economy

http://www.econstories.tv/home.html

I might be on to something...

What if Americans decided to collectively stop paying their mortgages? There is no way the banks have enough man power to take all the homes back by force. I know I would personally contribute and additional $1000 towards the economy or paying down my debt if I didnt have a mortgage payment.

Who is with me?

This thread is for ideas that look on the bright side of the current economy. Please contribute. This is not a sarcastic or joke thread.

1. With the real estate market not being able to recover anytime soon, those that have jobs should able to find a good home at a reasonable price.

Great article by Fareed Zakaria, which confirms what I've believed for a long time. Corporations and small businesses are afraid to hire and make investments because of Obama's massive tax hikes and increased regulations. At his core, Obama is anti-business and wants to undo the Reagan Revolution, which revived American private sector in the 1980's. His ultimate goal is to transform this country into a quasi-socialist welfare state, like the ones they have in Europe.

For those who love capitalism and individual freedom, we just have to hope that Obama leaves the White House on January 20, 2013.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/04/AR201007...

For those of us who are worried about the Greek bailout and generally rising levels of government debt, you no longer have to worry if you're German. What Angela Merkel has described as an "unprecedented feat" will save the nation 80B euro's or $96B. How will this be accomplished?

"The proposed cuts to benefits, by contrast, look brutally concrete to many Germans. The government plans to eliminate a heating subsidy for the poor and to stop paying welfare beneficiaries’ contributions into the pension system, saving €1.9 billion a year. Such cuts are defensible: the contribution subsidy raises pensions by a negligible amount, for example. But while shaking down the unemployed, Mrs Merkel proposes to spare the rich."

If it's any consolation to all you Wall Street apes, part of the plan involves green energy. Not the kind that relies on renewable resources, the stuck-to-the-back-of-Homer-Simpson's-shirt kind. Well, whatever, for practical purposes people will always argue over nuclear power. At least we know the Germans have the quiet reserve and dignity to debate this civilly. Except they don't.

Are we double dipping?..Let me hear your thoughts...

What do you guys think is the worst case scenario for investment management over the next decade or so? There's a lot of talk about eliminating the capital gains tax, so that cap gains would get taxed at ordinary income rates. Would this completely kill the business model/ bonus prospects at most mutual funds, HF, etc.? I'm guessing that would cause funds to slam the brakes on hiring for a few years?

I suppose a prolonged slump in the markets could have a similar effect. You'd think assets under management should be at a peak right now given that the baby boomers are just starting to retire. I wonder if total AUM will start to decline as the boomers eat into their nest eggs? Any thoughts?

Disclaimer: I don't work in IM, but will be heading back to b-school in the Fall and I'm hoping to break in from consulting.

Hi,

I was recently accepted into 4 great undergrad schools. UCLA, WashU (Olin), NYU (Stern), and Northwestern.

Out of the four schools I have narrowed it down to Stern and Northwestern (econ). For Stern I was accepted into their newest major called BPE (business and political economy). http://w4.stern.nyu.edu/uc/prospectivestudent/academics.cfm?doc_id=10027

For BPE I would study sophomore year in London and half of my junior year in Shanghai. The program is a year old and has no job placement stats. Can anyone knowledgeable help me determine which school (BPE or Northwestern) will be more beneficial for my future in business?