Evolving technologies that allow economists to gather new types of data and to manipulate millions of data points are just one factor among several that are likely to transform the field in coming years.

In a slow-growing world that is short on aggregate demand, Germany's trade surplus is a problem.

The Fed's independence is critical.

In the past, Federal Reserve chairmen have not generally gone directly to the public.

I never dreamed I'd be a spokesman for anything. But Pac Bell just asked me. The money was OK; the scripts were fun because I had to do in 30 seconds what it takes a whole feature to do and because the dysfunctional family of agents, managers and lawyers who represent me said it was cool.

A lot of us who are creative and have all these great ideas just don't have the money to do it.

To spend more money, you have to have more money, but time is fixed and we all have the same amount to spare. How we choose to spend it can make a significant difference on the impact we have in our careers or in the world.

Too many people, because they were white and poor, black and rich, or just plain busy with something other than politics, have felt they had no voice in our government.