Outside the Beltway

Economic growth slowed significantly in the first three months of 2015, but it’s not clear what that means going forward.

December’s jobs growth numbers were very good, but the numbers below the headlines show that there’s still work to be done.

The Commerce Department had a Christmas present for investors, businesses, and consumers today.

Strong jobs growth in November means that 2014 is already the best year for jobs growth since 1999.

Russia’s own government is projecting that its economy will slip into recession next year. How that will impact Putin’s current belligerence remains to be seen.

A knowledgeable observer has a dim forecast.

Quietly, oil prices have been falling for months now. That’s potentially a very big deal.

Germany’s new defense minister has promised a more robust role but lacks the ability to back her words with action.

After a disappointing August, the jobs report for September showed the same good numbers we’ve seen for much of 2014.

Trending on Twitter this morning is a collection of infographics compiled by Ezra Klein under the heading “22 maps and charts that will surprise you.”

A strong rebound for the economy from the downturn at the start of the year.

Alabamians like to exclaim, “Thank God for Mississippi.” Perhaps it’s time for that slogan to cross the Pond.

A much better Second Quarter.

A US-EU free trade zone is a no-brainer. But the devil is in the details.

The first three months of the year were worse for the economy than first thought.

In no small part because of a brutal winter, the economy shrank in the first three months of the year.

Is “Finlandization” a viable option for Ukraine?

The USA’s 142-year streak as the world’s largest economy is ending.

Good news.

Economic growth in the first quarter was so weak, we nearly fell into a recession.

Predicting the end of the DPRK is a fool’s errand.

Could economic chaos bring Egyptians back out into the streets?

Some thoughts and links about the ongoing turmoil in Venezuela.

Some good news, but also plenty of reason to worry about the future.

Two experts debate the topic, demonstrating how little we really know.

In an ordinary post-recession world, we wouldn’t need to talk about extended unemployment benefits, but times are far from ordinary.

3.6% GDP growth in the 3rd Quarter, but the devil is in the details.

A good initial GDP report for the 3rd Quarter, but hardly something to write home about.

My review of Andrew Bacevich’s latest book, Breach of Trust: How Americans Failed Their Soldiers and Their Country.

The American jobs market continues to disappoint.

Japan’s National Debt has reached a level that’s somewhat incomprehensible.

First Quarter economic growth was weaker than originally estimated. What that means for the future is unclear.

A new Congressional Budget Office report finds real economic benefits from immigration reform.

The government is changing the way it calculates Gross Domestic Product.