1 Comment
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Mar 21.12
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Personal Finances
/ by Ro Econ
**Edit: Has anything changed? We originally posted this article in 2007 and wonder if much has changed? One thing has, more people are in the ‘old’ demographic. Are caregivers (boomer parents) learning to deal with the increase?**
I always find it funny, somewhat comical, when banks state the brutally obvious. The latest, according to a survey of 2,195 Canadians between the ages of 45 and 60 conducted for BMO Financial Group by Ipsos Reid, of the one-third (34 per cent) of boomers who currently assist aging relatives:
- 66 per cent say it has had some negative impact on their lives
- 31 per cent say they have less time for themselves
- 20 per cent have had to take time off work
- 19 per cent say that they have been impacted financially.
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Feb 27.12
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Macroeconomics
/ by Ro Econ
* Note: Data derived from Law Office of San Diego Bankruptcy Lawyers CC Legal.
As 2011 rounded out the foreclosure data for California, the largest state by population, emerged. The results were tepid. Any significant decline in foreclosure rates was not observed. However, that doesn’t mean year over year the numbers are dropping slowly.
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1 Comment
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Feb 27.12
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Foreign Exchange
/ by Ro Econ
Q. Why/How may a drastic fall in the current account lead to a devaluation of a currency under a fixed exchange rate system?
A. A drastic fall in the CA may lead domestic policy makers to move for expansion of domestic output in an attempt to increase exports or have positive affects on the CA.
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3 Comments
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Feb 24.12
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Debt Management
/ by Ro Econ
Contact Information and Credit Report Forms
Did you know you can check your credit report for free? You can get instant copies online by paying a fee. However, a government mandate on privacy means you can check your credit score for free, you just have to jump through some hoops and send in some documents. It’s not easy to find all the necessary information so we’ve compiled the forms, instructions, and lists here at DiscussEconomics for your review.
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Jan 30.12
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Politics
/ by Ro Econ
A new problem has reared its head in Canada that surrounds proposed changes regarding when one receives Old Age Security (OAS) cheques. As of now if you’ve never put any money away (which is unequivocally a method to wind up on the streets when you hit 65) you’ll get three cheques in the mail when you hit retirement age–currently 64–: OAS, CPP, and GIS if you qualify.
When you receive these cheques is up for change by the Conservative government. OAS cheques may start arriving two years later.
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Jan 04.12
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Global Economics
/ by Ro Econ
May the New Year bring a global financial picture that looks less like a roller-coaster ride at Disneyland and more like a consistent incline on a hike 
Here are a few links for your enjoyment.
- Money Multiplier down which means available credit isn’t leaving the system.
- Old but good: America actually earns more from its assets abroad than it pays to foreign investors. Precursor to this other article by Krugman on debt v deficit and why those in the know know nothing, Dean Baker adds to the argument that government debt is not as big a burden on future generations. Nick Rowe and Don Boudreaux respond.
- Why Mitt Romney is an idiot and those who vote for him are the same. The stupid ‘fear mongering’ on job data.
- Solution? Bring back boring banks.
- Greek crisis means we all need to work longer. That saves money right?! Wrong.
6 Comments
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Dec 06.11
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Banking
/ by Ro Econ
User artp posted this question in the forum and now it’s being republished here.
As I read (mostly in The Economist) about the current economic crisis the more I become convinced it is partly a breakdown in the way our economy creates money. This leads to the question: Are there other ways to create money?
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Dec 02.11
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Macroeconomics
/ by Ro Econ
Note: Data supplied by San Diego bankruptcy lawyers CC Legal, derived from Google and RAND California.
The number of unemployed in the US has gone down in the past month of November which is good news for the economy. Modest gains have been recorded every month for a full quarter now. However, part of those gains, however small, have to be attributed to the Christmas spending spree. What happens in the later Winter months will be a better indicator of the seasonal trends.
Unemployment for the US went down to its lowest levels since March 2009. Canada on the other hand saw a tiny increase. The decrease from 9 to 8.6 also stems from better than expected numbers in the revised Sept-Oct figures. The private sector, namely retail, were the leaders in the pack.
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1 Comment
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Dec 02.11
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Investments
/ by Ro Econ
*Posted in 2009*
So you’ve lost 50% of your portfolio and wondering what to do and how you could have avoided the pain. Most are hearing sit tight, which is true, or heck, even buy, which is even more true. But is there anything you could or can do in a market that is in turmoil. Here are some suggestions to manage your portfolio in light of market volatility.
Firstly, there is a component of reducing debt loads and adjusting lifestyles. Those two go hand in hand. You lose your job? Tightening the purse strings? Chances are that requires a change in lifestyle that sees disposable income diminish. Maintaining this lifestyle will help you increase your savings/income for investments. Continue reading this article »
7 Comments
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Nov 24.11
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Personal Finances
/ by Ro Econ
The credit crunch in 2008 hit consumers and businesses alike hard. We can’t really say we weren’t expecting some form of downturn in the economy, but the magnitude and scale we’ve seen thus far, many would admit it’s worse than expected. Despite all the negativity and doom and gloom surrounding us, are there things we can adopt to help us pull through the economy downturn? Read on for easy and pragmatic steps to save you bundles of cash, upwards of thousands per month!
Ten Ways to Save Money in a Recession
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