Thursday, July 16, 2009

1H-2009 saw 1.5 million homes start the foreclosure process

According to CNN, during the first half of 2009 1.5 million homes began the trek down the foreclosure process---representing 1 in every 89 households.

CNN which used data provided by realtyTrac broke down the data to show the 10 states where the most mortgage foreclosure activity is taking place. Here's the data:
  1. Nevada 1 in every 16 houses in foreclosure
  2. Arizona 1 in every 30
  3. Florida 1 in every 33
  4. California 1 in 34 houses
  5. Utah 1 in 69
  6. Georgia 1 in 70
  7. Michigan 1 in 74
  8. Illinois 1 in 76
  9. Idaho 1 in 79
  10. Colorado 1 in 80
  11. Ohio 1 in every 86

Saturday, July 11, 2009

The case for "Do-Nothing"

Jeffrey Miron a senior lecturer at Harvard University's Economics Department puts forth the case of "doing nothing" in the bank bail-outs and tactfully shows how the bailouts to date are an enefficient redistribution of capital that penalizes the prudent and encourages excessive risk taking.