CRS – Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC): A Fact Sheet, John J. Topoleski, Analyst in Income Security, April 16, 2012 “The PBGC runs two distinct insurance programs for single employer and multiemployer plans. Multiemployer plans are collectively bargained plans to which more than one company makes contributions. PBGC maintains separate reserve funds for each program.… Continue Reading
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Monthly Archives: April 2012
U.S. Trade Deficit and the Impact of Changing Oil Prices James K. Jackson Specialist in International Trade and Finance
CRS – U.S. Trade Deficit and the Impact of Changing Oil Prices – James K. Jackson, Specialist in International Trade and Finance, April 13, 2012 “Petroleum prices rose sharply between September 2010 and June 2011, at times reaching more than $112 per barrel of crude oil. Although this is still below the $140 per barrel… Continue Reading
Guide – overview of significant cyber warfare events from the news
Cyberthings for Managers – overview of significant cyber warfare events from the news: “Cyberthings for Managers is created by Reusers Information Services to meet a growing demand by managers in the domain of cyber warfare for a quick overview of the most important events of the past weeks in the field, without being overwhelmed by… Continue Reading
Social Metadata for Libraries, Archives and Museums, Part 3: Recommendations and Readings
Social Metadata for Libraries, Archives and Museums, Part 3: Recommendations and Readings, Karen Smith-Yoshimura OCLC Research and Rose Holley National Library of Australia “Social media tools are needed to generate user-contributed content, which includes social metadata information from users that helps people find, understand, or evaluate a sites content. Social media and social metadata overlap;… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports: Defense Biometrics, Defined Contribution Plans, Export Controls, Medicare Advantage
Defense Biometrics – Additional Training for Leaders and More Timely Transmission of Data Could Enhance the Use of Biometrics in Afghanistan, GAO-12-442, Apr 23, 2012 Defined Contribution Plans – Approaches in Other Countries Offer Beneficial Strategies in Several Areas, GAO-12-328, Mar 22, 2012 Export Controls – U.S. Agencies Need to Assess Control List Reform’s Impact… Continue Reading
CRS – Multilateral Development Banks: Overview and Issues for Congress
Multilateral Development Banks: Overview and Issues for Congress – Rebecca M. Nelson, Analyst in International Trade and Finance, April 18, 2012 “The multilateral development banks (MDBs) include the World Bank and four smaller regional development banks: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Asian Development Bank (AsDB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and… Continue Reading
Half of Adults Worldwide Report Having a Formal Bank Account
Gallup World: Access in developing countries half of higher income countries by Leora Klapper and Krista Hoff “Fifty percent of adults worldwide report having a bank account at a formal financial institution, according to a new study by Gallup and the World Bank. An average of 89% of adults in high-income countries — those countries… Continue Reading
Report – world military spending levels out after 13 years of increases
“The SIPRI [Stockholm International Peace Research Institute] military expenditure project was initiated in 1967 to study developments in world military expenditure. Military expenditure is an indicator of the economic resources devoted to military purposes. There is no direct relationship between the level of military expenditure and output in terms of military resources, military activities or… Continue Reading
Federal Reserve Board announces the formation of the Model Validation Council
News release: “The Federal Reserve Board announced the formation of the Model Validation Council, which will provide the Federal Reserve with expert and independent advice on its process to rigorously assess the models used in stress tests of banking institutions…Formation of the council is one part of the Federal Reserve’s efforts to tap outside expertise… Continue Reading
World Development Indicators 2012 now available
“World Development Indicators 2012 is now available in print, online, and on mobile devices. The 16th edition of World Development Indicators publication and database update contains updated data through 2010 and 2011 for many indicators. This update contains: more recent data on poverty at international poverty lines for more countries, including global and regional estimates… Continue Reading
CRS – Economic Growth and the Unemployment Rate
Economic Growth and the Unemployment Rate – Linda Levine, Specialist in Labor Economics, April 18, 2012 “A persistently high unemployment rate is of concern to Congress for a variety of reasons, including its negative consequences for the economic well-being of individuals and its impact on the federal budget (i.e., deficit growth due to lower revenue… Continue Reading
The 2011 Annual Report of Board of Trustees of Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Federal Disability Insurance Trust Funds
A Summary of the 2012 Annual Reports – Social Security and Medicare Boards of Trustees “The long-run actuarial deficits of the Social Security and Medicare programs worsened in 2012, though in each case for different reasons. The actuarial deficit in the Medicare Hospital Insurance program increased primarily because the Trustees incorporated recommendations of the 2010-11… Continue Reading
