Why has the world economic crisis hit some countries - USA and UK, but especially Ireland, Iceland, Greece and Spain - so much harder than others?
posted by moorooka on Feb 9, 2011 - 14 answers

Everyone seems to agree that the middle class is disappearing in the USA. What (reliable) studies and figures back this up? [more inside]
posted by keratacon on Oct 15, 2010 - 15 answers

The US states are massively in debt, and public-sector layoffs are causing unemployment to stay high, even while the private sector recovers. The Federal Reserve can create dollars from nothing, and at the moment inflation is apparently a minor concern compared to deflation. What would happen if the Federal Reserve assumed much or all of the debt of the states? They could pay off the debts ex nihilo at a speed of their choosing, while allowing the states to create or save jobs. They could also simply grant money to those states that have relatively little debt. Does anything like this happen, and should it? [Not an economist]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 on Sep 14, 2010 - 22 answers

With all the bickering over taxes in the election campaign, I'm trying to get a broader picture of US income tax history, theories behind past policies, and analysis of how they worked (in idiot friendly language). [more inside]
posted by p3t3 on Oct 17, 2008 - 4 answers

How can individuals have the greatest impact in weakening or destabilising a particular country economically? [more inside]
posted by mary8nne on May 7, 2008 - 21 answers

Can you explain the dispute over Chinese currency valuation? [more inside]
posted by underdetermined on Jul 12, 2007 - 9 answers

I was looking at a spoof map showing the 'United States of Canada' and 'Jesusland'. In it, the 'blue' states were now part of Canada, and the 'red' states were what's left of the US. With the increasing divide between the two sides, what would happen if those 'blue' states seceded somehow. Don't they represent most of the economic prosperity in this country? And what does that fact say about the this country?

(I know this is not possible, but it is interesting to look at the relationship between economics and political leaning.)
posted by eas98 on Nov 5, 2004 - 27 answers