Joseph Stiglitz: Common Sense, Not Austerity, in 2011

[marmar]

via CommonDreams:



Published on Monday, January 3, 2011 by Project Syndicate

Common Sense, Not Austerity, in 2011
New Year’s Hope against Hope

by Joseph E. Stiglitz


The time has come for New Year's resolutions, a moment of reflection. When the last year hasn't gone so well, it is a time for hope that the next year will be better.

For Europe and the United States, 2010 was a year of disappointment. It's been three years since the bubble broke, and more than two since Lehman Brothers' collapse. In 2009, we were pulled back from the brink of depression, and 2010 was supposed to be the year of transition: as the economy got back on its feet, stimulus spending could smoothly be brought down.

Growth, it was thought, might slow slightly in 2011, but it would be a minor bump on the way to robust recovery. We could then look back at the Great Recession as a bad dream; the market economy - supported by prudent government action - would have shown its resilience.

In fact, 2010 was a nightmare. The crises in Ireland and Greece called into question the euro's viability and raised the prospect of a debt default. On both sides of the Atlantic, unemployment remained stubbornly high, at around 10%. Even though 10% of US households with mortgages had already lost their homes, the pace of foreclosures appeared to be increasing - or would have, were not it not for legal snafus that raised doubts about America's vaunted "rule of law." ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/01/03-0

[Jackpine Radical]

1. Stiglitz is always worth a K&R.

[Jefferson23]

2. I recall when Stiglitz talked about Obama speaking with him during

the campaign and had hoped he would employ Stiglitz. Or at the very least, use his brain power to construct policy/reforms.

It's not too late Obama, call him.

[Oceansaway]

3. K&R...n/t

[JohnWxy]

4. Recommded. Bookmarked.

Will Nobel Laureate Stiglitz be heard above the chanting of the newly elected ignorati? M$M dare not give this heretic more than a nanosecond of air time(if that much).

[Jefferson23]

5. Kick for Stiglitz. n/t