Predators and scavengers play vital roles in healthy ecosystems by culling weak individuals. But the process can be pretty repulsive to watch at times. Similarly, private equity firms and corporate raiders can play vital roles in market economies by reorganizing…
Are gaps between the rich and poor necessary for growth?
At a time when there’s much talk about the 99 percent versus the 1 percent, it’s worth noting that many economists believe income inequality is not only a good thing but also necessary for strong and sustained economic growth. Before…
Silver’s value is far from a sure thing
Silver or gold can serve as a hedge against inflation, but be wary if anyone tells you they are sure-fire investments. The problem is that anything, whether bread, a haircut or a house, has value only because it meets peoples’…
Get ready for another bumpy ride in 2012
A year ago, I said that “2011 may be an exciting year but probably not a comfortable one.” Budget problems in Europe, here in Minnesota and in Washington, D.C., bore that out, although things might have been much worse. I…