Updated Articles and Resources

By Kimberly Amadeo, About.com Guide

President George Bush Income Tax Cuts - What Were President George Bush Income Tax Cuts Created: Thursday, August 19, 2010 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
President George Bush's tax cuts occurred in 2001 and 2003. President Bush also gave tax refunds in 2008. What were these tax cuts and refunds, how did they affect the economy, and what is the impa...
Why Extended Federal Unemployment Benefits Boost the Economy Created: Thursday, July 22, 2010 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
Find out why extended Federal unemployment benefits are the best way to boost the economy in a recession - and are worth the cost to the budget.
Tax Freedom Day - What Is Tax Freedom Day - An Explanation of Tax Freedom Day Created: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
Tax freedom day explanation and a description of how many days you work to pay off different elements of the national budget.
Cost-Push Inflation Definition Causes and Examples Created: Monday, March 19, 2012 Updated: Thursday, May 24, 2012
Cost-push inflation causes rising prices by driving up the costs of supply. It doesn't occur very often, but when it does, the effects are devastating. Find out what creates cost-push inflation, ho...
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 Summary Created: Wednesday, May 18, 2011 Updated: Thursday, May 24, 2012
A summary of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. Timeline of how the impact of the Act will roll out.
Causes of Economic Inflation Created: Wednesday, January 26, 2011 Updated: Thursday, May 24, 2012
There are three major causes of economic inflation: demand-pull, cost-push and monetary expansion. However, there are many circumstances that lead to those causes -- including the expectation of in...
Obama and Health Care Reform Created: Monday, November 02, 2009 Updated: Thursday, May 24, 2012
A summary of Obama's plans to reform health care and how it affects the economy.
Alternative Fuels - Alternative Fuel Sources - Cheap Alternative Fuels Created: Sunday, March 15, 2009 Updated: Thursday, May 24, 2012
Many alternative fuels won't become feasible until the price to produce them comes down.
Doha Round of Trade Talks - Why the Doha Round of Trade Talks Is So Important Created: Thursday, November 16, 2006 Updated: Thursday, May 24, 2012
Why is the Doha Round of Trade Talks So Important?
Congressional Budget Office Report on Budget Effects of Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 Created: Monday, April 05, 2010 Updated: Thursday, May 24, 2012
Could the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 actually reduce the budget deficit. The Congressional Budget Office says it will. Find out how by reading this summary of the CBO report.
What Is the Timeline and Status of Health Care Reform Created: Saturday, January 30, 2010 Updated: Thursday, May 24, 2012
What was the timeline of health care reform and its status in 2012? It started with Obama's 2008 Presidential campaign, and is still being hotly contested in 2012. Here's a summary of critical even...
Federal Poverty Level - What Is the Federal Poverty Level - How the Federal Poverty Level Is Used Created: Sunday, December 27, 2009 Updated: Thursday, May 24, 2012
The Federal poverty level defines who is officially poor in the United States.It is used to determine who receives federal subsidies.
What Was the 2009 House Health Care Reform Bill? Created: Monday, November 02, 2009 Updated: Thursday, May 24, 2012
A summary of the 2009 House Health Care Reform Bill and its economic impact.
What Was the Senate Health Care Reform Bill Created: Monday, November 02, 2009 Updated: Thursday, May 24, 2012
A brief description of the important elements in the Senate health care reform bill and how it would have affected the U.S. economy
Why Reform Health Care and The Economic Impact of Health Care Reform Created: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 Updated: Thursday, May 24, 2012
Health care reform will cost billions, but will also save the economy billions in sick time, emergency room costs and improved child care. Find out the economic impact of health care reform.
Dumping Created: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 Updated: Thursday, May 24, 2012
What exactly is dumping, and what are its advantages and disadvantages? Compare how the World Trade Organization and the European Commission define dumping, and their approach to anti-dumping duties.
Mandatory Spending U.S. Budget Definition Created: Wednesday, November 01, 2006 Updated: Thursday, May 24, 2012
What is mandatory spending within the U.S. budget? It's the largest budget item, and includes Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and now TARP. It's mandated by Federal law, and cannot be changed w...
The Dust Bowl - What Was the Dust Bowl - Why Did the Dust Bowl Happen Created: Monday, January 18, 2010 Updated: Thursday, May 24, 2012
What was the Dust Bowl of the Great Depression, why did the Dust Bowl happen, and could the Dust Bowl happen again?
How the Economy of China Affects the US Economy and the Dollar Created: Monday, February 16, 2009 Updated: Thursday, May 24, 2012
China's growing economy makes China a major influence in the U.S. economy. China's low standard of living allows it to export cheaply, keeping U.S. inflation low. China is the largest buyer of U.S....
Barack Obama and Trade Created: Wednesday, June 04, 2008 Updated: Thursday, May 24, 2012
While a candidate for President in 2008, Barack Obama opposed free trade agreements, and proposed amending NAFTA. Since his election, he has softened considerably. He's forgotten NAFTA, and even su...
Balance of Payments Created: Sunday, May 13, 2012 Updated: Wednesday, May 23, 2012
The balance of payments measures a country's international trade, and the financial transactions that make it possible. This includes the current account, capital account and financial account. The...
Trade Agreements Created: Thursday, March 10, 2011 Updated: Friday, May 18, 2012
Trade agreements can make or break a country's economy. Find out what trade agreements are, the different types of trade agreements, and how they affect the U.S. economy.
Trade Deficit Definition and Meaning Created: Monday, December 18, 2006 Updated: Friday, May 18, 2012
The trade deficit is when a country imports more than it exports. Find out what causes a trade deficit and what are the effects. Understand the difference between a trade deficit and a trade surplus.
Imports and Exports - Components of Imports and Exports to the US Created: Monday, November 22, 2010 Updated: Friday, May 18, 2012
Two of the largest components of U.S. imports are oil and consumer goods. Even though the U.S. exports many of the same things it imports, it has a trade deficit. However, it has a trade surplus in...
Imports Definition - What Are Imports Created: Monday, November 22, 2010 Updated: Friday, May 18, 2012
Imports are goods and services that are produced in a foreign country and bought by a country's residents, businesses or government. It doesn't matter where the transaction takes place. Find out ho...
Credit Default Swaps Definition Created: Monday, October 06, 2008 Updated: Thursday, May 17, 2012
Credit default swaps were supposed to protect lenders against debt default. Instead, they provided a false sense of security that helped create the Greek debt crisis, the 2008 financial crisis, and...
End the Fed by Ron Paul Book Review Created: Monday, January 18, 2010 Updated: Thursday, May 17, 2012
End the Fed by Ron Paul Book Review.
Financial Regulations - What Are Federal Banking Regulations - Will Regulations Prevent Another Financial Crisis Created: Monday, June 22, 2009 Updated: Thursday, May 17, 2012
Insufficient Federal regulations for the financial industry have been blamed for the recession. Will increased regulations prevent another financial crisis.
Asset Bubble - Asset Inflation Created: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 Updated: Thursday, May 17, 2012
An asset bubble is when there is an inflation in specific assets, such as real estate or commodities. They may not show up in the overall inflation measurements, so are often ignored by the Federal...
What Is the US Current Account Deficit Created: Thursday, October 12, 2006 Updated: Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The U.S. current account deficit was $473.4 billion in 2011, climbing slightly after falling during the financial crisis. As the deficit rises again, find out why some think it may be the greatest...
Decline of US Dollar - US Dollar Decline Reasons - Decline US Dollar Value Created: Thursday, October 05, 2006 Updated: Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Reasons for the decline in the value of the US dollar, why it won't collapse, and what you can do about it.
Balance of Trade Created: Wednesday, May 16, 2012 Updated: Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The balance of trade measures how much a country exports versus its imports. A trade surplus is usually considered a favorable trade balance, while a deficit is usually considered unfavorable. Find...

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