http://www.washingtonpost.com?wprss=rss_robert-samuelsonGet the latest articles from Robert Samuelson articles and view preview articles in the Robert Samuelson archive from The Washington Post.enCopyright 2012 Washington Post CompanyFri, 24 May 2013 01:11:55 GMTFri, 24 May 2013 01:11:55 GMT5http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/hp/image/wp_web.gifhttp://www.washingtonpost.com?wprss=rss_robert-samuelsonhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2c4f7a6b/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Copinions0Crobert0Esamuelson0Ethe0Efog0Eof0Eobamacare0C20A130C0A50C230C8ffaf340A0Ec3ad0E11e20E8c3b0E0Ab5e9247e8ca0Istory0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Irobert0Esamuelson/story01.htm<p>You’ve heard of the “fog of war.” Well, now we’ve got the fog of Obamacare. The controversial Affordable Care Act (ACA) has so many moving parts that it’s hard to know how its implementation is proceeding. In 2014, many <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2009/06/health_insurance_exchanges_the.html">uninsured are supposed to get coverage either through insurance exchanges</a>, where they can buy subsidized policies if their incomes are less than four times the federal poverty line, or through an expanded Medicaid. The trouble is that <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/04/25/the-outlook-for-medicaid-expansion-looks-bleak/">20 or more states may reject the Medicaid expansion</a>, and the <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/arrival-of-insurance-exchanges-raise-questions-about-health-coverage-in-2014/2013/04/01/1d89e6ec-9633-11e2-894a-b984cbdff2e6_story.html">exchanges aren’t yet finished</a>. Much is unknown. </p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-the-fog-of-obamacare/2013/05/23/8ffaf340-c3ad-11e2-8c3b-0b5e9247e8ca_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelson">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2c4f7a6b/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/twitter/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-the-fog-of-obamacare%2F2013%2F05%2F23%2F8ffaf340-c3ad-11e2-8c3b-0b5e9247e8ca_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Robert+Samuelson%3A+The+fog+of+Obamacare" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/facebook/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-the-fog-of-obamacare%2F2013%2F05%2F23%2F8ffaf340-c3ad-11e2-8c3b-0b5e9247e8ca_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Robert+Samuelson%3A+The+fog+of+Obamacare" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/linkedin/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-the-fog-of-obamacare%2F2013%2F05%2F23%2F8ffaf340-c3ad-11e2-8c3b-0b5e9247e8ca_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Robert+Samuelson%3A+The+fog+of+Obamacare" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/gplus/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-the-fog-of-obamacare%2F2013%2F05%2F23%2F8ffaf340-c3ad-11e2-8c3b-0b5e9247e8ca_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Robert+Samuelson%3A+The+fog+of+Obamacare" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/email/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-the-fog-of-obamacare%2F2013%2F05%2F23%2F8ffaf340-c3ad-11e2-8c3b-0b5e9247e8ca_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Robert+Samuelson%3A+The+fog+of+Obamacare" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/165665214501/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2c4f7a6b/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/165665214501/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2c4f7a6b/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/165665214501/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2c4f7a6b/a2t.img" border="0"/>Thu, 23 May 2013 13:59:48 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-the-fog-of-obamacare/2013/05/23/8ffaf340-c3ad-11e2-8c3b-0b5e9247e8ca_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelsonRobert J. Samuelsonhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2c22b9ae/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Copinions0Crobert0Esamuelson0Eis0Ehealth0Ecares0Eslowdown0Efor0Ereal0C20A130C0A50C190C15bb0A270A0Ec0Aa90E11e20E8bd80E27880A30Ae6b440Istory0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Irobert0Esamuelson/story01.htm<p> <em>“If something cannot go on forever, it will stop.”</em> </p> <p> <strong>— <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://pnhp.org/blog/2010/02/02/steins-law-hitting-the-wall/">Stein’s Law</a> <span>, after economist Herbert Stein (1916-1999)<p/> </span> </strong> </p> <p>We all know that Stein’s Law will someday apply to health-care spending, which has risen from 5 percent of the economy (gross domestic product) in 1960 to almost 18 percent now. What we don’t know is how and when its share of the economy will stabilize. Will this result from spending controls imposed by Washington; or from delivery-system “reforms” that spontaneously cut “waste”; or from rationing, which limits spending by denying people treatment; or by some combination of these? As for when, could it be now? </p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-is-health-cares-slowdown-for-real/2013/05/19/15bb0270-c0a9-11e2-8bd8-2788030e6b44_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelson">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2c22b9ae/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/twitter/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-is-health-cares-slowdown-for-real%2F2013%2F05%2F19%2F15bb0270-c0a9-11e2-8bd8-2788030e6b44_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Is+the+health-care+spending+slowdown+for+real%3F" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/facebook/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-is-health-cares-slowdown-for-real%2F2013%2F05%2F19%2F15bb0270-c0a9-11e2-8bd8-2788030e6b44_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Is+the+health-care+spending+slowdown+for+real%3F" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/linkedin/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-is-health-cares-slowdown-for-real%2F2013%2F05%2F19%2F15bb0270-c0a9-11e2-8bd8-2788030e6b44_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Is+the+health-care+spending+slowdown+for+real%3F" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/gplus/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-is-health-cares-slowdown-for-real%2F2013%2F05%2F19%2F15bb0270-c0a9-11e2-8bd8-2788030e6b44_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Is+the+health-care+spending+slowdown+for+real%3F" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/email/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-is-health-cares-slowdown-for-real%2F2013%2F05%2F19%2F15bb0270-c0a9-11e2-8bd8-2788030e6b44_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Is+the+health-care+spending+slowdown+for+real%3F" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/165664924767/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2c22b9ae/kg/342-355-363/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/165664924767/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2c22b9ae/kg/342-355-363/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/165664924767/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2c22b9ae/kg/342-355-363/a2t.img" border="0"/>Medicarehealth care spendingRobert SamuelsonMon, 20 May 2013 00:22:00 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-is-health-cares-slowdown-for-real/2013/05/19/15bb0270-c0a9-11e2-8bd8-2788030e6b44_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelsonRobert J. Samuelsonhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2c044b66/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Copinions0Crobert0Esamuelson0Ethe0E6420Ebillion0Eexcuse0C20A130C0A50C160Cf2dc628e0Ebe420E11e20E97d40Ea479289a31f90Istory0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Irobert0Esamuelson/story01.htm<p>In any other time and place, $642 billion would qualify as a lot of money. But in the Washington of 2013, it has been reduced to pocket change. When the Congressional Budget Office announced that it has cut its <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/attachments/44172-Baseline2.pdf" target="_blank">projected 2013 federal deficit to $642 billion</a> — compared with 2012’s deficit of $1.1 trillion and an earlier 2013 estimate of $845 billion — there was an almost-palpable sigh of relief. The budget problem is taking care of itself. Congress and the White House can relax. No more self-destructive budget brawls. No more unpopular choices between tax increases and spending cuts. </p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-the-642-billion-excuse/2013/05/16/f2dc628e-be42-11e2-97d4-a479289a31f9_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelson">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2c044b66/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/twitter/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-the-642-billion-excuse%2F2013%2F05%2F16%2Ff2dc628e-be42-11e2-97d4-a479289a31f9_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=The+%24642+billion+excuse" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/facebook/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-the-642-billion-excuse%2F2013%2F05%2F16%2Ff2dc628e-be42-11e2-97d4-a479289a31f9_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=The+%24642+billion+excuse" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/linkedin/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-the-642-billion-excuse%2F2013%2F05%2F16%2Ff2dc628e-be42-11e2-97d4-a479289a31f9_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=The+%24642+billion+excuse" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/gplus/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-the-642-billion-excuse%2F2013%2F05%2F16%2Ff2dc628e-be42-11e2-97d4-a479289a31f9_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=The+%24642+billion+excuse" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/email/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-the-642-billion-excuse%2F2013%2F05%2F16%2Ff2dc628e-be42-11e2-97d4-a479289a31f9_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=The+%24642+billion+excuse" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/165664683114/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2c044b66/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/165664683114/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2c044b66/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/165664683114/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2c044b66/a2t.img" border="0"/>U S Federal Reservegross domestic productRobert SamuelsonThu, 16 May 2013 16:49:12 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-the-642-billion-excuse/2013/05/16/f2dc628e-be42-11e2-97d4-a479289a31f9_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelsonRobert J. Samuelsonhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2bd3bf14/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Copinions0Crobert0Esamuelson0Ethe0Ejurys0Eout0Eon0Ewhether0Edodd0Efrank0Ewill0Esave0Ecapitalism0C20A130C0A50C120C264d5dbc0Ebb280E11e20E97d40Ea479289a31f90Istory0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Irobert0Esamuelson/story01.htm<p>It’s been five years since the onset of the financial crisis — the rescue of Bear Stearns in March 2008 — and we still don’t know whether the financial system is safe. In a recent speech, <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/tarullo20130503a.htm">Daniel Tarullo, the Federal Reserve’s point man on regulation, contended</a> that substantial, though incomplete, progress has been made. As an example, he cited the doubling of equity capital for the 18 largest bank holding companies from $393 billion in late 2008 to $792 billion at the end of 2012. Equity capital is shareholders’ money; it acts as a buffer against losses. Interestingly, <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://money.cnn.com/2013/03/14/investing/jpmorgan-senate/index.html">JPMorgan Chase’s well-publicized $6 billion loss</a> by the trader nicknamed the “London Whale” confirms the point. Despite the loss’s size, it never threatened a panic or overall financial stability.</p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-the-jurys-out-on-whether-dodd-frank-will-save-capitalism/2013/05/12/264d5dbc-bb28-11e2-97d4-a479289a31f9_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelson">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2bd3bf14/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/twitter/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-the-jurys-out-on-whether-dodd-frank-will-save-capitalism%2F2013%2F05%2F12%2F264d5dbc-bb28-11e2-97d4-a479289a31f9_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=The+jury%E2%80%99s+out+on+whether+Dodd-Frank+will+save+capitalism" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/facebook/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-the-jurys-out-on-whether-dodd-frank-will-save-capitalism%2F2013%2F05%2F12%2F264d5dbc-bb28-11e2-97d4-a479289a31f9_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=The+jury%E2%80%99s+out+on+whether+Dodd-Frank+will+save+capitalism" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/linkedin/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-the-jurys-out-on-whether-dodd-frank-will-save-capitalism%2F2013%2F05%2F12%2F264d5dbc-bb28-11e2-97d4-a479289a31f9_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=The+jury%E2%80%99s+out+on+whether+Dodd-Frank+will+save+capitalism" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/gplus/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-the-jurys-out-on-whether-dodd-frank-will-save-capitalism%2F2013%2F05%2F12%2F264d5dbc-bb28-11e2-97d4-a479289a31f9_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=The+jury%E2%80%99s+out+on+whether+Dodd-Frank+will+save+capitalism" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/email/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-the-jurys-out-on-whether-dodd-frank-will-save-capitalism%2F2013%2F05%2F12%2F264d5dbc-bb28-11e2-97d4-a479289a31f9_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=The+jury%E2%80%99s+out+on+whether+Dodd-Frank+will+save+capitalism" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/165664358743/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2bd3bf14/kg/355/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/165664358743/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2bd3bf14/kg/355/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/165664358743/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2bd3bf14/kg/355/a2t.img" border="0"/>Federal Deposit Insurance Corporationfinancial crisisRobert SamuelsonMon, 13 May 2013 01:19:17 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-the-jurys-out-on-whether-dodd-frank-will-save-capitalism/2013/05/12/264d5dbc-bb28-11e2-97d4-a479289a31f9_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelsonRobert J. Samuelsonhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2bb787a0/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Copinions0Coverselling0Eobamacare0C20A130C0A50C0A90Cf94467860Eb8be0E11e20E92f30Ef29180A1936b80Istory0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Irobert0Esamuelson/story01.htm<p>It’s the great moral imperative behind the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”): People should not be denied health care because they can’t afford insurance. Health status and insurance are assumed to be connected, and opponents have often been cast as moral midgets, willing to condemn the uninsured to unnecessary illness or death. The trouble is that health status and insurance are only loosely connected. This suggests that Obamacare may result in more spending and health services but few gains in the public’s health. </p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/overselling-obamacare/2013/05/09/f9446786-b8be-11e2-92f3-f291801936b8_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelson">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2bb787a0/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/twitter/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Foverselling-obamacare%2F2013%2F05%2F09%2Ff9446786-b8be-11e2-92f3-f291801936b8_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Why+Obamacare+is+oversold" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/facebook/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Foverselling-obamacare%2F2013%2F05%2F09%2Ff9446786-b8be-11e2-92f3-f291801936b8_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Why+Obamacare+is+oversold" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/linkedin/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Foverselling-obamacare%2F2013%2F05%2F09%2Ff9446786-b8be-11e2-92f3-f291801936b8_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Why+Obamacare+is+oversold" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/gplus/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Foverselling-obamacare%2F2013%2F05%2F09%2Ff9446786-b8be-11e2-92f3-f291801936b8_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Why+Obamacare+is+oversold" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/email/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Foverselling-obamacare%2F2013%2F05%2F09%2Ff9446786-b8be-11e2-92f3-f291801936b8_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Why+Obamacare+is+oversold" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/165664249064/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2bb787a0/kg/342-363/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/165664249064/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2bb787a0/kg/342-363/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/165664249064/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2bb787a0/kg/342-363/a2t.img" border="0"/>financial securityMedicaidThu, 09 May 2013 17:47:47 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/overselling-obamacare/2013/05/09/f9446786-b8be-11e2-92f3-f291801936b8_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelsonRobert J. Samuelsonhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2b8c49b3/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Copinions0Cemployers0Elack0Econfidence0Enot0Eskilled0Elabor0C20A130C0A50C0A50C757340Ac80Eb4110E11e20E9a980E4be1688d7d840Istory0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Irobert0Esamuelson/story01.htm<p>Are we missing a couple million jobs? These would be jobs that exist but lack workers to fill them. The notion that the recovery is being hobbled by too few skilled workers is seductive. It might explain today’s stubbornly high unemployment and why aggressive government policies to promote recovery have been so ineffective. Low interest rates and big budget deficits can’t cure bottlenecks in the job market. They can’t make construction workers into computer scientists.</p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/employers-lack-confidence-not-skilled-labor/2013/05/05/757340c8-b411-11e2-9a98-4be1688d7d84_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelson">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2b8c49b3/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/twitter/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Femployers-lack-confidence-not-skilled-labor%2F2013%2F05%2F05%2F757340c8-b411-11e2-9a98-4be1688d7d84_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Employers+lack+confidence%2C+not+skilled+labor" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/facebook/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Femployers-lack-confidence-not-skilled-labor%2F2013%2F05%2F05%2F757340c8-b411-11e2-9a98-4be1688d7d84_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Employers+lack+confidence%2C+not+skilled+labor" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/linkedin/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Femployers-lack-confidence-not-skilled-labor%2F2013%2F05%2F05%2F757340c8-b411-11e2-9a98-4be1688d7d84_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Employers+lack+confidence%2C+not+skilled+labor" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/gplus/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Femployers-lack-confidence-not-skilled-labor%2F2013%2F05%2F05%2F757340c8-b411-11e2-9a98-4be1688d7d84_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Employers+lack+confidence%2C+not+skilled+labor" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/email/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Femployers-lack-confidence-not-skilled-labor%2F2013%2F05%2F05%2F757340c8-b411-11e2-9a98-4be1688d7d84_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Employers+lack+confidence%2C+not+skilled+labor" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/164017169238/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2b8c49b3/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/164017169238/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2b8c49b3/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/164017169238/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2b8c49b3/a2t.img" border="0"/>job marketBrookings InstitutionRobert SamuelsonMon, 06 May 2013 01:26:07 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/employers-lack-confidence-not-skilled-labor/2013/05/05/757340c8-b411-11e2-9a98-4be1688d7d84_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelsonRobert J. Samuelsonhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2b70f75b/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Copinions0Crobert0Esamuelson0Eeurope0Ehas0Eno0Eexit0C20A130C0A50C0A20C6bf60A9b80Eb34e0E11e20E9a980E4be1688d7d840Istory0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Irobert0Esamuelson/story01.htm<p>For most Americans, Europe is out of sight and out of mind. We figure that the worst of its debt crisis has passed. Italy has a new government. To mute social unrest, some countries are slightly relaxing austerity policies. The European Central Bank (ECB) has stabilized the bond market for weak debtor countries. Despite problems, Europe is muddling through.</p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-europe-has-no-exit/2013/05/02/6bf609b8-b34e-11e2-9a98-4be1688d7d84_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelson">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2b70f75b/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/twitter/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-europe-has-no-exit%2F2013%2F05%2F02%2F6bf609b8-b34e-11e2-9a98-4be1688d7d84_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Europe+has+no+exit" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/facebook/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-europe-has-no-exit%2F2013%2F05%2F02%2F6bf609b8-b34e-11e2-9a98-4be1688d7d84_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Europe+has+no+exit" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/linkedin/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-europe-has-no-exit%2F2013%2F05%2F02%2F6bf609b8-b34e-11e2-9a98-4be1688d7d84_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Europe+has+no+exit" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/gplus/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-europe-has-no-exit%2F2013%2F05%2F02%2F6bf609b8-b34e-11e2-9a98-4be1688d7d84_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Europe+has+no+exit" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/email/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-europe-has-no-exit%2F2013%2F05%2F02%2F6bf609b8-b34e-11e2-9a98-4be1688d7d84_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Europe+has+no+exit" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/164016965944/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2b70f75b/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/164016965944/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2b70f75b/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/164016965944/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2b70f75b/a2t.img" border="0"/>International Monetary Fundeuro areaRobert SamuelsonThu, 02 May 2013 18:24:05 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-europe-has-no-exit/2013/05/02/6bf609b8-b34e-11e2-9a98-4be1688d7d84_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelsonRobert J. Samuelsonhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2b47f157/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Copinions0Crobert0Esamuelson0Ethe0Eend0Eof0Eentitlement0C20A130C0A40C280C90A356b1a0Eae90A0E11e20E8bf60Ee70Acb6ae0A66e0Istory0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Irobert0Esamuelson/story01.htm<p>We are passing through something more than a period of disappointing economic growth and increasing political polarization. What’s happening is more powerful: the collapse of “entitlement.” By this, I do not mean primarily cuts in specific government benefits, most prominently Social Security, but the demise of a broader mind-set — attitudes and beliefs — that, in one form or another, has gripped Americans since the 1960s. The breakdown of these ideas has rattled us psychologically as well as politically and economically.</p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-the-end-of-entitlement/2013/04/28/90356b1a-ae90-11e2-8bf6-e70cb6ae066e_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelson">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2b47f157/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/twitter/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-the-end-of-entitlement%2F2013%2F04%2F28%2F90356b1a-ae90-11e2-8bf6-e70cb6ae066e_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=The+twilight+of+entitlement" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/facebook/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-the-end-of-entitlement%2F2013%2F04%2F28%2F90356b1a-ae90-11e2-8bf6-e70cb6ae066e_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=The+twilight+of+entitlement" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/linkedin/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-the-end-of-entitlement%2F2013%2F04%2F28%2F90356b1a-ae90-11e2-8bf6-e70cb6ae066e_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=The+twilight+of+entitlement" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/gplus/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-the-end-of-entitlement%2F2013%2F04%2F28%2F90356b1a-ae90-11e2-8bf6-e70cb6ae066e_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=The+twilight+of+entitlement" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/email/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-the-end-of-entitlement%2F2013%2F04%2F28%2F90356b1a-ae90-11e2-8bf6-e70cb6ae066e_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=The+twilight+of+entitlement" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/164016738302/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2b47f157/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/164016738302/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2b47f157/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/164016738302/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2b47f157/a2t.img" border="0"/>college educationSocial SecurityRobert SamuelsonSun, 28 Apr 2013 23:52:23 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-the-end-of-entitlement/2013/04/28/90356b1a-ae90-11e2-8bf6-e70cb6ae066e_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelsonRobert J. Samuelsonhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2b204c0d/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Copinions0Crobert0Esamuelson0Ethe0Ereinhartrogoff0Ebrawl0C20A130C0A40C240C6ed0A5be60Ead0A10E11e20Eb6fd0Eba6f5f26d70Ae0Istory0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Irobert0Esamuelson/story01.htm<p>An insistent question of our time is, how much government debt is too much. Is there some debt level that becomes crushing as opposed to merely costly? The controversy over research by economists Carmen Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff shows how explosive the issue is. They suggested that debt exceeding 90 percent of a country’s economy (gross domestic product, or GDP) corresponds to a sharp drop in economic growth. But their work is being <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.peri.umass.edu/fileadmin/pdf/working_papers/working_papers_301-350/WP322.pdf" target="_blank">challenged by three other economists</a>, who say that Reinhart and Rogoff made basic errors that invalidate their results. </p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-the-reinhartrogoff-brawl/2013/04/24/6ed05be6-ad01-11e2-b6fd-ba6f5f26d70e_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelson">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2b204c0d/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/twitter/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-the-reinhartrogoff-brawl%2F2013%2F04%2F24%2F6ed05be6-ad01-11e2-b6fd-ba6f5f26d70e_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=The+Reinhart%2FRogoff+brawl" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/facebook/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-the-reinhartrogoff-brawl%2F2013%2F04%2F24%2F6ed05be6-ad01-11e2-b6fd-ba6f5f26d70e_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=The+Reinhart%2FRogoff+brawl" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/linkedin/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-the-reinhartrogoff-brawl%2F2013%2F04%2F24%2F6ed05be6-ad01-11e2-b6fd-ba6f5f26d70e_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=The+Reinhart%2FRogoff+brawl" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/gplus/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-the-reinhartrogoff-brawl%2F2013%2F04%2F24%2F6ed05be6-ad01-11e2-b6fd-ba6f5f26d70e_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=The+Reinhart%2FRogoff+brawl" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/email/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-the-reinhartrogoff-brawl%2F2013%2F04%2F24%2F6ed05be6-ad01-11e2-b6fd-ba6f5f26d70e_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=The+Reinhart%2FRogoff+brawl" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/164016495262/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2b204c0d/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/164016495262/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2b204c0d/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/164016495262/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2b204c0d/a2t.img" border="0"/>economic growthUniversity of MassachusettsRobert SamuelsonWed, 24 Apr 2013 18:06:43 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-the-reinhartrogoff-brawl/2013/04/24/6ed05be6-ad01-11e2-b6fd-ba6f5f26d70e_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelsonRobert J. Samuelsonhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2afddbc2/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Copinions0Crobert0Esamuelson0Ethe0Eend0Eof0Emacroeconomics0Emagic0C20A130C0A40C210C740A8d6280Ea9240E11e20Ea8e20E5b98cb59187f0Istory0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Irobert0Esamuelson/story01.htm<p>The International Monetary Fund recently held a conference that should concern most people despite its arcane subject — “<a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.imf.org/external/np/seminars/eng/2013/macro2/index.htm">Rethinking Macro Policy II</a>.” Macroeconomics is the study of the entire economy, as opposed to the examination of individual markets (“microeconomics”). The question is how much “macro” policies can produce and protect prosperity. Before the 2008-09 financial crisis, there was great confidence that they could. Now, with 38 million unemployed in <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_PUBLIC/3-02042013-AP/EN/3-02042013-AP-EN.PDF" target="_blank">Europe</a> and the <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf" target="_blank">United States</a> — and recoveries that are feeble or nonexistent — macroeconomics is in disarray and disrepute. </p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-the-end-of-macroeconomics-magic/2013/04/21/7408d628-a924-11e2-a8e2-5b98cb59187f_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelson">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2afddbc2/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/twitter/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-the-end-of-macroeconomics-magic%2F2013%2F04%2F21%2F7408d628-a924-11e2-a8e2-5b98cb59187f_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=The+end+of+macro+magic" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/facebook/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-the-end-of-macroeconomics-magic%2F2013%2F04%2F21%2F7408d628-a924-11e2-a8e2-5b98cb59187f_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=The+end+of+macro+magic" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/linkedin/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-the-end-of-macroeconomics-magic%2F2013%2F04%2F21%2F7408d628-a924-11e2-a8e2-5b98cb59187f_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=The+end+of+macro+magic" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/gplus/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-the-end-of-macroeconomics-magic%2F2013%2F04%2F21%2F7408d628-a924-11e2-a8e2-5b98cb59187f_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=The+end+of+macro+magic" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/email/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-the-end-of-macroeconomics-magic%2F2013%2F04%2F21%2F7408d628-a924-11e2-a8e2-5b98cb59187f_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=The+end+of+macro+magic" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/164016274632/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2afddbc2/kg/342/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/164016274632/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2afddbc2/kg/342/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/164016274632/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2afddbc2/kg/342/a2t.img" border="0"/>International Monetary Fundfinancial crisisRobert SamuelsonSun, 21 Apr 2013 23:53:53 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-the-end-of-macroeconomics-magic/2013/04/21/7408d628-a924-11e2-a8e2-5b98cb59187f_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelsonRobert J. Samuelsonhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2ad57800/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Copinions0Crobert0Esamuelson0Esimplicity0Ein0Ethe0Etax0Ecode0C20A130C0A40C170C3263ec480Ea7720E11e20E830A20E3c7e0Aea970A570Istory0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Irobert0Esamuelson/story01.htm<p>At this time of year, when most Americans have just filed their returns, exasperation with the income tax system reaches a peak. Hardly anyone denies that it is a complex mess. In 2010, c<a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/National-Taxpayer-Advocate-Delivers-2012-Annual-Report-to-Congress">alculating their taxes cost Americans $168 billion</a>, estimates the <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.irs.gov/uac/Taxpayer-Advocate-Service-6">Taxpayer Advocate Service</a> of the Internal Revenue Service. That’s <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/userfiles/file/Full-Report/Volume-1.pdf" target="_blank">about 15 percent of taxes collected</a> — a heavy overhead. Almost 60 percent of taxpayers pay accountants or other tax preparers. Public esteem for the tax system is low; in a <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.people-press.org/2011/12/20/tax-system-seen-as-unfair-in-need-of-overhaul/">2011 Pew poll, 55 percent judged it unfair</a>. Disaffection was fairly even politically: 47 percent among Republicans, 58 percent among Democrats and 56 percent among independents. </p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-simplicity-in-the-tax-code/2013/04/17/3263ec48-a772-11e2-8302-3c7e0ea97057_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelson">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2ad57800/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/twitter/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-simplicity-in-the-tax-code%2F2013%2F04%2F17%2F3263ec48-a772-11e2-8302-3c7e0ea97057_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Seeking+simplicity+in+the+tax+code" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/facebook/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-simplicity-in-the-tax-code%2F2013%2F04%2F17%2F3263ec48-a772-11e2-8302-3c7e0ea97057_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Seeking+simplicity+in+the+tax+code" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/linkedin/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-simplicity-in-the-tax-code%2F2013%2F04%2F17%2F3263ec48-a772-11e2-8302-3c7e0ea97057_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Seeking+simplicity+in+the+tax+code" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/gplus/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-simplicity-in-the-tax-code%2F2013%2F04%2F17%2F3263ec48-a772-11e2-8302-3c7e0ea97057_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Seeking+simplicity+in+the+tax+code" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/email/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-simplicity-in-the-tax-code%2F2013%2F04%2F17%2F3263ec48-a772-11e2-8302-3c7e0ea97057_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Seeking+simplicity+in+the+tax+code" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/163323394067/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2ad57800/kg/355/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/163323394067/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2ad57800/kg/355/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/163323394067/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2ad57800/kg/355/a2t.img" border="0"/>tax codeRepublican PartyWed, 17 Apr 2013 16:07:24 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-simplicity-in-the-tax-code/2013/04/17/3263ec48-a772-11e2-8302-3c7e0ea97057_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelsonRobert J. Samuelsonhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2ab6a21a/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Copinions0Crobert0Esamuelson0Efamily0Emeltdown0Eand0Eeconomic0Edecline0C20A130C0A40C140Cf0Ad4b6d20Ea3880E11e20E82bc0E511538ae90Aa40Istory0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Irobert0Esamuelson/story01.htm<p>The discouraging March employment report, with a job increase of <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf" target="_blank">only 88,000</a>, raises questions well beyond the dreary state of today’s labor market. Prolonged high unemployment may be silently shredding the social fabric in ways that last for decades. Even before the Great Recession, men with a high school diploma or less faced lower wages and a harder time finding work. This made them less attractive as husbands, contributing to the growth of single-parent families. Stubbornly high unemployment almost certainly aggravates these destructive trends. </p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-family-meltdown-and-economic-decline/2013/04/14/f0d4b6d2-a388-11e2-82bc-511538ae90a4_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelson">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2ab6a21a/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/twitter/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-family-meltdown-and-economic-decline%2F2013%2F04%2F14%2Ff0d4b6d2-a388-11e2-82bc-511538ae90a4_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=An+economy+that%E2%80%99s+tearing+our+society+apart" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/facebook/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-family-meltdown-and-economic-decline%2F2013%2F04%2F14%2Ff0d4b6d2-a388-11e2-82bc-511538ae90a4_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=An+economy+that%E2%80%99s+tearing+our+society+apart" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/linkedin/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-family-meltdown-and-economic-decline%2F2013%2F04%2F14%2Ff0d4b6d2-a388-11e2-82bc-511538ae90a4_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=An+economy+that%E2%80%99s+tearing+our+society+apart" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/gplus/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-family-meltdown-and-economic-decline%2F2013%2F04%2F14%2Ff0d4b6d2-a388-11e2-82bc-511538ae90a4_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=An+economy+that%E2%80%99s+tearing+our+society+apart" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/email/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-family-meltdown-and-economic-decline%2F2013%2F04%2F14%2Ff0d4b6d2-a388-11e2-82bc-511538ae90a4_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=An+economy+that%E2%80%99s+tearing+our+society+apart" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/163323213410/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2ab6a21a/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/163323213410/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2ab6a21a/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/163323213410/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2ab6a21a/a2t.img" border="0"/>Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:00:04 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-family-meltdown-and-economic-decline/2013/04/14/f0d4b6d2-a388-11e2-82bc-511538ae90a4_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelsonRobert J. Samuelsonhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2a9c413c/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Copinions0Crobert0Esamuelson0Eobamas0Elazy0Ebudget0C20A130C0A40C110C9956e56a0Ea2c50E11e20E9c0A30E6952ff30A5f350Istory0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Irobert0Esamuelson/story01.htm<p>There is something profoundly timid about President Obama’s proposed $3.8 trillion <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/04/10/read-the-white-houses-2014-budget-plan/">budget for 2014</a>. Stripped of boasts about “investments” for the future and a responsible “balance” between deficit reduction and economic growth, the budget is a status-quo document. It lets existing trends and policies run their course, meaning that Obama would allow higher spending on the elderly to overwhelm most other government programs. This is not “liberal” or “conservative” so much as politically expedient and lazy.</p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-obamas-lazy-budget/2013/04/11/9956e56a-a2c5-11e2-9c03-6952ff305f35_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelson">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2a9c413c/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/twitter/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-obamas-lazy-budget%2F2013%2F04%2F11%2F9956e56a-a2c5-11e2-9c03-6952ff305f35_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Obama%E2%80%99s+lazy+budget" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/facebook/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-obamas-lazy-budget%2F2013%2F04%2F11%2F9956e56a-a2c5-11e2-9c03-6952ff305f35_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Obama%E2%80%99s+lazy+budget" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/linkedin/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-obamas-lazy-budget%2F2013%2F04%2F11%2F9956e56a-a2c5-11e2-9c03-6952ff305f35_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Obama%E2%80%99s+lazy+budget" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/gplus/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-obamas-lazy-budget%2F2013%2F04%2F11%2F9956e56a-a2c5-11e2-9c03-6952ff305f35_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Obama%E2%80%99s+lazy+budget" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/email/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-obamas-lazy-budget%2F2013%2F04%2F11%2F9956e56a-a2c5-11e2-9c03-6952ff305f35_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Obama%E2%80%99s+lazy+budget" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/163217198632/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2a9c413c/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/163217198632/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2a9c413c/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/163217198632/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2a9c413c/a2t.img" border="0"/>Thu, 11 Apr 2013 16:48:26 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-obamas-lazy-budget/2013/04/11/9956e56a-a2c5-11e2-9c03-6952ff305f35_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelsonRobert J. Samuelsonhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2a710f38/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Copinions0Crobert0Ejsamuelson0Emyths0Eof0Epost0Eindustrial0Eamerica0C20A130C0A40C0A70C775d10A620E9fb20E11e20E82bc0E511538ae90Aa40Istory0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Irobert0Esamuelson/story01.htm<p>We live in a post-industrial age, defined more by Google than by General Motors. The term “post-industrial society” was first popularized by the sociologist Daniel Bell (1919-2011) in a 1973 book, and the change has generally been a boon. The transition from factory to office has raised living standards, curbed pollution and reduced the number of grueling, often-monotonous jobs. Yet, this largely beneficial transformation suffers in the popular imagination. The vast “service sector,” which now dominates the economy, is seen as inferior, low-paying and even frivolous because it produces nothing tangible.</p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-jsamuelson-myths-of-post-industrial-america/2013/04/07/775d1062-9fb2-11e2-82bc-511538ae90a4_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelson">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2a710f38/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/twitter/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-jsamuelson-myths-of-post-industrial-america%2F2013%2F04%2F07%2F775d1062-9fb2-11e2-82bc-511538ae90a4_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Myths+of+post-industrial+America" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/facebook/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-jsamuelson-myths-of-post-industrial-america%2F2013%2F04%2F07%2F775d1062-9fb2-11e2-82bc-511538ae90a4_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Myths+of+post-industrial+America" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/linkedin/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-jsamuelson-myths-of-post-industrial-america%2F2013%2F04%2F07%2F775d1062-9fb2-11e2-82bc-511538ae90a4_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Myths+of+post-industrial+America" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/gplus/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-jsamuelson-myths-of-post-industrial-america%2F2013%2F04%2F07%2F775d1062-9fb2-11e2-82bc-511538ae90a4_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Myths+of+post-industrial+America" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png" border="0" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/share/email/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-jsamuelson-myths-of-post-industrial-america%2F2013%2F04%2F07%2F775d1062-9fb2-11e2-82bc-511538ae90a4_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson&t=Myths+of+post-industrial+America" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/161991466583/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2a710f38/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/161991466583/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2a710f38/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/161991466583/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2a710f38/a2t.img" border="0"/>Robert J. Samuelsonhealth careFoxconnSun, 07 Apr 2013 23:57:25 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-jsamuelson-myths-of-post-industrial-america/2013/04/07/775d1062-9fb2-11e2-82bc-511538ae90a4_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelsonRobert J. Samuelsonhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2a4c6c6e/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Copinions0Crobert0Esamuelson0Eaverting0Ea0Edeeper0Eeconomic0Ecrisis0Eor0Ecreating0Ea0Enew0Eone0C20A130C0A40C0A30Cd0A9889cc0E9c740E11e20E9a790Eeb5280Ac81c630Istory0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Irobert0Esamuelson/story01.htm<p>The <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/imf-agrees-to-its-part-of-cyprus-bailout-to-provide-1-billion-euros-in-loans/2013/04/03/392f4378-9c47-11e2-9219-51eb8387e8f1_story.html">bailout of Cyprus</a> — if it can be called that — bore all the trappings of Europe’s standard response to its economic crisis. The last-minute, melodramatic rescue was complex, contentious and controversial. Decisions were taken that, for now, prevent Cyprus’s problems from spilling over to the 16 other countries that use the euro. But the same steps may make matters worse in the long run. No one who reads Neil Irwin’s splendid new book, <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594204624/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&#38;camp=1789&#38;creative=9325&#38;creativeASIN=1594204624&#38;linkCode=as2&#38;tag=slatmaga-20">“The Alchemists: Three Central Bankers and a World on Fire,”</a> will be surprised. </p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-averting-a-deeper-economic-crisis-or-creating-a-new-one/2013/04/03/d09889cc-9c74-11e2-9a79-eb5280c81c63_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelson">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2a4c6c6e/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=The+central-bank+%E2%80%98improvisers%E2%80%99&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-averting-a-deeper-economic-crisis-or-creating-a-new-one%2F2013%2F04%2F03%2Fd09889cc-9c74-11e2-9a79-eb5280c81c63_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/161991242374/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2a4c6c6e/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/161991242374/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2a4c6c6e/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/161991242374/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2a4c6c6e/a2t.img" border="0"/>financial marketsEuropean Central BankRobert SamuelsonWed, 03 Apr 2013 16:18:38 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-averting-a-deeper-economic-crisis-or-creating-a-new-one/2013/04/03/d09889cc-9c74-11e2-9a79-eb5280c81c63_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelsonRobert J. Samuelsonhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2a314e25/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Copinions0Crobert0Esamuelson0Eamericas0Etrade0Emuddle0C20A130C0A30C310Cc9b6cff0A0E98c90E11e20E814b0E0A63623d80Aa60A0Istory0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Irobert0Esamuelson/story01.htm<p>Americans have a love-hate relationship with foreign trade. In the marketplace, we’re enthusiasts. During 2012, we scarfed up <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/ECONI-2013-02/pdf/ECONI-2013-02-Pg35-1.pdf" target="_blank">$2.3 trillion in imports</a>: cars, computers, clothes, smartphones, shoes, toys, oil and much more. We are also eager exporters, though not as successful, peddling $1.6 trillion last year in jets, tractors, pharmaceuticals and corn, among other things. But in the political arena, we’re skeptics. By one typical poll, 63 percent of respondents declared trade “bad” because it “results in the loss of jobs and lower wages.” Only 30 percent cheered that it reduces prices and expands choices for consumers. </p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-americas-trade-muddle/2013/03/31/c9b6cff0-98c9-11e2-814b-063623d80a60_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelson">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2a314e25/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=America%E2%80%99s+trade+muddle&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-americas-trade-muddle%2F2013%2F03%2F31%2Fc9b6cff0-98c9-11e2-814b-063623d80a60_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/161991089686/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2a314e25/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/161991089686/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2a314e25/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/161991089686/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2a314e25/a2t.img" border="0"/>University of Cape TownRobert Lawrencegreat recessionSun, 31 Mar 2013 23:45:53 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-americas-trade-muddle/2013/03/31/c9b6cff0-98c9-11e2-814b-063623d80a60_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelsonRobert J. Samuelsonhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/29f0eb2a/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Copinions0Crobert0Esamuelson0Eus0Eeconomy0Eshows0Esigns0Eof0Estrengthening0C20A130C0A30C240Cbf3f29420E930Aa0E11e20Ea31e0E1470A0Ae2724e40Istory0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Irobert0Esamuelson/story01.htm<p>Is the recession over? Has the recovery started?</p> <p>One lesson of the last few years is that some of our traditional economic labels have lost meaning. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research — the group of academic economists who set dates for the beginning and end of business cycles — the U.S. economy has been in a recovery since mid-2009. That’s when the recession that began in late 2007 is deemed to have ended. But for many Americans, if not most, it hasn’t felt like a “recovery.” </p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-us-economy-shows-signs-of-strengthening/2013/03/24/bf3f2942-930a-11e2-a31e-14700e2724e4_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelson">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/29f0eb2a/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=U.S.+economy+shows+signs+of+strengthening&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-us-economy-shows-signs-of-strengthening%2F2013%2F03%2F24%2Fbf3f2942-930a-11e2-a31e-14700e2724e4_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/161770065238/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/29f0eb2a/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/161770065238/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/29f0eb2a/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/161770065238/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/29f0eb2a/a2t.img" border="0"/>White House Council of Economic Advisersjob marketRobert SamuelsonSun, 24 Mar 2013 23:48:19 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-us-economy-shows-signs-of-strengthening/2013/03/24/bf3f2942-930a-11e2-a31e-14700e2724e4_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelsonRobert J. Samuelsonhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/29bf0a9d/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Copinions0Crobert0Esamuelson0Ewill0Ecypruss0Ewoes0Einfect0Ethe0Erest0Eof0Eeurope0C20A130C0A30C190Ced820Acd60E90Ab0A0E11e20E9cfd0E36d6c9b5d7ad0Istory0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Irobert0Esamuelson/story01.htm<p>Logically, what happens in Cyprus should stay in Cyprus. With a population of just more than 1 million and an economy that’s<a data-xslt="_http" href="http://blogs.cfr.org/kahn/2013/03/13/why-cyprus-matters/"> a mere 0.2 percent of the 17-nation euro zone</a>, the country seems too small to matter on the world stage. Yet, that’s where it is this week — and with good reason: A proposed rescue package for <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/03/18/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-cyprus-bailout-in-one-faq-2/">Cyprus’s ailing economy</a> would set a powerful precedent by nullifying government guarantees of bank deposits up to 100,000 euros (about $130,000). The rescue would impose <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://blogs.cfr.org/kahn/2013/03/18/cyprus-on-the-edge/">a one-time “tax”</a> of 6.75 percent on deposits under the threshold. Deposits above the ceiling, which aren’t guaranteed, would suffer a 9.9 percent tax. </p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-will-cypruss-woes-infect-the-rest-of-europe/2013/03/19/ed820cd6-90b0-11e2-9cfd-36d6c9b5d7ad_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelson">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/29bf0a9d/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Will+Cyprus%E2%80%99s+woes+infect+the+rest+of+Europe%3F&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-will-cypruss-woes-infect-the-rest-of-europe%2F2013%2F03%2F19%2Fed820cd6-90b0-11e2-9cfd-36d6c9b5d7ad_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/158921510012/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/29bf0a9d/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/158921510012/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/29bf0a9d/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/158921510012/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/29bf0a9d/a2t.img" border="0"/>Wed, 20 Mar 2013 14:51:00 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-will-cypruss-woes-infect-the-rest-of-europe/2013/03/19/ed820cd6-90b0-11e2-9cfd-36d6c9b5d7ad_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelsonRobert J. Samuelsonhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/29ad21aa/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Copinions0Crobert0Esamuelson0Ea0Edishonest0Ebudget0Edebate0C20A130C0A30C170C18fdb79e0E8d8b0E11e20E9f540Ef3fdd70Aacad20Istory0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Irobert0Esamuelson/story01.htm<p> <em>“The president is in the midst of a charm offensive.”</em> </p> <p>— The Post, referring to President Obama’s meetings with congressional Republicans</p> <p/> <p>We don’t need a charm offensive; we need a candor offensive. The budget debate’s central reality is that federal retirement programs, led by Social Security and Medicare, are crowding out most other government spending. Until we openly recognize and discuss this, it will be impossible to have a “balanced approach” — to use one of President Obama’s favorite phrases. It’s the math: In fiscal 2012, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and civil service and military retirement cost <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/attachments/43904-Historical%20Budget%20Data-corrected.pdf" target="_blank">$1.7 trillion</a>, about half the budget. If they’re off-limits, the burdens on other programs and tax increases grow ever greater.</p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-a-dishonest-budget-debate/2013/03/17/18fdb79e-8d8b-11e2-9f54-f3fdd70acad2_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelson">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/29ad21aa/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=America+the+retirement+home&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-a-dishonest-budget-debate%2F2013%2F03%2F17%2F18fdb79e-8d8b-11e2-9f54-f3fdd70acad2_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/158921402250/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/29ad21aa/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/158921402250/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/29ad21aa/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/158921402250/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/29ad21aa/a2t.img" border="0"/>tax increaseMedicaidRobert SamuelsonSun, 17 Mar 2013 23:57:10 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-a-dishonest-budget-debate/2013/03/17/18fdb79e-8d8b-11e2-9f54-f3fdd70acad2_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelsonRobert J. Samuelsonhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2986f6c1/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Copinions0Crobert0Ej0Esamuelson0Ea0Enew0Ebull0Emarket0E0Eor0Ea0Ebubble0C20A130C0A30C130Cbfa41dbe0E8bf0A0E11e20Eb63f0Ef53fb9f2fcb40Istory0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Irobert0Esamuelson/story01.htm<p>Where’s the stock market going? Has a bull market started? Or are we on the cusp of a new bubble?</p> <p>As I argued <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-j-samuelson-the-stock-market-strikes-back/2013/03/10/6ab9e1d0-8817-11e2-9d71-f0feafdd1394_story.html">in my last column</a> — which noted that stocks have reached new highs — the answers matter beyond individual investment portfolios. Stock prices influence consumer and business confidence and spending. A strong market will bolster the recovery; a weak market will hinder it.</p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-j-samuelson-a-new-bull-market--or-a-bubble/2013/03/13/bfa41dbe-8bf0-11e2-b63f-f53fb9f2fcb4_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelson">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2986f6c1/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=A+new+bull+market+%E2%80%94+or+a+bubble%3F&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-j-samuelson-a-new-bull-market--or-a-bubble%2F2013%2F03%2F13%2Fbfa41dbe-8bf0-11e2-b63f-f53fb9f2fcb4_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/158920808015/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2986f6c1/kg/350/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/158920808015/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2986f6c1/kg/350/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/158920808015/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2986f6c1/kg/350/a2t.img" border="0"/>US Treasurystock priceRobert J. SamuelsonWed, 13 Mar 2013 15:37:36 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-j-samuelson-a-new-bull-market--or-a-bubble/2013/03/13/bfa41dbe-8bf0-11e2-b63f-f53fb9f2fcb4_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelsonRobert J. Samuelsonhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2969e64a/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Copinions0Crobert0Ej0Esamuelson0Ethe0Estock0Emarket0Estrikes0Eback0C20A130C0A30C10A0C6ab9e1d0A0E88170E11e20E9d710Ef0Afeafdd13940Istory0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Irobert0Esamuelson/story01.htm<p>We now know the promise and peril of paper wealth. In the past 15 years, the stock market’s convulsions ought to have rattled even hardy investors. Twice — after the popping of the “tech bubble” in 2000 and after the financial crisis in 2008 — the market lost half its value. It then struggled for years to regain its previous peaks; this happened again last week when <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/dow-hits-record-high-markets-undaunted-by-washington-budget-gridlock/2013/03/05/b6621c70-81e0-11e2-b99e-6baf4ebe42df_story.html">the Dow Jones Industrial Average exceeded its 2007 high</a>. Past turmoil and present uncertainty (the “sequester,” Europe’s crisis) might have persuaded most individual investors to quit the market. It hasn’t. Main Street hasn’t abandoned Wall Street.</p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-j-samuelson-the-stock-market-strikes-back/2013/03/10/6ab9e1d0-8817-11e2-9d71-f0feafdd1394_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelson">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2969e64a/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=The+market+strikes+back&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-j-samuelson-the-stock-market-strikes-back%2F2013%2F03%2F10%2F6ab9e1d0-8817-11e2-9d71-f0feafdd1394_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/158921008271/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2969e64a/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/158921008271/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2969e64a/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/158921008271/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2969e64a/a2t.img" border="0"/>New York Universityinterest rateHoward SilverblattSun, 10 Mar 2013 23:43:12 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-j-samuelson-the-stock-market-strikes-back/2013/03/10/6ab9e1d0-8817-11e2-9d71-f0feafdd1394_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelsonRobert J. Samuelsonhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/293d5a0f/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Copinions0Crobert0Esamuelson0Ethe0Eexpensive0Eamtrak0Efantasy0C20A130C0A30C0A50C4224bfe60E85de0E11e20E9d710Ef0Afeafdd13940Istory0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Irobert0Esamuelson/story01.htm<p>There is something about Amtrak — perhaps the romance of railroads or the promise of relieving traffic congestion and economizing on oil and greenhouse-gas emissions — that causes otherwise sensible people to lose contact with reality. The reality is that Amtrak has been a waste of taxpayer money since its creation in 1970. It doesn’t significantly reduce congestion, fuel use or greenhouse gases. Amtrak is too small to have any appreciable effect in any of these areas. Yet it retains an aura of respectability with much of the public and many “experts,” who believe it should survive and, perhaps, expand.</p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-the-expensive-amtrak-fantasy/2013/03/05/4224bfe6-85de-11e2-9d71-f0feafdd1394_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelson">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/293d5a0f/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=The+expensive+Amtrak+fantasy&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-the-expensive-amtrak-fantasy%2F2013%2F03%2F05%2F4224bfe6-85de-11e2-9d71-f0feafdd1394_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/158920406704/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/293d5a0f/kg/342/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/158920406704/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/293d5a0f/kg/342/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/158920406704/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/293d5a0f/kg/342/a2t.img" border="0"/>Tue, 05 Mar 2013 22:45:07 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-the-expensive-amtrak-fantasy/2013/03/05/4224bfe6-85de-11e2-9d71-f0feafdd1394_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelsonRobert J. Samuelsonhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2910f8cc/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Copinions0Crobert0Esamuelson0Eitaly0Ebrings0Eback0Ethe0Eeuro0Ecrisis0C20A130C0A20C280C14a219220E81c60E11e20Eb99e0E6baf4ebe42df0Istory0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Irobert0Esamuelson/story01.htm<p>The euro crisis is back. Actually, it never left. But there was an extended period, beginning last summer, when Europe’s political, business and media elites convinced themselves that the worst had passed. The European Central Bank (ECB) — Europe’s Federal Reserve — had tranquilized jittery bond markets. Italy and Spain, the two countries that might trigger a new crisis, would be able to borrow at reasonable interest rates, because the ECB had pledged to act as a lender of last resort. Though debtor nations still faced hard times, matters were slowly mending. So it was said.</p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-italy-brings-back-the-euro-crisis/2013/02/28/14a21922-81c6-11e2-b99e-6baf4ebe42df_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelson">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/2910f8cc/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=The+return+of+the+euro+crisis&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-italy-brings-back-the-euro-crisis%2F2013%2F02%2F28%2F14a21922-81c6-11e2-b99e-6baf4ebe42df_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/158920162605/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2910f8cc/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/158920162605/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2910f8cc/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/158920162605/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/2910f8cc/a2t.img" border="0"/>U S Federal Reserveeuro zoneRobert SamuelsonThu, 28 Feb 2013 17:29:15 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-italy-brings-back-the-euro-crisis/2013/02/28/14a21922-81c6-11e2-b99e-6baf4ebe42df_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelsonRobert J. Samuelsonhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/28fbb417/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Copinions0Crobert0Esamuelson0Ea0Elost0Egeneration0Econtd0C20A130C0A20C260Cdfa14ee80E80A330E11e20Ea350A0E49866afab5840Istory0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Irobert0Esamuelson/story01.htm<p>Are we creating a lost generation? </p> <p>For some time, <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-the-social-and-economic-reasons-for-generation-squeezed/2012/08/05/bb86830e-dd89-11e1-8e43-4a3c4375504a_story.html">I’ve been writing </a>about how the Great Recession and its tepid recovery have <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-is-the-economy-creating-a-lost-generation/2012/12/09/41683956-4093-11e2-bca3-aadc9b7e29c5_story.html">hit young adults hardest</a>. I’m not dismissing the distress of older age groups. Almost anyone who has lost a job in this harsh economy has faced a long, uncertain struggle to find a new one. Americans on the edge of retirement have often reeled from large income and savings losses. It’s rough for almost everyone. But the young seem to have been hurt disproportionately. Getting a job isn’t easy; for those who do, the pay may disappoint. </p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-a-lost-generation-contd/2013/02/26/dfa14ee8-8033-11e2-a350-49866afab584_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelson">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/28fbb417/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=A+lost+generation+%28cont%E2%80%99d%29%3F&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-a-lost-generation-contd%2F2013%2F02%2F26%2Fdfa14ee8-8033-11e2-a350-49866afab584_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/158920372111/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/28fbb417/kg/349/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/158920372111/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/28fbb417/kg/349/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/158920372111/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/28fbb417/kg/349/a2t.img" border="0"/>Pew Research Centergreat recessionRobert SamuelsonTue, 26 Feb 2013 17:02:49 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-a-lost-generation-contd/2013/02/26/dfa14ee8-8033-11e2-a350-49866afab584_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelsonRobert J. Samuelsonhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/28e9825a/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Copinions0Crobert0Esamuelson0Ethe0Etrue0Enational0Edebt0C20A130C0A20C240C1a133c780E7eac0E11e20Ea350A0E49866afab5840Istory0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Irobert0Esamuelson/story01.htm<p>How big is the national debt?</p> <p>You’d think this would be an easy question. Surely we know how much the government owes. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. The true national debt could be triple the conventional estimate, anywhere from $11 trillion to $31 trillion by my reckoning. The differences mostly reflect explicit and implicit “off-budget” federal loan guarantees. In another economic downturn, these could result in large losses that would be brought “on budget” and worsen already huge deficits. That’s the danger.</p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-the-true-national-debt/2013/02/24/1a133c78-7eac-11e2-a350-49866afab584_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelson">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636664/s/28e9825a/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=The+true+national+debt&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Frobert-samuelson-the-true-national-debt%2F2013%2F02%2F24%2F1a133c78-7eac-11e2-a350-49866afab584_story.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_robert-samuelson" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/158920255215/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/28e9825a/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/158920255215/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/28e9825a/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/158920255215/u/0/f/636664/c/34656/s/28e9825a/a2t.img" border="0"/>Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:51:39 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-the-true-national-debt/2013/02/24/1a133c78-7eac-11e2-a350-49866afab584_story.html?wprss=rss_robert-samuelsonRobert J. Samuelson