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Here are five choice articles from the business press to start off your workweek. I'm pointing you to articles about jobs and employment predictions, cutting expenses sensibly, and Sheila Bair.

From Business Week: Is the Jobs Panic Justified?
"BusinessWeek asked economists from Wall Street to academia. Their job forecasts all depend on when they think the credit markets will start working again."

Wally's Comment: Here's a range of predictions about what's going to happen with jobs.

From Forbes: Special Report on Employment
"As we head deeper into what promises to be one of the worst recessions in living memory, there is certain to be less hiring, and more firing. In this job market, it is no longer enough to be good at getting a job. You have to be good at keeping it. What's one to do? Being great at your job isn't enough--after all, no one is indispensable. All you need to be is more indispensable than the next guy."

Wally's Comment: There are several articles in this special report. The Business Week article is about forecasts. The Forbes special report is about strategies.

From HBS Working Knowledge: Thinking Twice About Supply-Chain Layoffs
"It's the most wonderful time of the year—or that's how the song goes. But this year's decline in retail sales has resulted in definitely uncheery employee layoffs and payroll cuts, a trend that is likely to continue. While the vicious cycle of declining sales and layoffs is to some degree unavoidable, research by HBS assistant professor Zeynep Ton suggests that retailers should make labor decisions thoughtfully."

Wally's Comment: This is a fine piece about how to make smart choices about layoffs. You'll find many of the things mentioned here and in the article below in my Special Report on Managing Headcount in a Downturn.

From Entrepreneur: Smart Moves in a Bad Economy
"When costs rise and customers wane, don't let knee-jerk reactions kick you in the wrong direction."

Wally's Comment: The message of this piece is to be thoughtful and strategic about what you cut.

From Fortune: Why Sheila Bair wants to bail out consumers
"The FDIC chief is the consistent voice of reason in her focus on homeowners as the key to saving the economy."

Wally's Comment: Sheila Bair has been one of the few heroes of the recent "rescue" debacles. Here's a profile of her and her proposals.