Links 23 January 2014

Global Macro / Markets:

• The time for official e-money is NOW! – Financial Times
• What is the Best Asset Class in 2014 Going to Be? – The Big Picture
• The incredible gold-interest rate correlation – Market Watch

North America:

• $2 Billion Deal in Works for Puerto Rico – New York Times
• States Cutting Weeks of Aid to the Jobless – New York Times
• Eichengreen sees 300,000 jobs added a month in ’14 – Market Watch
• How Dodd-Frank Is Killing the Housing Recovery – breitbart.com
• To Help the Unemployed, Janet Yellen Should Ignore the Unemployment Rate – Slate
• National Economic Indicators – Federal Reserve

Europe:

• Statement by Vice President Rehn on Spain – European Union
• Top Greek court reverses some troika-mandated wage cuts – Reuters
• ECB to maintain its easy-money policies – Market Watch
• ’Burnt out’ EU to curb climate goals – BBC

Asia:

• Shinzo Abe on WW1 parallels, economics and women at work – Financial Times
• Goldman’s Matsui Turns Abe to Womenomics for Japan Growth – Bloomberg
• BBC reporter ’harassed’ at China trial – BBC
• Guardian blocked in China after story about leadership’s offshore wealth – The Guardian
• Chinese Smog Reaches All the Way to Los Angeles – Bloomberg

Local:

• CBD office vacancy hits 17-year high – The AFR
• Scale of drug money laundering is “overwhelming” – The AFR
• Parental leave scheme “flexible”, says Government – The AFR
• ASIC cracks down on dodgy mortgage brokers – The AFR
• Sell property assets business tells government – The AFR
• Weatherill woes rise as Budget deficit tops $1 billion – The AFR
• Record low rates drive debts to near pre-GFC levels – The AFR
• State leads charge to high living cost – The Age
• Victoria may host new iron ore mine – The Age
• ANZ warns of super real estate risk – The Age
• RBA has to stay stoic on rates – The Age
• Abbott tells Davos: Let business lead – The Australian
• Hopes lift for Japan trade deal – The Australian
• Confidence climbs among mid-sized firms – The Australian
• Productivity can mitigate living costs – The Australian
• Build more houses: negative gearing isn’t the problem – The Australian
• Miners perform a cost-stripping tease – Business Spectator
• Keep calm Stevens, and carry on – Business Spectator

Other:

• Who mattered—and who didn’t—in the last 25 years? – CNBC
• We Need to Stop This Banker Bonus Madness – New York Times
• How Inequality Kills Innovation – Slate
• The Minimum Wage Means Less Hiring – Forbes
• A Chart Of Interest Rates Going Back To 3000 BC – Business Insider