By George L. Perry

The worst of the deadlock between the House and the White House has passed, and there are even signs that a compromise may now be reached addressing long-run budget issues. We are in a better place politically than we were late last year, but still in no position to get complacent about near term economic prospects. Chances of renewed recession are low, but so are prospects for vigorous expansion.

For the past two years, the need for fiscal and monetary stimulus has been debated both in Washington and Wall Street. One thing that has been missing from these debates is the potential for longer run damage if the sluggish economy persists. When a recession is brief and the economy returns promptly to high rates of employment, the long-run costs are minimal. But when recovery is weak and joblessness persists for many workers, the long-run costs become meaningful. And they include worsening the long-run fiscal problems that concern everyone.

The economy’s economic

By Kevin Chupka

It wasn't long ago that many were declaring the wristwatch dead, killed by the rise of cellphones. The logic: Why would you need a time-tracker on your wrist when you have a smartphone that provides this service – and so much more?

According to sales data from NPD Group, in the two-year period from 2008 to 2010, casual watch sales in the 18-24 demographic fell a whopping 29%, even as overall growth was at 4%. Given this downtrend in sales to an emerging generation of consumers, it might seem counterintuitive that all the big tech companies have either announced plans to release a “smartwatch” or are at the center of rumors about them.

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Microsoft (MSFT) would enter the space with a Windows watch. Microsoft joins the likes of Google (GOOG), Apple (AAPL) and Samsung, who, according to speculation across the industry, are all in some stage of development regarding smartwatches.

The idea is not new. Sony (SNE), Casio, Timex and