Mmm, data
So I went looking for estimates of actual austerity measures taken (rather than proposed or claimed to have happened), ending up using the EU as a focal point. I found a depressing lack of such statistics, and then spent four hours trying to backsolve bank liquidity support out of government spending figures, eventually coming up with comparable numbers even if they were in rather funky units.
Then I came home to discover access to OECD's database waiting for me. I'm now in absolute hog heaven, mucking around in the stats. They have contributions to GDP by source: I can draw IS/LM curves just to annoy Austrians! Health care expenditures by country and contributing sector over time! Household spending broken down any which way I want it!
Some days I really do think I should be in grad school. I bet I could totally pull an Econ paper out of this.
Then I came home to discover access to OECD's database waiting for me. I'm now in absolute hog heaven, mucking around in the stats. They have contributions to GDP by source: I can draw IS/LM curves just to annoy Austrians! Health care expenditures by country and contributing sector over time! Household spending broken down any which way I want it!
Some days I really do think I should be in grad school. I bet I could totally pull an Econ paper out of this.