There's a lot of information out there. Some of it is junk, some of it is frame-worthy. For every dozen frothy-mouthed rants out there, there's a well-thought-out, factual, logical piece of work that deserves your attention. Here are five of the latter that you might enjoy.
1. A Hopeful Message About the World's Poorest
David Leonhardt, New York Times
An interesting way to look at some of the world's worst-performing economies. In Liberia, per capita income has fallen 80% since 1980. Yet life expectancy has soared, infant mortality has plunged, and political freedom has climbed. Is life really worse for these folks?
2. Creative Destruction?
James Surowiecki, The New Yorker
Surowiecki argues that disasters like the one inflicted on Japan don't often derail economies. "Even though natural disasters destroy physical capital they don't diminish the true engines of economic growth: human ingenuity and productivity."
3. Equity Returns in The Coming Decade
Center for Retirement Research, Boston College
Some reckon stock returns are destined to be dismal over the coming decade, as economies sag under heavy government debt. A group of researchers as Boston College disagree: "Over the coming decade, if earnings continue to recover as they have during past business cycles, stocks are likely to pay returns that compare favorably to their historical averages." The group says stocks could post real (after inflation) returns of 6.5% going forward. Let's hope.
4. If Your Bank Is Buying, Sell
David Weidner, MarketWatch
Big banks like JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM ) and Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC ) have been given the green light to resume paying regular dividends. Large-scale share buyback plans likely aren't far behind (JPMorgan already initiated one).
It's a bad move, says Weidner. "In reality, most buybacks don't work. In fact, if your bank is buying, maybe you should sell." This piece digs through the numbers of large buybacks at IBM (NYSE: IBM ) , GE (NYSE: GE ) , and Home Depot (NYSE: HD ) to show how buybacks can be deceiving.
5. Why Fukushima Made Me Stop Worrying and Love Nuclear Power
George, Monbiot, Guardian UK
As companies with nuclear exposure like Exelon (NYSE: EXC ) and Cameco (NYSE: CCJ ) remain depressed after Japan's tragedy, Monbiot makes a smart observation: "A crappy old plant with inadequate safety features was hit by a monster earthquake and a vast tsunami ... Yet, as far as we know, no one has yet received a lethal dose of radiation."
Got any of your own? Share 'em below.
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