Fearless commentary on finance, economics, politics and power

How serious a threat is China in space war?

A high-level description of the empty bag known as the Inflation Reduction Act’s drug price controls.

Chip woes still bedevil carmakers, to the degree that auto quality ratings are down, particularly for preimum vehicles.

By Lambert Strether of Corrente Bird Song of the Day Black-and-white Triller (Northern), Ilocos Norte, Philippines. * * * Politics “But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature?” –James Madison, Federalist 51 “They had learned nothing, and forgotten nothing.” –Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord “Here’s food for thought, had Ahab […]

More on the EU upset over Italy’s move to the right, like the expected success of Brothers of Italy (Fratelli d’Italia) in Sept. elections.

How China rescued bin Salman and leveraged that relationship into a deal that advances China’s aim of making the kingdom a client state.

A case study of why voters are inclinded to stick with office-holders well past their sell-by dates.

Union organizers are making headway, as measured by the more-aggressive cororate efforts to hobble them.

~ Today’s Water Cooler ~

The world verges on recession. Central bank interest rate increases further slow growth without quelling supply-side cost-push inflation

“We could end up in jail” if we disclose details of the former government’s contract with Pfizer, says the country’s Health Minister. 

The Financial Times reports that private equity investors are running for the exits as CalPERS plans to pile on.

American became an outlier among rich countries in mortality rates pre pandemic, and Americans are dying younger than their peers abroad.