Economic Tips for Everyone

Get tips to stay ahead of the economy in good times and in downturns, including how to assess reports, interpret data, and identify financial market and policy implications.

Introduction

• The economy around you

1. Basic Concepts

• Academic versus business economics
• Economics and the 80/20 rule
• The only calculus concept you ever need
• Forecast models
• Variables and forecast models
• Correlation is not causation
• Economics data frequency
• Markets are interrelated

2. Common Data Issues

• The economic importance of consistency with currency data
• Percentages and levels in economic data
• Adjusted data
• SAAR
• Time and collection differences in economic data
• Creating good economic data
• Being too certain in your forecasts
• Choosing the right data analysis program

3. Economic Data and Reports

• Economic reports
• Benefits and problems with government data
• Secret sources for economic data info

4. Markets

• Commodities are bought and not sold
• Legal and illegal insider trading
• Technical trading

5. The Dollar and Monetary Policy

• Currency markets and values
• Reserve currencies
• Why dollars?
• What is seigniorage?
• Cryptocurrencies
• Quantiative easing
• Devaluing currency
• Central bank policy and economics strategy
• Government debt
• Debt to GDP
• LIBOR and SOFR

6. The Importance of Housing on Economics

• The importance of housing for the economy
• Delinquencies and foreclosures
• What is a housing crisis?
• How to respond to a housing crisis
• Opportunities in a housing crisis
• After the housing crisis

Conclusion

• Takeaways and more resources