Sunday, September 13, 2026

News and Ideas Worth Sharing

Ed Lane

Ed Lane, ASA, CFP®, is a former actuary and university adjunct professor of finance and economics. Ed is Treasurer for The Stockbridge Library / Museum & Archives and on the Stockbridge Finance Committee. He and his wife Barbara first came to the Berkshires in 1969 and have had homes here off and on over the years. They currently live full-time in Stockbridge and he can be reached at edclane@gmail.com.

written articles

Futures vs. physical: How the oil market broke in two

The Strait of Hormuz has revealed itself to be a single point of failure for far more than crude oil.

The Suburban Imperative:  A Democratic strategy for the 2026 midterms grounded in the K-shaped economy’s electoral geography

This article translates the empirical findings of a companion white paper into an integrated campaign strategy and governing agenda for Democratic candidates, campaign organizations, and allied groups operating in this environment.

Why’d he do it? A chronological rundown of the Trump administration’s explanation for its attacks on Iran

"We heard this attack was defensive in nature," said Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York. "Then Rubio said it was preemptive. Which one is it? Regime change? Nuclear weapons? Missiles? An imminent threat to the homeland? Or a preemptive strike to stop future attacks on the region?"

How Trump’s economic policies deepened the divide: The K-shaped recovery hits rural America hardest

A data-driven analysis of how tax cuts, tariffs, and healthcare policies created winners and losers in America's heartland.

ED LANE: The ‘economy’ in 2026

Taken together, the mainstream consensus for 2026 is a “slow‑growth, cooling‑but‑not‑cold” economy: moderate real GDP growth, inflation near the mid‑twos, and unemployment rising only modestly.

EDWARD LANE: Analysis and recommendations regarding the Department of Government Efficiency

President-elect Trump has named Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a new so-called “Department" of Government Efficiency to, in Musk’s words, identify “at least $2 trillion in cuts” of federal spending.
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