Edward Lotterman

Ed Lotterman: Economic studies warrant skepticism

Politicians in particular and the public in general should be careful about supporting policies based on one or two economic studies. The latest lesson is the recent brouhaha over a flawed study by Harvard professors Kenneth Rogoff and Carmen Reinhart.

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Archive by category ''Edward Lotterman

EDWARD LOTTERMAN

Ed Lotterman: Internet sales-tax bills will level the field

It is encouraging that the "Marketplace Fairness Act" is progressing well through the U.S. Senate. The House may prove to be a different story, although the odds are that some version of it will pass eventually.
EDWARD LOTTERMAN

Ed Lotterman: 'Sin taxes' still relevant today

Taxes on harmful substances like tobacco and alcohol are often scoffingly referred to as "sin taxes," but that does not mean they are a bad idea.
EDWARD LOTTERMAN

Ed Lotterman: Riding a wave of farmland value

According to the county assessor, our 211 acres of farmland in southwest Minnesota is worth $225,100 more than it was a year ago. Not only is that a lot of money, at least for a couple of ink-stained scribblers like my wife and me, but it raises questions that go to the heart of current economic...
EDWARD LOTTERMAN

Ed Lotterman: Returning to gold standard would be disaster

David Stockman, a former congressman from Michigan and the boy-wonder director of the Office of Management and Budget for the first four years of President Ronald Reagan's administration, kicked up a lot of dust with a recent op-ed in The New York Times. Many criticisms of his rant are justified...
EDWARD LOTTERMAN

Ed Lotterman: The ins and outs of currency swaps

As an intro to a five-nation summit in South Africa, China and Brazil this week announced an agreement to swap their currencies to support trade if necessary in some future crisis. What does this actually mean, and why are they doing it?
EDWARD LOTTERMAN

Lotterman: Health care costs could be passed on

A few businesses have the power to raise prices without sacrificing much in quantity sold. Others have no price-setting power at all. And many in-betweens might have the administrative ability and legal right to raise prices, but doing so frequently may be a bad business decision.
EDWARD LOTTERMAN

Ed Lotterman: Should antitrust be tossed? 'It depends'

Buyouts and mergers that have the potential to reduce competition continue apace in many sectors and at different levels.
EDWARD LOTTERMAN

Ed Lotterman: Health care defies regulatory norms

Time magazine has done our nation a service by publishing Steven Brill's long article on medical care costs. There isn't much in the article that people who follow the issue closely didn't already know piecemeal, but Brill puts things together in an articulate package for the average reader.
EDWARD LOTTERMAN

Ed Lotterman: Questions answered about budget cuts

The never ending brouhaha over federal fiscal issues has prompted readers to ask good questions. Three common ones are:
EDWARD LOTTERMAN

Ed Lotterman: Why feds are going after Standard & Poor's

The Justice Department's recent action against Standard & Poor's over that firm's ratings of mortgage-backed securities in the run-up to the 2007 economic debacle is causing some controversy.