Podcast: The woes of Job, Pet Boom and annuity Puzzle

The economic recovery from the shock of the financial crisis was never that strong, but the monthly report of the Ministry of labour on the employment and unemployment painted a picture of an economy that may be hard even to maintain its growth.

Catherine Rampell, which covers the economy for the Times, says in the weekend podcast new business that the number of farm jobs created in the United States in may - only 54 000 - was much less than most economists had predicted. The unemployment rate moved in the wrong direction, too - upward, to 9.1% from 9%. And jobs has declined for the first time in seven months. There is little in this report to cheer on, although it is possible that some problems were temporary, from factors such as bad weather and the effects of the earthquake, tsunami and disaster Japan persistent global supply chain.

In a separate conversation on the podcast, David Gillen speaks of Andrew Martin on a sector of the economy which was almost recession-proof: the company pet. As written on the cover of the Sunday of Mr. Martin company, for human Palace pet food have been proliferating and animals "parents", as the industry calls, often brought treats on their cats and dogs even when they have cut back on spending for themselves.

I spoke to Richard Thaler, behavioral Economist at the University of Chicago, on what he calls "the Enigma of the pension" - the unpopularity of pension despite their economic benefits. Traditional pensions are a form of pension, but as most working people move to defined benefit plans such as 401 (k), they are confronted with a whole confusing options at retirement. He wrote in the column from an economic perspective in Sunday business that few of them have been purchasing annuities on the same State if it is in their interest to do so. The reasons appear to be more psychological in nature than a question of pure financial calculation.

In a conversation with Phyllis Korkki, I describe other behavioural dilemma, which is the subject of my column of strategies Sunday Business. It is from "the commercial paradox,"the propensity of many investors to fair trade, regretting some of these trades while feeling unable to do anything about it."" A new study by Barclays wealth highlights these internal conflicts. Because it is associated with the underperformance of frequent market trade, curb this behavior might be helpful. Much like too eat or game, however, for some people often Exchange is not easily corrected.

You can find specific segments of the podcast at these times: economic prospects (priesthood); news summaries (21: 33); the company pet (17: 39); annuities (12: 53); compulsive trading (6: 02); the week ahead (1: 56).

Articles discussed in the podcast are published over the weekend, links are added to this position.

You can download the program you use by the New York Times of the podcast page or iTunes directly.

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