Jim Power: US message for water protestors

Statistically, the US economy has made a strong recovery from the ‘great recession’ of 2007 onwards, and notwithstanding the negative impact of very harsh weather conditions in the first quarter of this year and last year, activity levels are generally quite strong and upbeat.

The advanced nature of the US economic cycle relative to that in Europe largely reflects the immediate, strong and aggressive policy response of US policy -makers in terms of fiscal and monetary policy once the 2007 sub-prime-induced recession started.

That response reflects the nature of the US beast, and this nature makes it a great country to visit if one wants to get away from the constant negativity, cynicism and blame game that seems to dominate many aspects of public discourse in Ireland.