The Oil Drum

134 comments on DrumBeat: February 11, 2008

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eric blair on February 11, 2008 - 9:00am

On the subject of 'honest business' and such between nation states and business:
http://www.cgdev.org/content/publications/detail/15197

For some U.S. companies, "business as usual" has included setting up complicated partnerships in which prominent U.S., European, and Japanese investors give equity stakes in investments to family members and business associates of leaders in developing countries in order to obtain favorable treatment. Several of the companies, after vetting the partnership arrangements with independent counsel and auditing firms, informed the U.S. Ex-Im Bank, OPIC, and the SEC about the details, and encountered no objections.

The Economics and Psychology of Personality Traits
http://ftp.iza.org/dp3333.pdf
http://www.iza.org/index_html?lang=en&mainframe=http%3A//www.iza.org/en/...

This paper explores the interface between personality psychology and economics. We examine the predictive power of personality and the stability of personality traits over the life cycle. We develop simple analytical frameworks for interpreting the evidence in personality psychology and suggest promising avenues for future research.

From the Project for Defense Alternatives
http://www.comw.org/pda/fulltext/0802bm43.pdf

The United States is entering a period of policy transition, but there is a dearth of new thinking regarding security policy. The debate remains paralyzed by 9/11 and mesmerized by military primacy. Progress depends on rethinking the role of force.

Ag in Canada:
http://www.statcan.ca:80/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=95-631-XWE

USDA Ag report
http://www.usda.gov/oce/commodity/wasde/#2008-2-8

The World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report provides USDA's comprehensive forecasts of supply and demand for major U.S. and global crops and U.S. livestock.

And Finally - thoughts on the "rebate check" from the IRS for you to spend.
http://www.urbansurvival.com/nl20080209.htm

My in the Saturday post, was (and is) that what was sold to us taxpayers as a rebate is nothing of the sort. It is a tax credit against 2008 taxes. In other words, if you would owe $15,000 for the year, and you got an $800 "credit", then your adjusted tax bill less credit would be $14,200.

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mcgowanmc on February 11, 2008 - 9:10am

They did the same with the last "rebate".

Do not spend that money, invest it, and you'll lose the minimum possible next year.

Or why not just give $100 million to every American?

All our problems would be solved.

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wkwillis on February 11, 2008 - 10:35pm

Hey, look on the bright side. You get the advance during the Bush regime but only have to pay it back during the Obama regime. By the time Bush leaves office you will probably will be able to pay the 800 dollars back by rummaging through the return slots of a dozen vending machines.

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elwoodelmore on February 12, 2008 - 7:03am

it can be called an advanced rebate and it will be a rebate for most. it its not a rebate for people who don't pay taxes. people with children will get a rebate for each child, but children won't pay taxes. people with children will pay less taxes (welfare for reproduction).
low income seniors and disabled veterans will get a check whether they pay taxes or not.
if the objective is to stimulate comsumer spending, why not call it by its name: consumer welfare.

in summary, it's not a not-rebate because of the timing, it's a not-rebate because of who will be getting the checks.