Ready for the Coming Fiscal Storm?

Congress May Toss the Economy over the Fiscal Cliff

Unless the badly divided Congress and President Obama can agree on a slew of confounding budget and tax issues in the run up to a crucial presidential and congressional fall election, a fragile economy will be jolted by a sudden surge in tax rates and sharp reductions in domestic and defense programs at the start of the New Year.

Election 2012: Why Ethnicity is Destiny for the GOP

By Bruce Bartlett

Last week, the Census Bureau got nationwide headlines when it announced that for the first time since Native Americans were the dominant race, more than 50 percent of births in the U.S. are to minorities. It defines a minority as anyone who is not single-race white and is not Hispanic.

Obama Impugns Romney in a Flagrant Abuse of Power

By Ed Morrissey

The Buffett Rule tax increase hawked by President Barack Obama and the Democrats in Congress uses taxation power to target a small group of individuals for confiscation for no better purpose than to fit their political aspirations. The real purpose targets one individual in particular who might keep Obama from winning a second term in office.

The Real Cost of Living: $150,000 Minimum

The divide between the 1 percent and the 99 percent has ignited a national debate about the income gap, especially since Occupy Wall Street protesters descended on lower Manhattan last fall. But how much money does it take to feel financially secure?

Will Germany Swallow Inflation to Save the EU?

By Patrick Smith

The G-8 summit at Camp David, marks a big step for Europe in several different ways. After a couple of weeks of waffling, German Chancellor Angela Merkel now appears ready to deal on a new European economic strategy -- something beyond the one she has shaped and enforced over the past two years.

JPMorgan's $2 Billion Loss: 9 Who Stand to Gain?

By Suzanne McGee

JPMorgan's superstar CEO has been a vocal critic of bank regulations like the Volcker Rule. Now his bank has provided the best evidence yet that those regulations are necessary.

How Clinging to Mommy and Daddy Is Ruining a Generation

Think you're done when your kids reach 18? Think again.

How California Unions Hijacked the Golden State

By Liz Peek

President Obama raked in a hefty $15 million from Hollywood's elite at George Clooney's home last week. The $40,000 per plate star-studded crowd cheered the president's just-in-time conversion to same-sex marriage; are they equally enthused about Mr. Obama's economic prescriptions?

The Income Gap: Is the Distribution of Money Fair?

By Mark Thoma

In recent decades workers haven't received increases in compensation anywhere near the increase in their contribution to national output. That share of income has gone somewhere else, and all signs point to the very top of the income distribution.

The Fiscal Times (TFT) is a digital news, opinion and media service devoted to comprehensive, quality reporting on vital fiscal, budgetary, health care and economic issues. In less than a year since our official launch in March 2011, TFT has become one of the most trusted sources of news, opinion and analysis on fiscal policy and its effects on the country at large, including business and consumers.