Tag

Economic Research

All articles tagged with #economic research

economy1 year ago

Hawaii Tops U.S. for Costly Living and Housing

Hawaii has been identified as the U.S. state with the highest cost of living, surpassing traditionally expensive states like California and New York. This is attributed to Hawaii's high home prices and its remote location, which increases the cost of importing goods and services. The ranking, based on data from The Council for Community and Economic Research, highlights that the most expensive states are generally located on the West and Northeast coasts.

economics1 year ago

"Federal Reserve Vice Chair Jefferson Advocates Prolonged High Rates Amid Uncertainty"

Vice Chair Jefferson discussed the evolution of economic thinking on monetary policymaking in the presence of uncertainty, highlighting historical examples and lessons learned. He emphasized the importance of understanding uncertainty and its implications for monetary policy decisions, particularly during crisis periods. Reflecting on the current situation, he noted progress in lowering inflation but stressed the need for sustained efforts to restore 2 percent inflation. Jefferson concluded by emphasizing the importance of comprehending the drivers of uncertainty and the role of monetary policy in mitigating its negative impact.

finance-and-business2 years ago

"2024 Commercial Real Estate Crisis: Soaring Defaults and Economic Risks"

A National Bureau of Economic Research paper and USC Finance Professor Erica Jiang warn of potential Great Depression-era levels of loan defaults in the commercial real estate sector if high interest rates persist. With 15% of commercial loans currently underwater and 45% of office loans facing distress due to declining property values and cash flows, the outlook for defaults is grim. The difficulty in refinancing these loans, especially with a significant number of them maturing in the near future, could lead to a spike in maturity defaults, posing a significant risk to the financial stability of the commercial real estate market.

finance2 years ago

Fed's Williams: Low Interest Rates Still Prevail Despite Pandemic

New research from the Federal Reserve suggests that the pre-pandemic "normal" level of interest rates may not be achievable in the current economic environment. The study argues that structural changes in the economy, such as aging demographics and slower productivity growth, may have lowered the neutral interest rate. This could have implications for the Fed's monetary policy and its ability to respond to future economic shocks.