Forbes: Why The Economics Of Scottish Independence Don't Make Sense

By SIMON CONSTABLE

New demands for another referendum on Scottish independence make some sense politically. For the Scottish economy, not so much. Read more here.

Forbes: Where Are The Tax Cuts, Mr. President?

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Since taking office a few weeks ago Donald Trump has done some good things for the economy, such as lifting the burdensome regulatory apparatus imposed by the previous administration.

What's lacking is major tax reform. Here's why it needs to go to the top of the agenda right now. It should stay there until completed. Here's why:

Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, 

CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

U.S. News: Nigeria Stocks Are a Risky Investment

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Nigeria's economy is still a mess. Unfortunately, it may be a while before things right themselves.
Like many energy-rich countries, Nigeria's economy got hit hard when oil prices plunged to $26 a barrel in February last year. To put the size of the move in perspective, oil was trading at more than $100 in mid-2014.

Unfortunately, the rebound in crude prices hasn't helped Nigeria much – the list of problems for the country's economy is so long it is hard to know where to start. Read more here.

Forbes: Why China's Leaders Should Start Freaking Over Pork Prices

By SIMON CONSTABLE

China's leaders should feel uneasy right now. The reason comes down to the economics of food.

The price of pork jumped recently in the communist country, up 7.1% in January, according to a report from Reuters. While that may not seem like a reason to worry, those Chinese party officials who understand what was really behind the 1989 Tiananmen Square uprising will likely start shifting in their seats nervously. Read more here.

U.S. News: Embrace Anxiety and Invest in Stocks

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Some people still aren't getting the message when it comes to saving for retirement.

They are avoiding the stock market like it's the plague. Sure, stocks can go down as well as up and that might make you nervous. But now is the time to get over the anxiety.

Data shows that on average people know that stocks are a better investment over long periods of time. But averages hide the behavior of some people that is detrimental to long-term investing. Read more here.

WSJ: What to Do When Your ETF Shuts Down

By SIMON CONSTABLE

The exchange-traded-fund industry is quickly becoming a dog-eat-dog world.

While ETFs have enjoyed explosive growth over the past decade, a record number of them—127—closed up shop last year, and liquidations are showing no sign of slowing.

Here is a look at what is fueling the closure trend and what happens to investors when the plug gets pulled on an ETF.

WSJ: What Is the Shadow Economy and Why Does It Matter?

By SIMON CONSTABLE

The shadow economy is perhaps best described by the activities of those operating in it: work done for cash, where taxes aren’t paid, and regulations aren’t strictly followed.

Most of the businesses operating in the shadow economy aren’t what most people would think of as criminal enterprises, says Cristina Terra, professor of economics at Essec Business School in France, and author of the book “Principles of International Finance and Open Economy Macroeconomics.”

Read more here.