Is the Recovery of the Baltic Economies a "Success Story for Austerity"? Lessons for US Fiscal Policy

While EU members along the shores of the Mediterranean struggle with a seemingly endless slump, others who dip their toes in the Baltic are making a strong comeback. As the following chart shows, real GDP growth in the Baltic 3—Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—has recently run well above the euro area average. Meanwhile, the Med 4—Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal—continue their downward trajectories. Official forecasts call for their economies to bottom out in 2014, but predictions have been wrong before.



Some readers might object that this chart is misleading, since, to facilitate comparison, it shows output in all of the economies on a scale with 2004 equal to 100. Isn’t it simply the case that the Baltic countries are much poorer, and it is easier to grow from a low base? Besides, what is there to brag about when real GDP in the Baltic 3 hasn’t even gotten back to its pre-crisis peak? >>>Read more

What Should We Do About China's and Japan's Currency Manipulation?

Recently a bi-partisan group of 60 U.S. Senators made headlines with a letter to Treasury Secretary Jack Lew. The letter urged him to add a clause to the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement prohibiting currency manipulation. The Senators cited a Peterson Institute study that claimed currency manipulation had cost the United States 5 million jobs. Subsequent discussion of the issue focused on China and Japan as the biggest manipulators. How big is the threat? What should we do about it?

China’s traditional currency manipulation

There is no doubt that China is a currency manipulator in the traditional sense that it treats its exchange rate as an explicit goal of economic policy. It shares this distinction with other countries whose currency regimes are of the “fixed” or “managed float” varieties. We could quibble about which of these categories China belongs to. Its currency regime is less rigidly fixed than, say, the currency boards of Bulgaria and Hong Kong, but less flexible than the managed float of, say, Russia. Either way, as the following map shows, currency manipulators—the light green and blue countries—are clearly in the majority among the world’s economies.



What is at issue, then, is not whether China is a currency manipulator, but rather, how effective its manipulation is and whether and how that manipulation poses a threat to the United States. Over the past three years, I have written a series of posts [1] [2] [3] arguing that China’s currency manipulation has not been highly effective and that the harm done to the United States is often exaggerated. >>>Read more

How to Get Bad Credit Auto Loan Refinancing

Usually people with a bad credit record find it difficult to get an auto loan. Most loan providers are reluctant to release a huge amount to people with poor credit rating. In addition, automobile loans for applicants with bad credit will have much higher interest rates compared to normal auto loan interest rates. This is due to the risk of repayment by people with bad credit is much higher.
Nowadays, demand for the credit card and loan is on the rise. The money lenders start to opt for the credit scoring which is based on the mathematical algorithm. This algorithm is designed to assess the credit worthiness of applicant. This credit rating is much effective tool to measure the level of the risk to approve the loan application compared to previous criteria.
If you have higher the credit rating, the more chances you will get the loan application successful. There are some factors like delay in payment, unpaid, etc will certainly deteriorate your credit ratings. There are major three agencies like Experian, Equifax and TransUnion which provide the credit ratings services for you. People with poor credit are still possible to repair their bad credit records. First of all he should take time to review his credit reports which he can get it from reporting agencies as mentioned above. He should examine whether there is any mistake in the credit report. He must check properly to find out any pending payment which is not reported earlier.
If you want to apply for the automobile refinancing, you should select the suitable auto car loan at lower interest. The bad credit auto loan is beneficial to those who have poor credit ratings. Before applying for the loan, applicants should investigate whether the company offers the good interest rates or not. Online bad credit loan service is the best option to apply for your loan refinancing.
Before signing the loan contract, people should go through the whole agreement to avoid any misunderstanding. Furthermore, to apply for the new auto car loan, he must estimate the value of the car also. There is minimum car value required by each loan lenders. The car value should be at least worth that specified value.
Poor credit auto car loan is now reachable easily online. Many loan companies nowadays understand that more and more people do not have perfect credit ratings. Many people actually do not know this bad credit auto loan is actually very popular among car lenders nowadays.
With little understanding of bad credit auto loan, it is possible for you to own a car now. Nowadays, you can find out much lower interest rate auto car loans online compared to you get the bad credit loan from the market. Most of the car loan online lenders will provide application details to let the people with poor credit record also can get the loan successfully.
With automobile refinancing, you can also take opportunity to improve your credit ratings. The secret is choosing the cheapest loan repayment that you can afford and carefully making repayment to the auto loan timely.
In conclusion, auto loan refinancing not only provides you a chance to own your dream car but also giving you a chance to repair your credit records and save more money from higher interest rate you are having. Auto loan refinancing is also much easier to apply for compared to other types of loan. If you are familiar with debt consolidation strategy, this is another good option for your to improve your overall financial status.

Bad Credit Auto Loan: Keeping Bad Credit History Aside

Bad credit auto loan is in style since decade and many lenders offer a range of cheap yet competitive secured and unsecured loans. With an estimated one in six people having a terrible credit history in the UK, lenders have specially developed a loan package for people of such background. Bad credit auto loan is gaining popularity nowadays because it provides solution for those having dubious credit record.
If your credit record is less than perfect then getting a loan from high street lender can be difficult. A bad credit history can result from defaults on payment, bankruptcy, previous mortgage arrears, county court judgements (CCJ) or through difficult financial situation caused by redundancy or breakdown of a relationship. Bad credit auto loan [http://www.bad-credit-auto-loan.co.uk] can be obtained despite your horrible credit scores.
Bad credit auto loan can be secured and unsecured loans. A secured bad credit auto loan is secured against your property by offering collateral. The advantage of bad credit auto loan is that borrowers have to pay less interest rate as compared to unsecured bad credit auto loan interest rates. Payment duration ranges from five years to thirty years. So, it is convenient for the borrowers to pay off the loan early.
Unsecured bad credit auto loan is not secured against any property. Interest rates of bad credit auto loan are on higher side. Loan process is fast and simple. Since bad credit auto loan is a short term loan, it is ideal for car financing.
However, choice is yours, whether you borrow secured bad credit auto loan or unsecured bad credit auto loan, the motto is to get the best deal.

The author is a business writer specializing in finance and credit products and has written authoritative articles on the finance industry. He has done his masters in Business Administration and is currently assisting E-secured-Loans as a finance specialist.

As We Move into Budget Chaos, Just How Bad is our Fiscal Policy?

Those of us who live in the United States woke Tuesday morning to a “partial government shutdown.” Partial means, roughly speaking, that air traffic controllers go to work but park rangers do not. The shutdown is the result of the failure of Congress to pass a budget—or in lieu of a budget, a continuing resolution—in time for the October 1 start of the 2014 fiscal year.

Even if the shutdown is resolved in the next few days, another round of chaos looms at mid-month, when Congress must authorize an increase in the debt ceiling in order for the government to continue making interest and principal payments on debts that the same Congress previously authorized the government to accumulate.

Many conservative Republicans say that measures like government shutdowns and debt-ceiling freezes are necessary because taxation and government spending are out of control and public debt is rapidly  becoming unsustainable. How much truth is there to those charges? Just how bad, really, is U.S. fiscal policy, and what should be done to fix it? >>>Read more

No Down Payment Auto Loans – The Perfect Solution for buying a Car without Down Payment

Name: Jim Shelton
Age: 32 Years
Income: $1500 per month
Goal: Car Financing at Affordable Rates
Problem: No Money to make Down Payment

Now, Jim’s problem is not an uncommon one. Many car buyers are troubled by the thought of putting money down. If you are one of them, this article can be your savior. Stop getting distressed by down payment. You can avoid the terrible down payment amount and that too, without making any exorbitant payment towards interest.

Solution: No Down Payment Auto Loans

No down payment auto loans are ideal for Jim or any other car buyer who wants to avoid the trouble of making a huge down payment.

Even though down payment is necessary for any car purchase, making cash down payment means doing away with your savings. And in today’s economy, giving away savings is like giving away your financial security. Also, it is not necessary that every car buyer has a car to trade-in or gets rebates to make down payment. Understanding this, lenders have brought a solution in the name of No Down Payment Auto Loans.

What are the Benefits of No Down Payment Auto Loans Program?

1. Car Buying possible for Everyone
2. No need to part with your Savings
3. Low Rates due to Intense Competition
4. No Down Alternative available on New Cars as well as Used Cars
5. Part-Time Income is acceptable
6. Minimal Paperwork
7. Credit Score is not the only Factor considered.

What are the Requirements for getting approval on No Down Payment Auto Loans?

Don’t fall prey to lenders who say that anyone can qualify for their affordable car financing options. It is not true. Such websites may sell your data to third parties. So, stay away from them.

There will always be a few requirements which you need to fulfill in order to get no down payment auto loans option. Lenders are taking a risk by providing car financing. So, they need to know your financial condition before taking any decision. It is for this reason that lenders require your financial information.

To get approved for 0 down car loans, you should have:
1. Age Proof – You must be at least 18 years old
2. Valid SSN
3. Regular Income – Most Auto Financing Companies don’t consider SSI
4. Stable Employment
5. No Repossession or Bankruptcy in recent past.

Now, Jim can get no down payment option easily. It is because his profile satisfies the requirements for getting approval. If you have a stable income and job, you can get no down payment auto loans. Do not worry about your credit history. Lenders know that many car buyers have a troubled credit history because of 2008 recession. And, that’s why; they don’t give credit ratings utmost importance.

So, don’t take any tension now. Apply now for no down payment auto financing and get ready to drive your new car!

All the best!

How to Get Bad Credit Auto Loans

Preparing Yourself for an Auto Loan with Bad Credit Ratings
Many individuals have poor or bad credit ratings due to various reasons. And when such individuals try to avail their car loans, getting the required credit turns out to be difficult. It is quite common for such individuals to apply for car financing and end up with rejected car loan applications. The common reason being improper preparation of the application, or applying for the wrong kind of auto loan at the wrong time. Due to the ongoing economic recession, many of the moneylenders have started offering credit facility to borrowers having low FICO score and poor credit history in the form of bad credit auto loans, simply because they need to sell their loan products and earn some money in the form of interest. Having stringent measures would mean less business and lesser earnings, because there is no way the bulk of the market applicant would satisfy the harsh requirements. So what is the way out for the person if he or she wants to avail the auto financing facility, and has bad credit ratings? The following pointers can help you in deciding how to go about the problem.
Special Auto Finance Facilities for Individuals Having a Bad or Poor Credit History
Traditional loan providers need good or excellent credit ratings and a high FICO score before they provide their credit. They are generally not inclined to sponsor car financing if the applicant has a history of loan defaults or late monthly payments. Banks and credit lending institutions are typically such type of orthodox credit firm, including some of the car manufacturer like Ford Motor Credit and Toyota Motor Credit who offer car credit options. However, there are several institute and moneylenders who prefer to do business by providing loans and credit facilities for individuals having bad and poor credit ratings. The intention is to cater to the untapped potential of the loan market consisting of individuals who do not quality for traditional auto loans. The primary reason for undertaking the venture is many individuals do not qualify for the loans, and satisfying their requirements would mean earning a substantial chunk of money in the form of interest from such individuals. They are specialized moneylenders who have enough experience to know when to take the risks, and in what manner.
The best way to search for such bad credit auto financing institutes and loan providers is to browse online on the net. Almost all credit providers advertise their company or firm through portals, and these websites provide all relevant information related to the loan products offered by them. Variables such as the rate of interest, tenure, turnaround time, monthly installment schemes, and loan options are usually explained on the sites. In addition, majority of the sites also provide online auto loan calculators, which can prove to be very helpful in calculating the combinations of different interest rates and loan tenures. It becomes easy to work out what kind of repayment plan turns out to be most beneficial to you. Another important issue that needs to be worked out is the negotiation part. Car buyers negotiate with loan providers to get the most affordable deal. So if you are not that good at negotiations, it is recommended you seek the services of professional negotiators or credit negotiation service providers who can argue on your behalf, and help you get cost effective deals. Another important benefit of such services is that the company and firm experts help in working out your auto loan application, so your application gets prepared in an organized and professional way, thus increasing your chances of availing your auto finance.
Qualifying for a Bad or Poor Credit Auto Loan
One needs to qualify if one decides to apply for an auto loan for bad credit. Majority of the applications get rejected because of improper or incorrect submission of the forms. Insufficient or incorrect details, along with missing documentation such as credit status reports, bank statements, and even employment details can very easily lead to a rejection of your application form. Common documents required are usually ID proof, residential ownership or rent details, contact number, and minimum monthly pay earned. As per the current market trend, it is required to earn a minimum of $2,000 every month to qualify for even the basic amount required for car finance. Another important point to work out is the car insurance and accident claim coverage options offered by the insurance provider. The insurance also adds up to the car buying charges. So it is suggested you check out the various car insurance options offered by the lenders and select the plan which suits your requirement and budget.

Having a poor or bad credit does not mean you will never qualify for an auto loan. Many lenders offer auto financing to individuals having poor credit ratings. However, it is important to find out how bad credit auto financing work, and how to prepare and submit your loan application in the correct way.