You are here

Home

Economics

Reinsurance Association of America's Senate Testimony on Climate Change

Sat, 2013-10-05 17:08 — admin

On July 18, 2013, Frank Nutter, President of the Reinsurance Association of America, testified before the Senate Committee on Environment Protection and Public Works as to the RAAs perspective on weather and climate-related impacts in the United States.

 

Following are excerpts from his report:

"In the 1980’s, the average number of natural catastrophes globally was 400 events per year. In recent years, the average is 1000. Munich Re’s analysis suggests the increase is driven almost entirely by weather-related events. North America has seen a fivefold increase in the number of such events since 1980. In comparison, Europe has seen a twofold increase.

Country / Region Tags: 
United States
US - East
US - South
General Topic Tags: 
Climate
Economics
Problem, Solution, SitRep, or ?: 
Situation Report

In Banking, Should There Be a Public Option?

Wed, 2013-10-02 09:59 — Gina Angiola

The New York Times Opinion Pages, October 1, 2013

Below is an interesting online forum discussing the pros and cons of a public bank.  The participants include:

Ellen Brown, Author, "The Public Bank Solution"; Mark A. Calabria, Cato Institute; Eric Hardmeyer, Bank of North Dakota; Pierre Beynet, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development; Celeste Watkins-Hayes, Northwestern University; Michael Likovsky, Author, "Obama's Bank"; Hester Peirce,Mercatus Center, George Mason University;Heather Morton, National Conference of State Legislatures

FULL ARTICLE HERE

Country / Region Tags: 
United States
General Topic Tags: 
Economics
Ideas
Problem, Solution, SitRep, or ?: 
Solutions

U.S. Government Shuts Down in Budget Impasse

Tue, 2013-10-01 11:59 — Kathy Gilbeaux

      

A National Park Service police guarded The Lincoln Memorial as signs were put up explaining government shutdown, on Tuesday.

nytimes.com - by michael D. Shear - October 1, 2013

WASHINGTON — The vast machinery of the federal government began grinding to a halt Tuesday morning just hours after weary lawmakers gave up hope of passing a budget in the face of Republican attacks on President Obama’s health care law.

For the first time in 17 years, Congress failed Monday night to agree on a new budget and refused to extend the current one. Without the authority to spend money, the executive branch on Tuesday morning started the process of temporarily mothballing facilities and suspending the many services the government provides.

(READ COMPLETE ARTICLE)

Country / Region Tags: 
United States
General Topic Tags: 
Economics
Politics
Problem, Solution, SitRep, or ?: 
Problem

Coastal, Riverbank Homeowners Brace for U.S. Flood Insurance Hike

Mon, 2013-09-30 20:00 — Kathy Gilbeaux

      

A home destroyed during the landfall of Superstorm Sandy is pictured in Mantoloking, New Jersey March 22, 2013.  Credit: REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

reuters.com - by Barbara Liston - September 24, 2013

(Reuters) - More than a million homeowners living in older houses along the coastlines and riverbanks of the United States are being jolted by federal flood insurance rate hikes under a law passed in the wake of devastating storms.

Carol Giovannoni, 51, of St. Pete Beach, a barrier island community off Florida's west coast, is one of the people dreading October 1, when the law takes effect. Giovannoni said the annual flood insurance premium on her standard 1950s concrete-block, ranch-style home on the waterfront will jump from $1,700 to $15,000 over the next few years.

(READ COMPLETE ARTICLE)

CLICK HERE - Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012

Country / Region Tags: 
United States
General Topic Tags: 
Economics
Policy
Problem, Solution, SitRep, or ?: 
Other

Jack Lew To Congress: Debt Limit Will Be Reached On Oct. 17

Wed, 2013-09-25 22:07 — Kathy Gilbeaux

Secretary of the Treasury, Jack Lew says debt ceiling will be reached Oct. 17

huffingtonpost.com - by Luke Johnson - September 25, 2013

WASHINGTON -- The debt ceiling will be reached Oct. 17 and the Department of the Treasury will have less cash on hand than it previously estimated, said Secretary Jack Lew in a letter released Wednesday.

"Treasury now estimates that extraordinary measures will be exhausted no later than October 17. We estimate that, at that point, Treasury would have only approximately $30 billion to meet our country's commitments," he said in a letter to House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio).

(READ COMPLETE ARTICLE)

Country / Region Tags: 
United States
General Topic Tags: 
Economics
Problem, Solution, SitRep, or ?: 
Problem

Utility Companies Launch Attack Against Rising Rooftop Solar Market

Sun, 2013-09-08 15:24 — Maeryn Obley

Solar panels on a rooftop

Image: Solar panels on a rooftop

http://ecowatch.com - September 3rd, 2013 - Marc Gunther

Issues of electricity regulation typically play out in drab government hearing rooms. That has not been the case this summer in Arizona, where a noisy argument—featuring TV attack ads and dueling websites—has broken out between regulated utilities and the rooftop solar industry.

An internet web video attacks the California start-up companies that sell rooftop solar systems as the “new Solyndras,” which are spending “hard-earned tax dollars to subsidize their wealthy customers.”

(VIEW COMPLETE ARTICLE)

Country / Region Tags: 
United States
General Topic Tags: 
Economics
Energy
Policy
Problem, Solution, SitRep, or ?: 
Solutions

It Can Happen Here: The Confiscation Scheme Planned for US and UK Depositors

Tue, 2013-05-07 18:56 — Gina Angiola

Truthout.org -- by Ellen Brown -- March 29,2013

Confiscating the customer deposits in Cyprus banks, it seems, was not a one-off, desperate idea of a few Eurozone “troika” officials scrambling to salvage their balance sheets. A joint paper by the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Bank of England dated December 10, 2012, shows that these plans have been long in the making; that they originated with the G20 Financial Stability Board in Basel, Switzerland (discussed earlier here); and that the result will be to deliver clear title to the banks of depositor funds.  

http://truth-out.org/news/item/15401-it-can-happen-here-the-confiscation-scheme-planned-for-us-and-uk-depositors

Country / Region Tags: 
Global
United States
General Topic Tags: 
Economics
Problem, Solution, SitRep, or ?: 
Problem

Getting Serious About a Texas-Size Drought

Sun, 2013-04-28 21:07 — Kathy Gilbeaux

      

nytimes.com - by Kate Galbraith - April 6, 2013

 . . . “Texas does not and will not have enough water” in a bad drought, the state’s water plan warned last year. More than two dozen communities could run out of water in 180 days, according to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Looking ahead, the already-dry western half of the state is expected to be hit particularly hard by climate change. . .

. . . Wes Perry, an oilman who doubles as Midland’s mayor, put it this way recently: as valuable as oil and gas are, he said, “we are worthless without water.”

(READ COMPLETE ARTICLE)

Country / Region Tags: 
United States
General Topic Tags: 
Climate
Economics
Water
Problem, Solution, SitRep, or ?: 
Problem

Transparency in Supply Chains: A Convergence of Possibilities

Sat, 2013-02-09 16:05 — Kathy Gilbeaux

csi.gsb.stanford.edu - Kriss - February 4, 2013

Where do the products we buy come from and how do we know that their production doesn’t leave a wake of environmental damage or exploited workers? Even brands we think we trust are often linked to suppliers with questionable or downright abusive practices, as exemplified in the November factory fire in Bangladesh, where 112 workers were killed at a factory that supplied Walmart, Sears and even the U.S. Marine Corps, though all claim they had no idea that apparel produced there was destined for their stores.

Global supply chains are complex and opaque, with many layers of suppliers, distant and inconsistent regulatory environments, and intermittent and sometimes unreliable audits and reporting.

(READ COMPLETE ARTICLE)

Country / Region Tags: 
Global
United States
General Topic Tags: 
Economics
Policy
Problem, Solution, SitRep, or ?: 
Other

The Giving Pledge

Thu, 2012-07-12 22:43 — Kathy Gilbeaux

The Giving Pledge is an effort to invite the wealthiest individuals and families in America to commit to giving the majority of their wealth to the philanthropic causes and charitable organizations of their choice either during their lifetime or after their death.

Each person who chooses to pledge will make this statement publicly, along with a letter explaining their decision to pledge. At an annual event, those who take the pledge will come together to share ideas and learn from each other.

The Pledge is a moral commitment to give, not a legal contract. It does not involve pooling money or supporting a particular set of causes or organizations.

While the Giving Pledge is specifically focused on billionaires, the idea takes its inspiration from efforts in the past and at present that encourage and recognize givers of all financial means and backgrounds. We are inspired by the example set by millions of Americans who give generously (and often at great personal sacrifice) to make the world a better place.

Country / Region Tags: 
Global
United States
General Topic Tags: 
Economics
Problem, Solution, SitRep, or ?: 
Other

Pages

Subscribe to Economics
howdy folks