What should economists and policymakers learn from the financial crisis? Dr. Ben S Bernanke, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, London School of Economics and Political Science, March 25, 2013 “For me, perhaps the central insight is that the recent crisis, despite its many exotic features, was in fact a… Continue Reading
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Monthly Archives: March 2013
Supreme Court Oral Argument – Audio and Transcript – United States v. Windsor
“United States v. Windsor challenges a key section of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) – The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) (Pub.L. 104199, 110 Stat. 2419, enacted September 21, 1996, 1 U.S.C. § 7 and 28 U.S.C. § 1738C)” Continue Reading
Financial Development: New Book Shows that Low-Income People Are Bankable
World Bank: “More than 800 million unbankable low-income people already are actively using banking and other financial services, suggesting that expanding financial access can not only benefit the poor but create millions of new customers for the financial industry, according to a new book. The book, Banking the World: Empirical Foundations of Financial Inclusion, shows… Continue Reading
BBC News – Global internet slows after 'biggest attack in history'
“The internet around the world has been slowed down in what security experts are describing as the biggest cyber-attack of its kind in history. A row between a spam-fighting group and hosting firm has sparked retaliation attacks affecting the wider internet. It is having an impact on popular services like Netflix – and experts worry… Continue Reading
Federal Reserve survey provides information on mobile financial services
News release: “The use of mobile phones to access a bank account, credit card, or other financial account became more prevalent in the Unites States last year, according to the Federal Reserve Board’s latest report on the use of mobile financial services. As of November 2012, 28 percent of all mobile phone users and 48… Continue Reading
Is Job Polarization Holding Back the Labor Market?
Is Job Polarization Holding Back the Labor Market? by Stefania Albanesi, Victoria Gregory, Christina Patterson, and Ayşegül Şahin – New York Fed “More than three years after the end of the Great Recession, the labor market still remains weak, with the unemployment rate at 7.7 percent and payroll employment 3 million less than its pre-recession… Continue Reading
EFF Commentary on Expanded Powers of Computer Fraud And Abuse Act Reform
EFF: “Law professor and historian Tim Wu has called the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) the worst law in technology. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has described the governments interpretation of it expansive, broad, and sweeping. And Orin Kerr, former federal prosecutor and law professor, has detailed how the government could use it… Continue Reading
GAO Report – Efforts to Share Terrorism-Related Suspicious Activity Reports, International Religious Freedom Act
Information Sharing – Additional Actions Could Help Ensure That Efforts to Share Terrorism-Related Suspicious Activity Reports Are Effective [Reissued on March 26, 2013] GAO-13-233, Mar 13, 2013 International Religious Freedom Act – State Department and Commission Are Implementing Responsibilities but Need to Improve Interaction, GAO-13-196, Mar 26, 2013 Continue Reading
Presidential Commission Report – Moral Science: Protecting Participants in Human Subjects Research
“The Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues today issued its report concerning federally-sponsored research involving human volunteers, concluding that current rules and regulations provide adequate safeguards to mitigate risk. In its report, Moral Science: Protecting Participants in Human Subjects Research, the Commission also recommended 14 changes to current practices to better protect research… Continue Reading
EPA Survey Finds More Than Half of the Nations River and Stream Miles in Poor Condition
News release: “…the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released the results of the first comprehensive survey looking at the health of thousands of stream and river miles across the country, finding that more than half 55 percent are in poor condition for aquatic life. The 2008-2009 National Rivers and Stream Assessment reflects the most… Continue Reading
Milliman 2013 Pension Funding Study
De-risking efforts by plan sponsors reduce pension obligations, but continued discount rate declines produce record-high pension plan deficits in 2012: “Pension de-risking activities were pursued by several of the top 100 U.S. pension plans during 2012. Data collected for fiscal years ending in the year indicates that at least 15 companies engaged in significant risk-reduction… Continue Reading
HealthCare.gov – Find Insurance Options
“This tool will help you find the health insurance best suited to your needs, whether it’s private insurance for individuals, families, and small businesses, or public programs that may work for you. It was created to help consumers under the health insurance reform law, the Affordable Care Act.” Includes pricing information. Continue Reading
