Region Focus is the economics magazine of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. It covers economic issues affecting the Fifth District and the nation and is published on a quarterly basis by the Bank's Research Department.
Third Quarter 2011
Cover Story: Why Aren't We Creating More Jobs?
Job growth usually rebounds quickly after a severe recession, but this time is different
Second Quarter 2011
Cover Story: Foreign Housing Finance
As America's unique mortgage finance system faces renovation, the approaches of other developed nations may provide some guidance
First Quarter 2011
Cover Story: What Drives Changes in Economic Thought?
Why economists study what they do — and how the crisis might change it
Fourth Quarter 2010
Cover Story: What Causes Recoveries?
How good policy and good luck can trigger the upward side of the business cycle
Third Quarter 2010
Cover Story: Fuzzy Math
Public pensions are underfunded — how bad is it?
Second Quarter 2010
Cover Story: Do Deficits Matter? And If So, How?
As fiscal imbalances increase, economists debate their effect on the macroeconomy
First Quarter 2010
Cover Story: The New Normal?
Economists ponder whether the "natural" rate of unemployment has risen.
Fall 2009
Cover Story: The Price is Right?
Has the financial crisis provided a fatal blow to the efficient market hypothesis?
Summer 2009
Cover Story: Measuring Quality of Life
How should we assess improvements to our standard of living?
Spring 2009
Cover Story: Reforming the Raters
Can regulatory reforms adequately realign the incentives of credit rating agencies?
Winter 2009
Cover Story: Know When to Fold 'Em
How the corporate bankruptcy system benefits and hinders the economy
Fall 2008
Cover Story: House Bias
The economic consequences of subsidizing homeownership
Spring/Summer 2008
Cover Story: The State of Modern Economics
The ongoing evolution of mainstream economics
Winter 2008
Cover Story: Going Private
Another private equity boom has passed, but the underlying need for the industry has not
Fall 2007
Cover Story: Downtown is Dead. Long Live Downtown!
America is busy rebuilding its downtowns, but these are not the downtowns of yesterday
Summer 2007
Cover Story: Democracy and Other Failures
The theory of public choice helps explain why we get stuck with so many bad economic policies ... or does it?
Spring 2007
Cover Story: Academic Alternatives
The theory of school choice sounds great, but it remains controversial
Winter 2007
Cover Story: Options on the Outs
The popularity of employee stock options is expected to wane with the adoption of a new accounting rule
Aaron Steelman
Publications Director
(804) 697-2658
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