Fearless commentary on finance, economics, politics and power

A hard look at the neo-Nazis who came to Charlottesville.

The odds of oil prices remaining below $55 for the foreseeable future has put a big dent in enthusiasm for shale gas plays.

Today’s Water Cooler: Open thread

The neoliberal order has failed and is creating more and more political and social upheaval. Some elements of a new system may be in sight.

The caliber of discourse has degenerated utterly at NC in the wake of Charlotteville. I am disabling comments on all live posts. I am sick, now up until 9 AM ruining my health. I do not need this bullshit. It is not worth the effort to clean up the disinformation and the upset and dishonest […]

Things are so bad at Uber that planted stories are falling apart within days.

Yves here. Notice how all the hysteria over evil Rooskies, North Korea, and neo-Nazis on the march has diverted media attention away from fights over economic issues? In Illinois, Governor Rauner is pushing through a scheme to curb funding to schools that is designed to hit lower property tax districts and Chicago particularly hard. Some […]

Brexit is the incomprehension of a former imperial power, wistfully hoping to recreate a long-gone global sphere of influence.

The deets, as we say these days: Burlington Date: August 17 Time: 8:00PM Place: Zero Gravity Brewpub at Flatbread. Here is a handy map: How to recognize Lambert: I am tall, not overly thin, with glasses, greying-white short hair, and glasses. I will be wearing a red shirt, and will have a black computer bag […]

Today’s Water Cooler: NAFTA negotiations, 2018 races, Charlottesville, housing, gold, Amazon disrupts retail by inventing the store, podcast

Musing on why the Fed is so eager to raise interest rates.

Why the argument that public company ownership contributes to monopoly power is wrong-headed.

The war on cash, to enable central banks to implement negative interest rates on ordinary citizens, continues.