Welcome

Welcome to the learning community designed and managed by Ms. Rita Callahan, instuctor of economics and mathematics. Most of you are current or former students from my classes. I trust you will enjoy this attempt to connect our studies to the real world. From time to time I will make observations on my experiences and things I read. I hope you will comment and add your observations as well.


There is much to learn form others, especially those whose experiences may differ from our own. As I mention elsewhere in this blog, this is my attempt to incorporate 21st century learning formats into the educational experience of my students. Perhaps this will invite some interesting discussions.





Thursday, September 2, 2010

Breaking news: White House considering tax break for business

In a late breaking Washington Post story it is reported that The Obama administration is looking for ways to reduce uunemployment in the US. Political sentiments aside, this is reasonable since more prolonged unemployment will certainally stall recovery at the least and possible even push our economy into a double dip recession.

The double relief of a payroll tax holiday amd extended tax credits for R&D may or may not increase the demand for labor. The first does decrease, temporarily, the cost of labor for firms. Will it be enough to increase the quantity demanded? The incentive for investing in research and development is hopefully a grand effort to spur innovation and send the US economy back to the forefront of the world market on the supply side.

I hope this is enought to reduce the dismal unemployment rate. I fear, that due to particsan politics, a more agressive stimulus package would not pass. As a skepticle American voter, I fear that both political parties, due to incentives, will do their most to prevent the opposition from scoring any points vis a vis the economy prior to the mid term elections in November.

Readers, what do you think?