What We Read Today 01 August 2014

Econintersect: Every day our editors collect the most interesting things they find from around the internet and present a summary “reading list” which will include very brief summaries (and sometimes longer ones) of why each item has gotten our attention. Suggestions from readers for “reading list” items are gratefully reviewed, although sometimes space limits the number included.

• Euro Inflation Slowed to 0.4% in July, Lowest Since 2009 (Catherine Bosley, Bloomberg) The Eurozone has recorded the lowest inflation numbers is almost five years with 0.4% (annual rate) for June. This is happening while the 18-member euro area still suffers with double digit unemployment, 11.5%. Unemployment was improved slightly, having been 12.0% in June 2013. There is more discussion ‘behind the wall’.

• How to Lose the Robotics Revolution (Paul Scharre, War on the Rocks) Hat tip to Roger Erickson. The author claims that scholars think that the U.S. could be surpassed in military robotics applications because so much of commercial automation is adaptable. Foreign Policy calls it the “looming robotics gap.”

• Put down the paracetamol, it’s just a placebo for low back pain (Christopher Williams and Jane Latimer, The Conversation) There is a long list of trade names, but the most familiar to many will be Tylenol. How much liver damage has been caused by this “fake” medicine?

• 10 Things Americans Have Suddenly Stopped Buying (Brad Tuttle, Money) There are some surprises on this list, but none is more surprising than guns. There seems to be a rising belief that Obama is not going to take your guns away after all.

• 10 Things Millennials Won’t Spend Money On (Jacob Davidson, Money) One of the things on the list is homes. Two others are closely related to homes.

There are 13 articles discussed today ‘behind the wall’.

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