Author Archives: Yves Smith

The War Nerd: NATO, A Memoir

NATO….how exactly did we get here?

Our Global Economic System Is Broken. Are We Headed for a Mass Revolt?

An increase in global hunger, combined with the rich getting even richer, would seem to set the stage for revolt. But is that in the cards?

Understanding the Global Rise in Inflation

How high demand for traded goods is generating inflation, and central banks hitting the brakes is likely to hit growth unnecessarily hard.

Holiday Weekend Schedule

The Danger of Underestimating Russia

If we keep insisting on sticking with our self-serving fantasies about Russia, we are only going to dig our hole deeper.

The EU Needs More Than $1 Trillion for Plan to Ditch Russian Oil and Gas

The EU will have to make very large expenditures to end its depencence on Russian energy. But does it also have the organizational chops?

Links 5/25/2022

Small Players Get Hammered in the Supply Chain Crunch: The Rotary Dumbphone Case Study

The tortous development/production process for Justine Haupt’s rotary dumbphone illusrates the obstacles to innovation in America.

New KKR Stunt in Neverending Kentucky Retirement Systems Litigation: Demanding Removal of Judge Philip Shepherd

KR is at it again! And of course, not in a good way.

Housing Bubble Getting Ready to Pop: Unsold Inventory of New Houses Spikes by Most Ever, to Highest since 2008, with 9 Months’ Supply, Sales Collapse at Prices below $400k

The housing market is starting to unravel at the lower end, with new home purchases taking the biggest hit.

How Many Bots Are on Twitter? The Question Is Difficult to Answer and Misses the Point

A disingenuous defense of Twitter bots.