant to contemplate. 2. Time

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-46654730254219126832010-04-26T20:43:00.000-07:002010-04-26T20:43:36.397-07:00

Dr. Douglas O. Walker Robertson School of Government Received an e-mail the other day from Dr. Larry Willmore, an economist with an interest in education and the economy at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Vienna, bringing to my attention a recent paper by Harvard economist Lant Pritchett on the relationship between schooling and economic growth. Professor Pritchett is

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-13839127525753490372010-04-23T12:48:00.000-07:002010-05-10T12:01:56.216-07:00

Dr. Douglas O. Walker Robertson School of Government This month's brief provides a general overview of the state of the U.S. economy and the economy of the region. It points out that the general level of economic activity in the U.S. is no longer falling but seems to have stabilized. The economy does not appear to be recovering as quickly as in the past, however, and Personal income, while

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-76663572605082609812010-04-21T14:04:00.000-07:002010-04-21T14:10:19.405-07:00

Dr. Douglas O. Walker Robertson School of Government The Spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank will take place later this week and next. On the agenda is a review of the state of the world economy, the prospects for a recovery in world output and trade, and of course, the impact of the global financial crisis and measures that could be taken to strengthen the

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-18578535400073931222010-04-12T13:13:00.000-07:002010-04-12T13:49:07.910-07:00

Dr. Douglas O. Walker Robertson School of Government The RSG U.S Economic Brief for March focuses on the current state of the U.S. economy and the recent health care bill passed by Congress. The Brief points out: The banking system remains under strain as commercial banks continue to be shut down due to bad real estate loans; Compared to three years ago, the state of the U.S. economy has

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-25054314164088445822010-04-12T08:00:00.000-07:002010-04-12T08:01:30.623-07:00

Dr. Douglas O. Walker Robertson School of Government In an article published yesterday, Paul Krugman of the New York Times discussed the debt crisis in Greece and what he regards as its implications for the U.S. He pointed out the crisis in Greece seems to have reached the point of no return, as he put it, and this small country is going to pay a steep price for its past irresponsibility. He

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-13224697113460223662010-04-06T12:10:00.000-07:002010-04-06T13:46:13.677-07:00

Dr. Douglas O. Walker Robetson School of Government Some links to items of interest to students of economics: 1. A new paper by N. Gregory Mankiw on "Questions about Fiscal Policy" offers a survey of current issues regarding U.S. fiscal policy. Professor Mankiw is the author of the text used in RSG's Principles class. Strongly recommended to RSG students. 2. The Bureau of Labor Statistics

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-78113900376677481982010-03-25T15:17:00.000-07:002010-03-25T15:19:40.017-07:00

Dr. Douglas O. Walker Robertson School of Government The RSG World Economic Brief for March focuses on unemployment among the more economically advanced countries that are members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, some important developments in China and Brazil, and the continuing problems surrounding Greece's unsustainable national debt. The Brief points out:

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-34782569065052210152010-03-22T08:17:00.000-07:002010-03-25T13:48:15.704-07:00

Dr. Douglas O. Walker Robertson School of Government I have been re-reading parts of Friedrich von Hayek's Road to Serfdom. Hayek is so right about how government actions become increasingly demanding and outside the normal bounds of decency and law once a government starts to mandate things. We are only at the beginning of the takeover of health care in the U.S. and the Congress is already

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-3264402060443393712010-03-22T07:58:00.000-07:002010-03-22T07:59:03.794-07:00

Dr. Mary Manjikian Robertson School of Government The late American historian and sociologist Charles Tilly left behind a monumental body of work in which he grappled with the question of how best to explain and understand large-scale political and social changes: revolutions, wars and the rise and fall of states and empires. At base, he wanted to know whether such events were best thought of as

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-73464906893888006732010-03-16T10:43:00.000-07:002010-03-16T10:44:21.396-07:00

James A. Davids, J.D. Robertson School of Government   One of my greatest heroes is my deceased paternal grandmother, Theresa Davids. Born and reared in the northeastern Dutch province of Groningen at the beginning of the 20th Century, young Theresa had eight years of formal education before being placed in the house of a rich Dutch farmer where she performed household chores for the farmer’s

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-43770947765541474722010-03-09T16:07:00.000-08:002010-03-10T11:51:06.087-08:00

On Monday, President Obama attempted to mobilize support for his health care initiative by criticizing health insurance companies for raising premiums and denying coverage on the basis of ability and willingness to pay for health insurance. Professor Don Boudreaux of George Mason University responded with this open letter to the President: 8 March 2010 Mr. Barack Obama President, Executive

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Two very different stories last Friday made me ponder the question above. In the first story, Pat Buchanan provided statistics on the enormity of the federal deficit. Mr. Buchanan related that if Congress eliminated both the defense budget (not a popular move in this Navy town I call home!) and Social Security payments (can you imagine the outcry?) next year, it would still be $160 billion short

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-75679656235572698692010-03-05T20:04:00.000-08:002010-03-08T12:29:17.905-08:00

The RSG U.S. Economic Brief for February focuses on the state of the recovery from the sharp downturn in production that began in early 2008 and continued through most of 2009. It notes that the economy has recently registered positive quarterly growth and economic conditions in some key sectors of production appear to be improving. But the recovery is uneven, employment continues to fall, the

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-18165596665177979362010-02-19T08:59:00.000-08:002010-02-19T09:04:21.034-08:00

By Charles W. Dunn Dean School of Government Regent University [Author or Editor of 17 books on American politics, including The Enduring Reagan, The Seven Laws of Presidential Leadership, and The Future of Conservatism. Former Chair, United States J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.] “The Tea Party” is running against history and time, and neither favors “The Tea Party.” If

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-35463210372534799272010-02-19T08:42:00.000-08:002010-02-19T08:50:53.294-08:00

By Charles W. Dunn Dean School of Government Regent Unviersity [Author or Editor of 17 books on American politics, including The Enduring Reagan, The Seven Laws of Presidential Leadership, and The Future of Conservatism. Former Chair, United States J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.] Did Senator Bayh read the handwriting on the wall? Have moderate Democrats become a vanishing

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-80380777763213876902010-02-18T15:40:00.000-08:002010-02-18T15:42:22.977-08:00

President Obama has convened a half-day bipartisan health care session, tentatively set for 25 February at the Blair House, to be televised live to the nation. The meeting provides the President with an opportunity to regain momentum on his health care proposals and for the Republicans to interact with and question the President on this issue. It is unclear, however, how any compromise, unlikely

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-54107991136693388492010-02-15T10:47:00.000-08:002010-02-15T10:47:29.633-08:00

The ERP is issued every year by the President's Council of Economic Advisors in February. It reviews the current state and performance of the economy and outlines the goals of the Administration and the policies being pursued to attain these goals. Here are the chapters in this year's report: TO RESCUE, REBALANCE, AND REBUILD RESCUING THE ECONOMY FROM THE GREAT RECESSION  CRISIS AND RECOVERY IN

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-73139973359365253682010-02-10T16:35:00.000-08:002010-03-09T11:34:40.478-08:00

We’ve all seen the expression. Once a week, on TLC’s “What Not to Wear,” fashion guru Stacey London stands before the closet of some hapless man or woman who watches in horror as she throws away all of their clothing. “These are horrible,” she shrieks as she holds up an item – perhaps some gaucho pants, embroidered bell bottom jeans, or a much-loved pair of huarache sandals. In my favorite

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-8066605783713832462010-02-09T16:29:00.000-08:002010-02-09T16:29:24.056-08:00

Important meetings on the state of the world economy and the global financial system took place this weekend. Here are some links on these discussions and recent analyzes of the world economy by international agencies: A meeting of G7 finance ministers and central bank governors took place in Iqaluit, Ontario, on 5 and 6 February 2010, to review the state of the world economy, global financial

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-21352733835065716552010-02-05T02:44:00.000-08:002010-02-05T02:48:37.966-08:00

Here is an e-mail I received this morning from a retired lawyer living in Canada: “When I first saw the term "quantitative easing" by governments/central banks I had forgotten that whenever one sees a euphemism (whether it relates to abortion or euthanasia or the end of the world, or whatever) it behooves one to sit up and take notice. So, for the first time it hit me between the eyes when I

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-29013486273333465352010-02-01T16:39:00.000-08:002010-02-08T06:16:36.196-08:00

Here are five links to materials and news articles relevant to the President's just released Federal budget proposal: The OMB budget page with the budget Overview for FY 2011, its details and the Summary Tables with the numbers. The Economic Assumptions on which the budget is based show an expected real increase in GDP for 2010 of 2.7 per cent and a corresponding deficit of 10.6 percent of the

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-25273388484725948972010-02-01T16:27:00.000-08:002010-02-01T16:27:10.196-08:00

The Bureau of Economic Analysis of the Department of Commerce announced Friday morning that economic growth in the U.S. jumped considerably at the end of 2009. According to its Advance Estimate, measured aggregate output grew at an adjusted annual rate of 5.7 per cent in the fourth quarter, considerably faster than the 2.2 per cent pace registered in the third quarter. This is the fastest pace of

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-84769364704171769402010-01-31T10:56:00.000-08:002010-02-01T16:32:40.747-08:00

The latest RSG World Economic Brief looks at the global outlook for 2010 and the recovery of world stock markets from their lows of last year. Here are some highlights from the Brief: World stock markets have recovered somewhat from the sharp drop during the second quarter of 2009. The still remain well off their highs. Of all the developed countries, the market in the United States fell less

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-48687782252699402092010-01-28T14:09:00.000-08:002010-01-31T11:37:45.775-08:00

Here are five links to articles on the Internet dealing with current economic topics: 1. Views of whether Bernanke should be re-confirmed as Fed Chief. In my view, Tyler Cowen offers the best reasons to retain Bernanke and Yves Smith the best reasons to dump him. 2. Quick read on the current state of the U.S. economy. According to Professor Hamilton, the U.S. economy is recovering but it is

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-13546797661199670032010-01-28T14:01:00.000-08:002010-01-31T11:38:06.516-08:00

In his State of the Union speech, President Obama focused on two eternal political themes – the importance of paying vigilant attention to the needs of voters and citizens at home, and the need to seek peace and continuity in the international community, while considering the costs of maintaining leadership abroad. Clearly, his emphasis was on domestic politics and the ways in which America’s

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-48291770079637322592010-01-27T17:08:00.000-08:002010-01-31T11:35:38.411-08:00

The Congressional Budget Office released yesterday its latest assessment of the Federal budget and outlook for the economy. It projects that if current law and policies remain what they are now the economy will grow by 2.2 per cent in real terms this year and by 1.9 per cent in 2011, the unemployment rate will remain elevated this year and next, and inflation will remain subdued. As to the

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-24677613141814408482010-01-27T13:02:00.000-08:002010-01-31T11:36:03.948-08:00

At the start of a new year the RSG World Economic Brief takes stock of the world economic situation and the prospects for main world regions in 2010. Here are some highlights from the outlook for 2010: Across the globe, many countries are beginning to recover from the recession. Nonetheless, unemployment remains high in most countries, the world financial situation remains unsettled,

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-67596146745263003502010-01-27T12:55:00.000-08:002010-01-27T12:55:16.784-08:00

RSG student Michael Lackey, now a Research Associate at the Council on Hemispheric Affairs, recently published a COHA Research Memorandum on the devaluation of Venezuela's currency and its effect on inflation and corruption. Michael provides a thorough analysis of the situation in an objective and professional assessment and he provides all you need to know about this development.

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-44436290534867123272010-01-25T17:41:00.000-08:002010-01-31T11:38:31.414-08:00

In 1902, Britain’s armed forces suffered the most crushing defeat the British Empire had ever known. In total, over sixty thousand military and civilian casualties were sustained on both sides in a brutal war in the African Transvaal region. Despite the numerous English troops which volunteered or were called back into service, as well as the reinforcements brought in from Australia, Canada and

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-65020013110899815962010-01-23T13:27:00.000-08:002010-01-31T11:36:44.241-08:00

Newspaper article: Court decision opens floodgates for corporate political spending “The Supreme Court on Thursday opened wide new avenues for big-moneyed interests to pour money into politics in a decision that could have a major influence on the 2010 midterm elections and President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign. The long-awaited 5-4 decision overruled all or parts of two prior rulings

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-64194754847212104142010-01-23T13:07:00.000-08:002010-01-23T13:07:32.626-08:00

A recent article in the New York Times discusses the problem of high and rising health care costs and traces the problem to what is referred to in economics as “Baumol’s cost disease”. William Baumol (1922-) was for many years a professor at Princeton and New York universities. He made contributions in many areas but is best known for the theory of contestable markets, the Baumol-Tobin model of

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-65302385967968387032010-01-23T12:54:00.000-08:002010-01-23T12:54:58.403-08:00

Greece is in the news and the news is not good, for Greece or for the countries of the eurozone. The state of that nation's finances is terrible, and international ratings agencies have downgraded its credit rating because of a huge burden of public debt and a large budget deficit. Output declined last year and forecasts indicate another drop is set for this year, with unemployment reaching

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-82814509200688116282010-01-11T07:34:00.000-08:002010-01-11T07:34:12.013-08:00

What do you call a situation where women who are in subordinate positions are intimately touched all over their bodies by an authority figure without their consent? What do you call a situation where an individual fears going somewhere because of the offensive, intimidating, or oppressive atmosphere generated there? The usual answer to the first question is “sexual harassment”. And the usual

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-42792285627275345252010-01-06T18:15:00.000-08:002010-01-06T18:15:00.614-08:00

At the dawn of the Twenty-first Century the position of the United States and other economically advanced countries in the world seemed unchallengeable. In the second half of the previous century, the countries of the West had marshaled the economic resources of the world, controlled its oceans and space, and extended their trading relationships not only to the other side of the globe but deeply

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-66301376143703586262009-12-24T17:52:00.000-08:002009-12-24T17:52:24.850-08:00

In a recently published article, Kevin A. Hassett points out that the groves of academe are filled with Marxists and have been so politicized and so disconnected from the rest of society that ordinary citizens no longer trust anything that emanates from our universities. One can add to this the fall of the Soviet Union discredited state Socialism in the eyes of most people and there is a

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-18301094778884979212009-12-14T16:14:00.000-08:002009-12-17T02:42:06.462-08:00

One of the great political divides of our time is the intense, polarizing and often rancorous debate over the proper size, role and scope of government. This debate occurs between and within those on all sides of the political spectrum. Irrespective of one’s opinion on this issue, there are three principles that those of good faith and reasoned intellect can agree upon. First, an efficient and

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-46762489037784013382009-12-14T14:38:00.000-08:002009-12-19T04:46:22.647-08:00

The World Economic Brief for November focuses on three key developments that have taken place in the world economy in recent months: Significant changes are taking place in the pattern of foreign purchases of U.S. government and corporate assets, with the previous rapid pace of foreign accumulation of U.S. assets declining dramatically at the summer’s end. This is in response to an increase in

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-46218457641680828552009-12-14T14:36:00.000-08:002009-12-19T15:41:49.656-08:00

The U.S. Economic Brief for November looks at conditions, trends and policy developments now under discussion in the country: Employment trends continue to be a key focus of attention and the Brief reviews the unemployment situation in Virginia and the country. It points out that Virginia is doing better than the rest of the country. It also mentions the difficulty Bank of America is having

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-20928074949109153902009-12-03T16:18:00.000-08:002009-12-03T16:18:56.741-08:00

The Census Bureau recently released updated data relating to living conditions in the United States detailed by households classified by age, sex, race and income level. Included are tables relating to the stock of household consumer durables in 2005 for poor families that can be compared with similar data for previous years. When taken together with statistics relating to cash and non-cash

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-9964994358421437492009-12-02T08:41:00.000-08:002009-12-02T08:41:02.326-08:00

Both the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal have recently published articles about the burgeoning level of government debt and the escalating deficit that adds to its weight. The Federal government ran a deficit of $1.4 trillion in fiscal year 2009 and spending continues to far outpace revenues this fiscal year, adding greatly to a mounting national debt that now stands at more than $12

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-32621168321564420582009-11-23T18:26:00.000-08:002009-11-23T18:26:56.113-08:00

The Reid health care bill has now passed the Senate and proceeds to a formal debate on the Senate floor. It brings to mind not only the importance of this health care legislation in how it will affect all Americans but the importance in the way it is being enacted. Needless to say, many controversies surround the question of health care and the vote to proceed merely sets the stage for an epic

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-830238310913768892009-11-19T17:09:00.000-08:002009-11-19T17:11:08.541-08:00

It has now been more than two months since Dr. Pingfan Hong, Chief of Global Economic Monitoring of the United Nations Secretariat, visited Regent and spoke to faculty and students on the ongoing problem of huge global imbalances that threaten the stability of the world economy. He pointed out that the outsized and unsustainable trade deficits and surpluses that describe trade between the United

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-88916903189617174782009-11-19T17:03:00.000-08:002009-11-19T17:03:46.309-08:00

Please see the actual brief in the gray box to the right. This month’s brief reviews economic conditions in a number of countries and points out three key developments of recent months: Significant changes are taking place in the pattern of foreign purchases of U.S. government and corporate assets, with the previous rapid pace of foreign accumulation of U.S. assets declining dramatically at the

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-60040900355222843082009-11-11T07:26:00.000-08:002009-12-02T16:02:59.737-08:00

Life in post-Revolution America was rough and bears some semblance to today. The new nation was deeply in debt because of governmental spending, and foreign lenders refused to accept our paper money, insisting instead on gold. When debtors could not pay their loans, the banks started a wave of foreclosures in Massachusetts, took possession of farms and homes, and jailed debtors. Hundreds of

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-27599078265760801782009-11-11T07:24:00.000-08:002009-12-02T16:02:28.335-08:00

Europeans like Obama a lot. And that worries some Americans. Throughout the Obama campaign, one theme his opponents raised was the idea that deep down, Obama wanted American to be more like Europe. For many conservatives, that invoked the specter of socialized medicine, trade unions run amok, shorter work days, longer vacations and the end of America’s competitiveness in the global economy. It

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124659789797513447.post-52060675364337647852009-11-06T09:33:00.000-08:002009-11-18T06:10:37.605-08:00

It is not easy to help the poor and the lower middle-class through public policy. Almost always, efforts by government to do so end up adding to the burdens on the poor and putting obstacles in their way to a better life. For this reason, measures intended to lift their incomes and provide them with services must be carefully crafted to ensure that they do not do more harm than good. An example

Faculty Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09113044653184121496noreply@blogger.com0