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Monthly Archives: February 2013
Growth in Means-Tested Programs and Tax Credits for Low-Income Households
CBO – “The federal government devotes roughly one-sixth of its spending to 10 major means-tested programs and tax credits, which provide cash payments or assistance in obtaining health care, food, housing, or education to people with relatively low income or few assets…As shown in this report and an accompanying infographic, in 2012, federal spending on… Continue Reading
Mortgage insurance: market structure, underwriting cycle and policy implications – Consultative paper
Mortgage insurance: market structure, underwriting cycle and policy implications – Consultative paper released by the Joint Forum, February 2013 “This consultative report on Mortgage insurance: market structure, underwriting cycle and policy implications examines the interaction of mortgage insurers with mortgage originators and underwriters. The report sets out the following recommendations directed at policymakers and supervisors… Continue Reading
POGO- SECs Revolving Door Blurs Line Between Regulator and Industry
“A Project On Government Oversight study of thousands of government records found that former staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) routinely: Tried to help corporations influence agency rulemaking; Defended companies suspected of wrongdoing; Helped companies soften the blow of enforcement actions; Won exemptions from federal law for their clients; and Secured the agencys… Continue Reading
The Exchange Rate Disconnect – Federal Reserve Bank of NY
The Exchange Rate Disconnect – Mary Amiti, Oleg Itskhoki, and Jozef Konings “Why do large movements in exchange rates have small effects on international goods prices? This empirical regularity is a central puzzle in international macroeconomics. In a new study, we show that the key to understanding this exchange rate disconnect is to take into… Continue Reading
GAO Reports – Afghanistan, Depot Maintenance, National Defense
Afghanistan – Key Oversight Issues, GAO-13-218SP, Feb 11, 2013 Depot Maintenance – Additional Information Needed to Meet DOD’s Core Capability Reporting Requirements, GAO-13-194, Feb 11, 2013 National Defense – Standard Missile-3 Block IIB Analysis of Alternatives, GAO-13-382R, Feb 11, 2013 Continue Reading
In FTC Study, Five Percent of Consumers Had Errors on Their Credit Reports That Could Result in Less Favorable Terms for Loans
News release: “A Federal Trade Commission study of the U.S. credit reporting industry found that five percent of consumers had errors on one of their three major credit reports that could lead to them paying more for products such as auto loans and insurance. Overall, the congressionally mandated study on credit report accuracy found that… Continue Reading
A Painfully Slow Recovery for America's Workers: Causes, Implications, and the Federal Reserve's Response
Vice Chair Janet L. Yellen At the “A Trans-Atlantic Agenda for Shared Prosperity” conference sponsored by the AFL-CIO, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, and the IMK Macroeconomic Policy Institute, Washington, D.C. February 11, 2013 “At the federal level, policymakers have reduced purchases of goods and services, allowed stimulus-related spending to decline, and have put in place further… Continue Reading
UK – Investigation announced in connection with Autonomy Corporation plc
News release: “The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has launched an investigation under the Accountancy Scheme into the published financial reporting of Autonomy for the period between 1 January 2009 and 30 June 2011. The FRCs decision to initiate an investigation was taken following consultation with the ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales).… Continue Reading
EIA – Saudi Arabia Country Analysis Brief
Report: “Saudi Arabia was the world’s largest producer and exporter of total petroleum liquids in 2012, the world’s largest holder of crude oil reserves, and the world’s second largest crude oil producer behind Russia. Saudi Arabia’s economy remains heavily dependent on petroleum. Petroleum exports accounted for almost 90 percent of total Saudi export revenues in… Continue Reading
CRS – Taxation of Unemployment Benefits
Taxation of Unemployment Benefits, Julie M. Whittaker, Specialist in Income Security, February 7, 2013 “Unemployment compensation (UC) benefits have been fully subject to the federal income tax since the passage of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 (P.L. 99-514). Under tax law, unemployment compensation is a broad category that includes regular state UC benefits, extended… Continue Reading
New FDA reports provide data on antibiotic use in meat production and public risk
Antibiotics And Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria In Meat: Not Getting Better, By Maryn McKenna: “A few days ago, the Food and Drug Administration released two important documents related to antibiotic use in livestock raising, and what the results of that antibiotic use are. Id say that they released them quietly, except, when it comes to this issue,… Continue Reading
