Commentary on the Wisconsin recall vote, public versus private sector unions, divergent state economies in the US, Brittan on Krugman, cracks in BriCs, and Bob’s third try.

The Walker recall election has brought unions into focus.

Fiscal Times -- The Decline and Fall of Organized Labor
Tuesday’s failure to recall Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is being widely interpreted as a political defeat for organized labor. After Walker and a Republican-controlled legislature stripped most public employee unions of bargaining rights, unions saw their very existence at stake and pulled out all the stops to punish Walker and overturn the law.

Related.

Hoover Institute -- The Case Against Public Sector Unions
State and local governments today are, with few exceptions, in deep financial distress. While some governors can offer the recession, the housing crisis, or the loss of an important industry as an excuse for poor finances, many states are simply structurally insolvent — not unlike General Motors prior to bankruptcy.

 

Bleeding Heart Libertarians -- Thoughts on unions
A while ago (around our disagreements about May Day) I had an exchange with Fernando about labor unions. I’ve been thinking about this again recently, partly as a result of my ongoing work on intermediate groups, partly due to some union issues in Canada, and partly in light of Jessica’s exchange with Chris Bertram about employment relations.

North Dakota a go but woe Michigan.

Economist -- Recoveries and lost decades
EARLIER this week, the Bureau of Economic Analysis released its advance estimate for state-level GDP growth in 2011.

The way to replace a fall in spending is to spend.

Financial Times -- You don’t need to be a lefty to support Krugman
The remedy for too little spending is more spending. Everything else is commentary.

China and Brazil weaken, a lot.

Economist -- China risk: Alert - Hard landing?
The sudden weakening of the Chinese economy apparent in data released in May points to the possibility of a hard landing in China, or at the very least a choice between a significant weakening of the economy or further ill-conceived stimulus measures that could create problems for the future.

 

Economist – Brazil economy: First-quarter GDP disappoints
The first-quarter GDP figures released on June 1st left observers and the Brazilian government with a sense of foreboding—output grew by only 0.2% quarter on quarter (a mere 0.8%, year on year).

Let’s be clear about Bob.

Globe and Mail -- Only Liberals can forgive Bob Rae’s original sin
When Bob Rae first ran for the Liberal leadership, in 2006, he was the consummate elder statesman – leader of public inquiries, publisher of eponymous reports, chancellor of Wilfrid Laurier University, and an officer of the Order of Canada, with a stable sinecure at a top Toronto law firm and a permanent spot on the shortlist for Governor-General.