
Housing's Great Fall: Putting Household Balance Sheets Together Again
The Regional Economist | October 2009
The simplest way to avoid another devastating housing crash and foreclosure crisis probably is to reduce household borrowing and, then, to keep it low.
GO! Network: Corporate, Nonprofit Worlds Join Forces To Help Unemployed Professionals
GO! Network is helping hundreds of professionals in the St. Louis area deal with the difficult problems presented by unemployment. Celtic Creative, a social enterprise of the St. Patrick Center, started the program in partnership with several area companies and nonprofit organizations. The program includes seminars, a speaker series, job fairs, an interactive web site and entrepreneurial opportunities.
By James W. Fuchs and Timothy A. Bosch
Scores of banks have failed this year, and they all have at least one of four primary reasons in common. They have an imbalance of risk versus return, they fail to diversify, they offer products and services that management doesn't fully understand, and they poorly manage risks. How can banks avoid these pitfalls?
As College Costs Rise, Student Loans Are Harder to Find
High school students planning for college can look forward to multiple questions—and not just those they might confront on standardized tests. In addition to getting into college, students and their families have to figure out how much college will cost, and how to pay for it.
Innovation: What Can It Do for Your Community?
The nation's economic crisis brought down some mighty players during the last year. As the dominoes fell, community development professionals saw funding vanish and dreams fade. The future may be uncertain, but is it all doom and gloom? A recent conference sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis focused on innovation and its role in helping organizations survive, and thrive, despite the economy. This issue of Bridges is devoted to topics covered during the conference.
Which Came First—Democracy or Growth?
Inside the Vault | Spring 2009
In today's world, most rich countries are democratic, and most dictatorships are poor. In the United States, democracy goes hand in hand with political institutions that promote economic freedom. Although most economists agree that economic freedom promotes growth, it is not clear that more political freedom improves economic performance.
Ethanol: Economic Gain or Drain?
By Joshua A. Byrge and Kevin L. Kliesen
The Regional Economist | July 2008
Corn-based ethanol can make a dent in demand for oil, but at what price? Food costs go up. Environmental damage worsens. If oil prices fall, ethanol production will probably collapse—as it did 20 years ago.
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