What will shape the US Economy in 2007

According to me, here are the variables, no surprises:

The Negatives

• Housing - is tanking, and if it does recession will settle in. Net Effect - slow down.
• Employment and Curb on Immigration - Is going to have an upward pressure on inflation and rate and liquidity. Net Effect - slow down
• War on Terror - Is going to keep feds worried and so the businesses. Business folks on wall street look too much at Fed, rather than globally. Net Effect - growth slowing down

The Positives

• We are entering 2007 on a bullish note - so some corrections are likely in the first quarter but the sentiment will continue.

It surely is India's time now fair & square

It surely is India's time now fair & square

Even while enforcing contracts in India takes an average 1,420 days and involves 56 different procedures. Importing goods takes 41 days and 15 documents. Starting a new business takes 35 days of slogging. Tax payments have to be made 59 times a year and the process takes 264 hours.

In the last three years, the ratio of exports of goods and services to GDP has shot up from 14.6% to 20.5%. India’s share in global merchandise exports has doubled from 0.5% in 1990-91 to 1%. Its share of global services exports too has doubled in just the last two years to 2.5%, and politicians in the US and Europe are petrified that India will grab millions of jobs from their countries.

After Work - Leisure

The Best and worst of 2006

The Best and worst of 2006

5 BIG Goals - How to get there

5 BIG Goals - How to get there

The 10 Most Expensive Bottles of Wine

The 10 Most Expensive Bottles of Wine

Kicking Jet Lag

Kicking Jet Lag

Business Basics

This Forbes.com link is full of good strategic tips - Business Basics

How much house can you afford?

Here's a great link to calculate safe affordability