Outside the Beltway

The economic tea leaves don’t look disastrous, but they don’t look all that great either.

A disappointing beginning to 2012.

The latest projections from Congressional Budget Office are sobering to say the least.

Another weak GDP report that portends stagnation ahead.

Monday’s debate in Tampa was a far more subdued affair than what we saw last week.

Gary Johnson’s quest is quixotic, but interesting nonetheless.

Where is the economy headed? The signals are mixed at best.

Gary Johnson is jumping ship.

Time Magazine has chosen “The Protester” as its Person Of The Year. Let the outrage ensue.

Guess who got advance warning of government actions on the eve of the 2008 financial crisis?

Another month, another jobs report that makes you go “meh.”

Would Republicans really be crazy enough to nominate Herman Cain?

Banks have more money than they can lend out profitably.

Occupy Wall Street is not motivated by envy of the rich or even animus towards banks.

In Louisiana, that cash in your pocket is now worthless if you want to buy used goods.

Romney consolidated his position as the presumptive nominee, Perry continued his disintegration, Cain discovered what it was like to be a serious candidate, and Bachmann doubled down on crazy.

The prospects for real economic recovery are not good.

With the advantage of hindsight, it’s clear that more creative strategies were needed. But they probably couldn’t have been passed.

Damage from starting one’s career during a recession can persist over one’s entire working life.

It’s time to start being concerned about Europe.

A meme is emerging that the Occupy Wall Street protests are America’s version of the Arab Awakening. That meme must die.

It’s not a given that we’ll have a massive recovery during the next presidential term but it’s a pretty decent bet. And the party in power will get too much credit for it if it happens.

The Texas Governor was taking it from all sides at last night’s Tea Party Debate.

Ben Bernanke didn’t offer many clues in his speech today, but one wonders if he really has any tricks left up his sleeve.

The world is likely to get worse before it gets better.

The signs are not good.

Rick Perry’s vision of capitalism doesn’t exactly comply with what Adam Smith had in mind.

Time for the spinning of the straw poll results to begin.

Is S&P’s downgrade of the US bond rating “free speech” and thereby protected by the Constitution?

While it’s hard to argue with S&P’s political analysis, its economic judgment is a head-scratcher.

Christine Lagarde believes the impact could be large and global.

Contrary to myth, China holds only 8 percent of US federal debt.

Should we assume that a deal will eventually be struck and simply stop paying attention to the debt ceiling debate?

Judging by the June jobs report, there’s no economic recovery coming in the near future.

Barack Obama’s leadership style may be his undoing.

Is Peter Diamond qualified to be a Fed governor?

All in all, not looking like it will be a fun summer.

A profile of George Mason economist and blogger Tyler Cowen offers this amusing description: “Cowen, 49, has round features, a hesitant posture, and an unconcerned haircut.”