 What, exactly, are we supposed to think about the global economy right now? The fast-spreading coronavirus has the world on alert, so taking any cues from January is a fraught proposition. But the tea leaves show more of a muddle than any clear sign of economic direction anyway. Slowness in some areas (consumer spending, business investment) was offset by gains in others (housing construction), and easing trade tensions allowed markets around the world to take a small sigh of relief. And as the U.K. exits the European Union and President Donald Trump gears up for his re-election bid in the U.S., 2020 is already looking like a year of caution after a confusing 2019. Bloomberg Opinion's writers will keep their eyes peeled. Old People Have All the Interesting Jobs in America — Tyler Cowen Socialism May Be Just What the Service Economy Needs — Noah Smith Milton Friedman's World Is Dead and Gone — Peter Orszag California May Be Turning a Corner on Housing — Justin Fox Markets Are Ignoring Manufacturers' Glum Message — Brooke Sutherland Fed Rate Cuts Do No Favors for Spring Homebuyers — Conor Sen A Nothingburger Snoozefest From the Fed. Should We Be Worried? — John Authers Sold-Out Coronavirus N95 Face Masks Offer a Lesson in Price Gouging — Stephen L. Carter This is the Theme of the Week edition of Bloomberg Opinion Today, a roundup of our top commentary published every Sunday. | 
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