The Economy Test

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U.S. Economy Political Testing Results

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Economy IQ Test Summary - Subtopics include the stock market; The Federal Reserve; Fundamental economic theories; Relevant U.S. economic history; International trade, Present economic developments.

Economy Novice IQ Test - Our U.S. Economy Novice Political IQ Test is a moderately difficult 15 question multiple-choice quiz, designed to simultaneously test, inform and engage the casual user. Most test-takers will find this quiz to be somewhat challenging. It features an ample 25 minute time limit and a randomly compiled question set drawn from both our easy and moderate difficulty US Economy question databases.

Economy Advanced IQ Test - Our U.S. Economy Advanced Political IQ Test is a very challenging 20 question multiple-choice quiz. It is designed to truly test the limits of the test-takers relevant knowledge and informedness on the subject. Even the most hardcore political pundits will be challenged. It features a leisurely 35 minute time limit and a randomly compiled question set drawn from both our moderate and challenging difficulty US Economy question databases.

Interesting U.S. Economy Links

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Bureau of Economic Analysis - Visit the BEA's website for the latest statistics and figures on economic indicators such as the GDP, corporate profits, personal income, international trade and domestic commerce.

TreasuryDirect.gov - Curious what the current figure is for the outstanding U.S. national debt? Probably too discouraged to check, but this site breaks it down to the penny.

NPR - For up-to-date podcasts, internet radio, and news articles on business and finance related topics.

U.S. Stock Markets - The latest market numbers.

Virtual Stock Exchange - The Virtual Stock Exchange allows you to create and track mock portfolios - useful training for those interested in investing.

Wikipedia Entry: "U.S. Economy" - A solid primer on the U.S. Economy.

A Political Economy, Commentary and Analysis

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Can We Trust Google? A Review of American Anti-Trust Law

(This article is both an examination of the intended role of American Antitrust law and the case study of Google as possibly in violation of such law. Part I will focus on Google, Part II will look at the progression of Anti-Trust Law in the U.S.)

Part I: More About Google

In September of 1998, Google Inc. was created.

At its beginning, Google was nothing more than a quaint search alternative to the likes of Yahoo as well as many other search engines now long forgotten. Today, barely more than a decade later, Google has become a giant, employing over 20,000 personnel and generating more than $20 billion annually in advertising revenue. But don’t let the title of this article mislead you, by no means does Google possess a classic monopoly in the online advertising market. Google currently competes primarily with Yahoo, Microsoft and AOL in the e-advertising industry, but as long as Google Search continues to host the majority of internet search queries worldwide Google stands to remain as the dominant party in the growing online advertising game - a fact not remiss with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

GM’s Collapse: A Story of Prosperity, Decline and Defeat

Michigan is sad. I hear about it everyday from the family and friends I have who still live there. “It’s a sad day for Michigan,” my mother says nearly every time she calls. “But the weather is nice today,” she concedes. Michigan is sad, as is the country, after GM’s collapse. Indeed, we should not downplay the significance of GM’s apparently ineluctable filing of Chapter 11 bankruptcy on 1 June 2009 - more than a century after GM’s founding on 27 September 1908. It comes as an unsurprising but hard-to-swallow finale to a decades-long decline in market share and profits. Unfortunately, the predictability of GM’s demise, or a comprehensive understanding of why it occurred, does little to soften the blows endured by manufacturers, auto workers and Americans in general as a result of GM’s fall and ultimate collapse.

Just what does this mean for the U.S. economy, already saddled with the collapse of Lehman Brothers and burgeoning government debts? The negative affect of the ensuing layoffs will take time to reveal itself as the loss of industry spreads from its epicenter in Detroit, but when put in the context of the entire U.S. industry sector certain indicators suggest that the actual impact of the GM collapse may not be commensurate with its symbolic impact as a face of industry.

New Band-aids Replacing the Old: The Real Effect of Federal Bailout Money on Education

The federal bailout allocated $150 billion for education – a 2-year commitment that should have doubled the current funding for local schools. While it would certainly be too early to notice significant gains in education, as new hirings and new investments would likely occur this summer, one might expect to see, at the very least, a static picture in light of the recent funding boost. But we see the opposite: schools are in a frenzy to keep their doors open, teachers are losing their jobs, and special projects are being eliminated.

So why, then, does the education system seem anything but static if there is so much money being graciously pumped into the system by the federal government? Why have California, New York, Pennsylvania, and Arizona announced profound decreases in education spending, despite receiving education funding relief from the bailout? Many states are following suit. In the midst of the boldest federal commitment to education since World War II, educators are running for the hills instead of celebrating.

A Fit, Start or Shoot? Another Pundit’s Reading of the Latest Economic Tea Leaves

The latest interpretation of the usual economic indicators by the economic big wigs suggest conflicting trends in the health of the world’s economy. Fed Chair Ben Bernanke, in his May 5th testimony before the Joint Economic Committee, cryptically described the recent economic activity as a series of “fits and starts” and “green shoots,” providing little confidence in future growth and even less confidence in Bernanke’s understanding of the mercurial conditions pervading the economy. While optimism among economic pundits rose with last week’s 1.7 percent increase in the Dow Jones, and 1.3 percent increase in the Standard and Poor’s 500, most signs of sustainable growth continue to lag.

The Economist credits the stock market bursts to yet another false promise. According to the magazine, the newest increases represent the 5th time since the recession started that the economy has shown signs of life; in each case the apparent rally has failed to produce lasting strides toward recovery.

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