Economy gets traction as election issue

"Gets traction"? In my opinion, the economy is the only real election issue, ever. When times are good, people interpret all kinds of news as...good. When people's incomes have been stable for years in the face of rising costs, they get cranky:

Statistics indicate times are good, with low unemployment and high productivity. But many voters say rising prices cut into their income.

... "I keep listening to our president, who keeps saying the economy is good, and I don't know what he's talking about," said Vallejo, 63, alone all day in his ...

Link: Economy gets traction as election issue

How Has Korea Become Internet Powerhouse?

This is a good question...but I suspect that it comes down ultimately to economics, not "the culture and emotion of the Korean people." This strikes me as a ludicrous explanation that verges on no explanation at all:

The rapid increase in the number of users can be attributed to the dramatic jump in the number of computers in homes and a trend toward computer education.
But the primary reason why the PC communication culture flourished is that it matched the culture and emotion of the Korean people and their need to communicate with one another.
This can be seen by the PC communication culture of clubs and boards.
Boards, a forum to discuss and exchange information, developed into the two main models of Korean Internet services: knowledge search and reply culture.
In addition, clubs, which brought together people with similar hobbies, were the beginning of Internet communities such as cafes, as they called here.

Link: The Korea Times: How Has Korea Become Internet Powerhouse?

Is high-flying economy heading for turbulence?

Thought this looked pretty cool:

By Wayne Arnold International Herald Tribune. SINGAPORE Is the global economy about to blow up with a bang, or stall with a whimper? ...

Link: Is high-flying economy heading for turbulence?

What's Really Propping Up The Economy

Thought this looked pretty cool:

... None. If you really want to understand what makes the US economy tick these days, don't go to Silicon Valley, Wall Street, or Washington. ...

Link: What's Really Propping Up The Economy

Economy resilient after the attacks -- but now?

Thought this looked pretty cool:

By RICH MILLER and MATTHEW BENJAMIN. The terrorist strikes of Sept. 11, 2001, changed the US economy in ways that no one expected five years ago. ...

Link: Economy resilient after the attacks -- but now?

Cuba Economy Grew 12.5% in First Half, Minister Says (Update1)

Thought this looked pretty cool:

Sept. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Cuba's economy grew 12.5 percent in the first half of 2006, boosted by a surge in the construction, transport and services industries ...

Link: Cuba Economy Grew 12.5% in First Half, Minister Says (Update1)

UN:Zambian economy should grow 8 percent to meet MDGs

Why does Zambia, with so much room to grow, and so many natural resources, have growth that is comparable to that of the United States (i.e., piss poor)? Because of poor infrastructure. How can we invest in these countries and force them to use the money for productive development?

United Nations resident coordinator Aeneas Chuma said that Zambia's annual economic growth should be at least 8 percent if the country is to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. Last year, Zambia's economy grew by about 5.1 percent, which is said to be too low to significantly reduce the country's over 70 percent poverty levels.

Link: UN:Zambian economy should grow 8 percent to meet MDGs

Forbes says global economy could face turbulence ahead

I'm concerned that I might be guilty exactly as charged:

The global economy could face short-term turbulence if the US and its allies take action against Iran over its controversial nuclear program, but it should be resilient enough to withstand the shocks, US publisher Steve Forbes said yesterday.
'Don't underestimate the fundamental strengths [of the economy] ... they will come to the fore again despite any short-term dramatic repercussions from what happens in the Middle East,' he told delegates at the annual Forbes CEO conference here.

I'm underestimating the fundamental strengths of the economy! I think that a long-term downturn is inevitable if we start fighting with Iran. Let's hope that doesn't happen.

Link: Taipei Times - archives