Articles Index
U.S. Budget Taxes and Income Primer
Learn how the U.S. Government plans the income and revenue portion of the Federal budget. Find out what is the projected revenue for the current fiscal year. See how much of that is income taxes versus business taxes.
FY 2013 U.S. Budget Spending Summary and Highlights
A summary of the US Federal Budget, with a focus on FY 2013. Understand how mandatory programs now account for 60% of total spending. Did you know the single largest budget item is defense spending? Find out where your tax dollars go.
FY 2013 Discretionary U.S. Federal Budget
An easy-to-understand summary of the U.S. Federal Budget's discretionary spending programs, including Defense, Education, Housing and Urban Development, State Department, Health and Human Services and NASA. How it affects the U.S. Economy.
FY 2013 Military Budget: How Defense Spending Affects the Economy
An summary of the US Military Budget for FY 2013, and how defense spending affects the U.S. economy. How the Department of Defense can cut spending without threatening national security.
FY 2013 Federal Mandatory Budget
An easy-to-understand analysis of the FY 2013 Federal Budget for mandatory spending programs. The outlook for Social Security and health care, such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs. What can be done to solve the mandatory budget dilemma. Whether Social Security will go bankrupt.
FY 2012 U.S. Federal Budget
An easy-to-understand summary of the U.S. Government's Federal budget for FY 2012. Includes income and taxes, as well as spending highlights. This includes discretionary, including military spending, and mandatory, including Social Security, Medicare and Economic Stimulus spending. Discusses the budget deficit and impact on economic growth.
FY 2010 Federal Budget
What was in the Fiscal Year 2010 Federal Budget? A summary of the Federal FY 2010 budget, President Obama's first budget, and how it affected the economy.
FY 2011 U.S. Federal Budget
An easy-to-understand summary of the U.S. Government's Federal budget for FY 2011. Includes income and taxes, as well as spending highlights. This includes discretionary, including military spending, and mandatory, including Social Security, Medicare and Economic Stimulus spending. Discusses the budget deficit and impact on economic growth.
FY 2009 Federal Budget
What was spent in Fiscal Year 2009. An easy-to-understand summary of the Federal FY 2009 spending.
FY 2007 Federal Budget
What was spent in the Fiscal Year 2007 Federal Budget. An easy-to-understand summary of the Federal FY 2007 budget.
FY 2006 Federal Budget
What was enacted in the Fiscal Year 2006 Federal Budget. An easy-to-understand summary of the Federal FY 2006 budget.
Fiscal Year 2008 Federal Budget
An easy-to-understand summary of the FY 2008 U.S. Federal Budget. How the Fiscal Year 2008 Budget affected the U.S. economy. Why its projections that the budget would be balanced by 2012 were wrong.
Consumer Price Index (CPI Index)
Consumer Price Index or CPI Index definition, how to calculate CPI and the Consumer Price Index History.
U.S. Debt Default
Although the U.S. will probably not default on its debt, you need to know what debt default is, and how it would affect the economy if the U.S. did default. Find out if other countries have defaulted on their debt, and why people are concerned about whether the U.S. will default every time the Federal Government approaches the debt ceiling.
What Is the Eurozone Crisis?
The eurozone crisis
Unemployment Rate
Explains what the national unemployment rate is, why it is important, and how it affects the U.S. economy. Explains how the unemployment rate affects you.
Laffer Curve
The Laffer Curve explains the theoretical relationship between tax rates and government tax revenue. The Laffer Curve describes a magical point when the tax rate will be low enough to stimulate demand, but high enough to generate optimal government revenue. Unfortunately, it doesn't say exactly where that point is. There are many reasons why.
Why Gas Prices Are High
High gas prices are caused by high oil prices, which are usually caused by supply and demand. More recently, high gas prices have been caused by oil futures speculation.
Valentine's Day 2011 Shares the Love
What were the facts around the economic impact of Valentine's Day in 2011?
Happy Valentine's Day 2012 for Retailers and Shoppers Alike
Happy Valentine's Day in 2012 to retailers as sales look like they will set new records. Shoppers plan to spend $17.6 billion. Find out why shoppers are so optimistic, what they plan to spend on and the economic impact that Valentine's Day will have in the Presidential election year of 2012.
Valentine's Day 2010 Triumphs Over Recession
Valentine's Day in 2010 was very happy, as shoppers shared the love despite the recession.
Advantages of NAFTA
The advantages of NAFTA for Mexico, Canada and the U.S. include an increase in trade which has contributed to economic growth.
History of NAFTA
NAFTA was negotiated by President H.W. Bush in 1992 and enacted by President Clinton in 1994. Its purpose was to increase trade between the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Find out the history of NAFTA, and whether its achieved its purpose.
John McCain and Trade - How McCain's Trade Policies Will Affect the U.S. Economy
What is 2008 Republican Presidential Candidate John McCain's position on the free trade issues? Find out how his proposals would impact the U.S. economy, and what trade issues he is missing.
Disadvantages of NAFTA
NAFTA cost many workers their jobs in the U.S., and led to exploitation of workers in Mexico. Find out the other disadvantages of NAFTA, and why NAFTA had so many ill effects.