News: 2013-12-28
North America
Jan Hatzius Top Questions For 2014 – Business Insider
Nov. home sales fall to a 5-year low in Vegas | 2013-12-27 | HousingWire
” Waning home affordability, constrained supply and a decline in investor activity took most of the blame for interrupting investors’ reign. Inquiring investors found the median sale price dipping a bit from October to November, but the median price still hovered 26% above year ago levels, leaving buyers with less attractive pricing when compared to the deep discounts available after the housing downturn.”
Discounts, promotions spur sales in U.S. holiday season | Reuters
Why Small Businesses Aren’t Hiring… and How to Change That – Jeff Stibel – Harvard Business Review
The conclusion here that small businesses should get loan subsidies from government is contentious.
Appointing Political Friends to Be Ambassadors – NYTimes.com
The Presidential Hack List: Ranking Barack Obama’s favorite columnists – Salon.com
Europe
Défice nos 5,9% até setembro – Economia – DN
The Portuguese deficit for the first three quarters was 5.9%. The Maastricht goal for a full four quarters is 3%. So Portugal is a long way from that goal.
Japan
Japan wages halt 17-month decline – FT.com
wage growth is an important part of getting Abenomics to succeed.
U.S. base on Japan’s Okinawa allowed to move after 17-year deadlock – CNN.com
New Nationalist Government of Japan Stokes Tensions with China – SPIEGEL ONLINE
An analysis from January that focuses on Abe’s nationalist tendencies
Japan’s Not-Quite-So-Nationalist Leader | TIME.com
This article is from January and it suggests that Abe was governing in a less nationalistic fashion. I think this is no longer true.
Tepco’s state-backed bailout fund warms to new restart-based rehab plan | The Japan Times
Technology
This is how Android phones get updated (infographic) — Tech News and Analysis
This is a good reason to favor the iPhone though there are many pluses to Android.
Asia’s Richest Man Invests In BitPay | TechCrunch
Indian feds raid Bitcoin exchange as other traders suspend service | The Verge
Twitter Reverses Rally as Shares Dive – WSJ.com
New York City moves closer to pay-by-phone parking | The Verge
Courts split over NSA phone records: New ruling says spy program is legal — Tech News and Analysis
Obama’s NSA Phone Spying Reforms Might Make Things Worse | Threat Level | Wired.com
Target Says Encrypted PIN Data Taken in Breach – WSJ.com
Facebook ‘dead and buried to teens’, research finds | Technology | theguardian.com
Most Popular Chrome Extensions and Posts of 2013
How to Stop Google+ from Taking Over All of Your Google Apps
Elsewhere
The Weirdest New Year’s Eve Traditions From Around The World
Money, fiscal policy, and interest rates: A critique of Modern Monetary Theory – Thomas Palley
Democracy, Redistribution, and Inequality | The Big Picture
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