Why the economy is stronger than you think

[rtb]

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/co ... 971001.htm

This is a great article from this week's Business Week. It shows all the things that get missed with our current measures of economic health.

[rtb]

You guys kick around all kinds of jabs at the right and left for the current or former state of the economy, I finally jump in to the econ discussion with a pretty cool article and no one responds?

You guys aren't any fun!

[ChiOCat]

I'm trying to read through it, but the company I keep makes it slow going.

[SonomaCat]

I printed it for the flight, rtb!

[rtb]

Good call, then you can come back on Monday and either point out why the article is well written or shoot holes in it. Either way, it will be a good discussion based on facts no just opinion.

[ChiOCat]

One thing I skimped on in college was Econ So when I start thinking about the BIG picture, it makes my head swim because it seems too simple to be so complicated.

R&D and intelectual capital have to count for something, though. Corn milling is a comodities market. To continue selling at the lowest possible price you have to have some sort of edge to keep your prices lower than the other guy. What that edge is, and how much it's worth to you in terms of future sales is hard to quantify.

<I will be taking an Econ class in the near future so I can apply for Pharmacy school. I think that's a good thing!>

[rtb]

I think every person should be required to take at least one if not two econ classes in college. On its very basic level it seems like common sense. I think it would help in the political arean if more people understood econ on the most basic level.

[ChiOCat]

Very true. But I wanted to take some "fun" classes. I'm sure that French and Renesaince history helped me out somehow.....

It's probably even less likely now. I know they've dropped the credit requirments for graduation at least once since 1998.

[RopenO]

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/co ... 971001.htm

This is a great article from this week's Business Week. It shows all the things that get missed with our current measures of economic health.

while we may have a trade deficit...our margin surplus kicks a$$. The book Running Money talks about how our margin (and knowledge) surplus developed. The book is primarily about hedge funds....but has interesting points about our new economy. And, I for one am all for it.

[catamaran]

Very true. But I wanted to take some "fun" classes. I'm sure that French and Renesaince history helped me out somehow.....

It's probably even less likely now. I know they've dropped the credit requirments for graduation at least once since 1998.

Classes like that allow you to rule at Scrabble and Trivial Pursuit

[ChiOCat]

Yes, but I'm pretty sure that I can't even spell renesaince. I think that counts a lot in Scrabble!