Mike Hewitt

Contributor since: 26 Feb 2010

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• What is a "Dollar"?

  Published 27 May 2007 | viewed 4,299 times

  I have a growing concern regarding paper money. That concern is what defines a "dollar". A dictionary definition describes a dollar as being a basic…

• The US Trade Deficit - Cause for Concern?

  Published 21 May 2007 | viewed 3,403 times

  Can the US trade deficit continue forever? Will there come a time when foreigners will become less likely to hold US denominated assets? Should such…

• Hyperinflation in China, 1937 - 1949

  Published 28 February 2007 | viewed 5,120 times

  Till 1927, China had a free banking system through the interaction of private banks operating in various regions of the country. Privately held banks operated…

• Paper, Rock, ... Gold

  Published 26 February 2007 | viewed 5,588 times

  There are two commonly held views as to why money has value: People are willing to accept it as payment (social convention). The government says…

• US Housing Meltdown

  Published 25 February 2007 | viewed 10,931 times

  Recent data on the real estate market leaves no doubt that the housing bubble is quickly deflating. In 2006 existing home sales declined by 8.4%,…

• Chinese Market Mania

  Published 24 February 2007 | viewed 5,872 times

  With no legal gambling outlets on the mainland, millions of investors are rushing to buy stocks and mutual funds instead. Who needs baccarat tables and…

• Bubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble

  Published 24 February 2007 | viewed 6,553 times

  Where rising consumer goods were the primary result of monetary inflation during the 70's, we have witnessed a rise in the price of assets, which…

• Feeding the Chinese Dragon

  Published 03 December 2006 | viewed 3,649 times

  For the first four months of 2006, new construction expenditure in China was 40 percent higher year on year, driven by increased infrastructure development for…

• Prospecting for Mining Companies

  Published 14 November 2006 | viewed 3,819 times

  Investing in mining companies is a very risky yet potentially rewarding endeavour as few properties that are explored ultimately develop into productive mining operations. Mines…

• The Changing Face of the US Dollar?

  Published 12 November 2006 | viewed 6,293 times

  As the US dollar has made its journey from a currency being backed up by a tangible asset to a fiat currency backed up by…

• How is Money Created?

  Published 12 November 2006 | viewed 12,058 times

  The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago used to publish a pamphlet entitled Modern Money Mechanics, which explains M1, M2, and M3. It is a truly…

• How Big is the US National Debt?

  Published 08 November 2006 | viewed 7,229 times

  At the time of writing this article, the current US national debt stands at $8.595 trillion. This is a number that we often hear but…