WABC John Batchelor Show: Jobs and Dreams

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Talking with the great John Batchelor about economics and America's forgotten workers.

U.S. News: Key Indicators Show a Robust Economy in 2017

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Great news – the U.S. economy should speed up next year.

If all goes according to plan, that will mean better raises for those with jobs, and more opportunities for those looking for work. There are a couple of potential bumps in the road, but so far they don't point to an imminent problem. Read more here.

Forbes: 6 Reasons Trump Should Abolish Corporate Income Tax

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Corporate taxes are back in the news again this time with Apple Inc. appealing the E.U. tax demand for $14 billion (see report from Reuters.) At issue is the rate of corporate income tax Apple pays in Ireland."Apple's Irish tax bill implied a tax rate of 0.005 percent in 2014," according to European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, the Reuters report states.

Whether the actual rate it pays is that low isn't the major issue. What we do know is that big companies, like Apple, do what they can within the law to avoid paying taxes. In some cases, no taxes are paid, which will no doubt outrage many people.

It shouldn't. The bigger outrage is that we have corporate income tax at all.

The truth is that abolishing it should be at the top of the agenda for president-elect Donald Trump. When that happens we'll all be better off. Here are some reasons why:

Photo by Pepi Stojanovski on Unsplash

TheStreet: What a Stronger Dollar Means for Investments: Good, Bad and Ugly

By SIMON CONSTABLE

The greenback is back.

The U.S currency has climbed 4.1% this year against a basket of global currencies, and nearly four times that much against the British pound alone.

U.S stock markets, in the meantime, have made double-digit gains across the board, but that masks individual winners and losers. Coming out ahead are the consumers who drive the U.S. economy and can get more bank for their buck, as well as the import companies that sell to them. Exporters, on the other hand, may see sales suffer as overseas customers find American-made goods more costly. Read more here.

Photo by Vladimir Solomianyi on Unsplash

TheStreet: Who Picked Trump? Mrs. White, in the Kitchen, Sorting Bills: The Economy, Stupid

By SIMON CONSTABLE

What swung the election to Trump?
The way some people are talking, it's resembling a game of Clue.

• Was it Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin with the propaganda? The CIA seems to suggest such.

• Was it Roger Ailes (formerly) at Fox News with an agenda? Outgoing president Obama says so.

• Or was it Dr. Evil in a secret underground lair with a diabolical cat?

You get the idea.
The problem is that there are simpler explanations that don't require a conspiracy. Read more here.

w:Cluedo, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Forbes: Theme For 2016 -- Hypocrisy In Economics

By SIMON CONSTABLE

A standout theme of the year has been hypocrisy when it comes to economics and economic-related matters. Read more here.

Adam Smith, Founder of Economics

Scottish National Gallery , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

U.S. News: What Italy's Big Vote Means for Investors

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Now, more than ever, Italy looks like a big, fat mess for investors.

On Dec. 4, Italian voters roundly rejected constitutional reform. The immediate impact was the resignation of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

He had promised to do so if the result went against him. That means at least one campaign promise has been kept. Still, the move creates other issues. Read more here.

Photo by Emma Fabbri on Unsplash