Category Archives: Social values

Michael Perelman: Why Adam Smith Advocated Controls Over Workers

Laissez faire, at least according to Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations, doesn’t mean more freedom for workers.

This entry was posted in Guest Post, Social policy, Social values, The dismal science on June 21, 2014 by Yves Smith.

Obesity Higher Among Long-Term Unemployed

Not only do the long-term unemployed suffer the loss of income, but they often are in worse health. They show markedly higher rates of obesity, elevated cholesterol levels, and high blood pressure.

This entry was posted in Income disparity, Social values, The destruction of the middle class, The dismal science on June 19, 2014 by Yves Smith.

Randy Wray: Tax Bads, Not Goods

Under a fiat currency regime, policymakers need to rethink what they tax and why.

This entry was posted in Guest Post, Politics, Social policy, Social values, Taxes, The dismal science on June 19, 2014 by Yves Smith.

Plagiarism: Theft, Fraud, Betrayal (and Extenuating Circumstances)

Plagiarism is a big deal, and if unchecked will create a Gresham’s dynamic where plagiarized content dominates original material

This entry was posted in Guest Post, Social policy, Social values on June 18, 2014 by Lambert Strether.

Michael Perelman: The Fraud of Adam Smith’s Pin Factory

Adam Smith’s pin factory is more a charming tale than a representative of early industrialization or contemporary pin making.

This entry was posted in Guest Post, Social values, The destruction of the middle class, The dismal science on June 18, 2014 by Yves Smith.

Ariel Dorfman: A Tale of Torture and Forgiveness

Can we forgive torture?

This entry was posted in Guest Post, Politics, Social policy, Social values on June 18, 2014 by Yves Smith.

Peter Van Buren: Taking Down the First Amendment in Post-Constitutional America

Van Buren continues his examination of what he calls the “post-Constitutional era”. He focuses on the steady erosion of freedom of speech, particularly in the media, including limits on the ability of journalists to protect sources to more self-censorship and increased antipathy towards reporting that involves the use of confidential material.

This entry was posted in Banana republic, Guest Post, Legal, Media watch, Social values on June 16, 2014 by Yves Smith.

The Metaphysics of Money

Yves here. As a finance person, I can’t readily relate to the distinction the author makes between money once being seen as something tangible and it now being widely regarded as a mechanism for facilitating commerce. Nevertheless, I believe this post will resonate with many readers and thus I believe it will make for useful grist for discussion.

This entry was posted in Guest Post, Social values, The dismal science on June 15, 2014 by Yves Smith.

Bill Black: How Hayek Helped the Worst Get to the Top in Economics and as CEOs

Libertarians are profoundly anti-democratic. The folks at Cato that I debate make no bones about their disdain for and fear of democracy. Friedrich von Hayek is so popular among libertarians because of his denial of the legitimacy of democratic government and his claims that it is inherently monstrous and murderous to its own citizens.

David Cay Johnston on the Perils of Our Growing Inequality

David Cay Johnston is a clear and lively conversationalist, and I anticipate readers will enjoy his discussion of his work over the last 20 years on inequality.

Where Have All the Fiduciaries Gone? Even Rich People Can’t Escape Being Screwed

A new case filed against Deutsche Bank’s wealth management business shows that even money can’t buy safety from predatory finance.

This entry was posted in Hedge funds, Investment management, Legal, Private equity, Social values on May 30, 2014 by Yves Smith.

Michael Perelman: Vietnam – Invitation to a Morass

How the Vietnam War helped usher in neoliberalism, financialization of the economy, and the use of military spending as stealth stimulus.

European Voters Deliver the Revenge of the Nation-State

Were the results of the European elections a tremor or an earthquake?

This entry was posted in Guest Post, Macroeconomic policy, Politics, Social policy, Social values, The destruction of the middle class on May 26, 2014 by Yves Smith.

Bruce Eckle on Reinventing Business

Even if you don’t agree with all of Eckle’s views on reinventing business, his effort to identify and strip away misguided conventional wisdom is a productive place to start.

This entry was posted in Social values on May 26, 2014 by Yves Smith.