Thursday items: The WSJ reports the dollar's rise; Woodhill on the auto industry; Pento sees gold emerging as the world reserve asset.

The WSJ reports the dollar is beginning to rise.

At Forbes, Louis Woodhill explains how regulation and dollar volatility has hurt US automakers.

In The WSJ, Sen. Rob Portman (OH) advocates dollar-for-dollar deficit reduction for every debt ceiling increase. 

On The Kudlow Report, David Malpass discusses Italy’s possible default and its effect on world markets:




At Forbes, Bill Frezza discusses the end of Bretton Woods with George Shultz.

From the archive, Jude Wanniski explains why Nixon left gold.

On Forbes, Michael Pento suggests the current crisis calls for a return to gold as the international reserve currency.

In The WSJ, Charles C. Johnson notes President Coolidge beat recession with tax and spending cuts.

But "nothing" seemed to work. With the tax cuts in place, luxuries of the rich quickly became middle-class, as affordable cars and radios rolled off the assembly line. Industrial titans (and Coolidge-backers) like Harvey Firestone and Henry Ford made unheard-of fortunes. Real annual per-capita income rose 37%, to $716 from $522.

The "Coolidge prosperity," denounced as ephemeral after the 1929 crash, was real for those who experienced it. Coolidge knew this well, telling reporters that "If you can base the economic conditions of the people on their appearance, the way they are dressed, [and] the general appearance of prosperity, I should say it was very good . . . I noticed most of the ladies had on silk dresses and I thought I saw a rather general display of silk stockings."

On RCM, John Tamny reviews Bryan Caplan’s Selfish Reasons to Have More Kids.

In IBD, Mark McKinnon reports the President’s allies hope to spur a third party challenge from Ron Paul in order to split anti-Obama votes.

At The Atlantic, Keynesian Jared Bernstein blames supply-side economics and laissez-faire policies for recent economic troubles but omits the dollar from his analysis.

Thursday round up: Reuters on the ECB; Bowyer says don't panic on the dollar; Grant discusses Fed policy.

In The WSJ, Seth Lipsky reports the story of a man convicted of minting his own coins.

Reuters reports the European Central Bank may raise interest rates ahead of the Fed.

At Forbes, Jerry Bowyer counsels worry, not panic, about the dollar.

On The Kudlow Report, James Grant discusses the dollar's decline:



On RCM, Michael Pento argues the Fed is imperiling the entire economy by trying to inflate the housing market.

From RCM, John Tamny advises Japan not to focus on the faulty concept of GDP.

At Forbes, Bill Flax salutes America’s entrepreneurs.

The WSJ excerpts the tax cut portion of Robert Mundell’s speech at last week’s supply-side conference:


At NRO, Larry Kudlow advocates increased oil drilling.

From The American Spectator, Peter Ferrara suggests Keynesian spending doesn’t create wealth.

NPR’s Diane Rehm Show puzzles over rising food prices and smaller food packages.

The NYT reports the smaller package trend too.

Friday items.

On Supply-Side Economics Today, Econoclasts author and historian Brian Domitrovic explains that sound money would limit Wall Street excesses and boost the productive economy.

At The Atlantic, James Fallows reports the Treasury delayed its report on China’s currency status.

CNBC covers Ben Bernanke’s statement on the state of the economy:



At RCM, Michael Pento puzzles over low bond rates despite a falling dollar.

Bloomberg’s Caroline Baum worries about Fed easing.

On The Kudlow Report, David Goldman discusses how to play the falling dollar:



Heritage’s James Sherk argues technology explains the drop in manufacturing jobs.

Insider Online suggests fiscal policy uncertainty is keeping business from hiring.

Investor’s Business Daily compares pro-growth policies in Texas vs. California.