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LAFFER CURVE: The graphical inverted-U relation between tax rates and total tax collections by government. Developed by economist Arthur Laffer, the Laffer curve formed a key theoretical foundation for supply-side economics of President Reagan during the 1980s. It is based on the notion that government collects zero revenue if the tax rate is 0% and if the tax rate is 100%. At a 100% tax rate no one has the incentive to work, produce, and earn income, so there is no income to tax. As such, the optimum tax rate, in which government revenue is maximized, lies somewhere between 0% and 100%. This generates a curve shaped like and inverted U, rising from zero to a peak, then falling back to zero. If the economy is operating to the right of the peak, then government revenue can be increased by decreasing the tax rate. This was used to justify supply-side economic policies during the Reagan Administration, especially the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 (Kemp-Roth Act).
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State of the ECONOMY
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| Production/Income |
| Real average weekly earnings |
November 2016 |
$367.50 Bureau of Labor Statistics |
Constant 1982-84 dollars |
| Median weekly earnings |
Third Quarter 2016 |
$827 / week |
Up $24 from 3rd Qtr. 2015 |
| GDP: Real |
Third Quarter 2016 |
$18,675.3 Billion (Annual Rate) Source: BEA |
Up 5.0% |
| U.S. Exports |
November 2016 |
$185.8 billion |
Down 0.2% from Oct. 2016: Econ. Stat. Admin. |
| e-commerce sales |
3rd Quarter 2016 |
$101.3 billion |
Up 4.0% from 2nd Quarter 2016 US Census Bureau |
| Personal Income |
November 2016 |
$16,233.8 billion |
Up 0.1% from Oct. 2016 |
| U.S. Imports |
November 2016 |
$231.1 billion |
Up 1.1% from Oct. 2016: Econ. & Stat. Admin. |
| Private Employer Cost for Employee Compensation |
September 2016 |
$32.27 per hour |
Benefits are $10.73 / hour Source: BLS |
| Sales of New Single-Family Homes |
November 2016 |
592,000 (seasonal adjusted annual rate) |
Up % from October 2016 Source: Econ Stats Adm. |
| Productivity |
3rd Quarter 2016 |
Unchanged from a year ago |
Source: BLS |
| Real Average Hourly Earnings |
November 2016 |
$10.68 |
Up $.07 from November 2015 |
| Employment |
| U 3 Unemployment |
December 2016 |
4.7% Up from November |
Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| U.S. Job Openings |
October 2016 |
5.5 million Steady |
Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| U 6 Unemployment |
November 2016 |
9.3% Down a little |
Includes those who have given up looking. BLS |
| Prices |
| Consumer Price Index W |
November 2016 |
235.215 |
Down slightly from Oct. 2016 Source: B L S |
| Money/Interest |
| U.S. National Debt |
January 3, 2017 |
$19,951,017,689,395.11 |
Up over $1 trillion in 2016: U.S. Debt Clock |
| Federal Discount Rate |
January 3, 2017 |
1.25% |
Up 0.25% |
| Prime Rate |
January 3, 2017 |
3.75% |
Up .25% from a year ago |
| Federal Funds Rate |
January 3, 2017 |
.75% |
Up 0.25% from a year ago |
| Cyclical Indicators |
| Consumer Price Index Urban |
November 2016 |
241.353 |
Up 0.2% from Oct. 2016 Source: BLS |
| New Orders for Manufactured Goods |
November 2016 |
$458.3 billion |
Down 2.4% from Nov. 2016 Econ & Statistics Adm |
| New Orders for Manufactured Durable Goods |
November 2016 |
$228.2 billion U.S. Commerce Dept. |
Down 4.6% from Oct. 2016 |
| Business Inventories |
October 2016 |
$1,814.5 billion |
Up 2% from Oct. 2015: Econ. Stat. Admin. |
| Retail Sales |
November 2016 |
$468.05 billion |
U.S Census Bureau |
| Producer Price Index Final Demand |
November 2016 |
110.8 |
Up 0.4% from Oct. 2016 Soure: BLS.gov |
| Wholesale Inventories |
November 2016 |
$594.5 billion |
U.S. Dept. of Commerce |
| Housing Starts |
November 2016 |
1,090,000 |
Down 18.7% from Oct. 2016: U.S. Census Bureau |
| Construction Spending |
October 2016 |
$1,172.6.4 billion |
Up 0.5% from Sept. 2016 Source: Econ Stats Adm. |
| Building Permits |
November 2016 |
1,201,000 |
Do 4.7% from October 2016: U.S. Census Bureau |
| Other |
| World Population |
January 3, 2017 |
7,362,851,059 |
Higher: U.S. Census Bureau |
| U.S. Population |
January 3, 2017 |
324,321,654 |
Up again...U.S. Census Bureau |
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MARGINAL ANALYSIS A basic technique used in economics that analyzes small, incremental changes in key variables. Marginal analysis is the primary analytical approached used in the study of markets, production, consumption, business cycles, and economic policies. It not only reflects how most economic decisions are made, it also lends itself to mathematical and graphical analysis.
Complete Entry | Visit the WEB*pedia |
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Some Prime Stuff On INTEREST RATESOne unexpected benefit from our foot-paced view of the economy is loose change. Keeping our eyes to the ground has uncovered a nickel here, a quarter there, and an occasional dollar bill. My total is up to $137.65, an amount that I'm reluctant to keep on my person. Fortunately Interstate OmniBank has a branch very close the Dr. Nova Cain's dental office. I can deposit my booty into a safe, secure savings account under the watchful eyes of Interstate OmniBank employees, to be withdrawn if needed at a later date. Not only will Interstate OmniBank keep my $137.65 safe and secure, they'll also pay me an interest. That's I deal I just can't pass up.
Tell me more...
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WHITE GULLIBON
[What's This?]
Today, you are likely to spend a great deal of time at a flea market seeking to buy either a set of steel-belted radial snow tires or a wall poster commemorating the 2000 Presidential election. Be on the lookout for florescent light bulbs that hum folk songs from the sixties.
Your Complete Scope
This isn't me! What am I?
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Junk bonds are so called because they have a better than 50% chance of default, carrying a Standard & Poor's rating of CC or lower.
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"Don't be afraid of the space between your dreams and reality. If you can dream it, you can make it so." -- Belva Davis, Journalist
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CUUS
Comsumer Union of the United States
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