Author Archives: Yves Smith

The Contempt in Tangy Ranch Doritos

Doritos as a case study in companies flavor-reverse-gaslighting their customers.

Imperialism Then and Now: Wealth, Unemployment and Insufficient Demand

Prabhat Patnaik on imperialism and capitalism: to accumulate wealth, somewhere demand must be suppressed to provide cheap inputs.

“All-Electric Future Comes At A Huge Cost”

Tempering some of the enthuiasm for “all-electric” schemes.

How the Economics of Walking About Helps Predict Unemployment, or the Value of Soft Data

On the short-sightedness of over-reliance on hard data.

Links 8/24/2021

The Coming School Opening Covid Train Wreck

Covid warning for the fall: assume the brace position.

Notes on the ‘Loss’ of Afghanistan

Cleaning up some misperceptions about the US operation in Afghanistan, including the idea that it was a country.

CalPERS Officially a Laughingstock Around the World: London Newsletter Sniggers Over Failed Chief Investment Officer Search Even While Omitting or Getting Worst Facts Wrong

Even commentary meant to be hard on CalPERS manages to understate how bad things are.

50th Anniversary of Powell Memorandum: Neoliberalism Has Wrecked Its Hosts

Commemorating a desructive anniversary, that of the Powell memo that set forth how big business would wage war against ordinary citizens.

Links 8/21/2021

School or ‘Russian Roulette’? Amid Delta Variant and Lax Mask Rules, Some Parents See No Difference

A discussion of parents worried about sending their kids back to school curiously contains only red state/nonurban examples.

Afghanistan: Another Reminder for Withering Britain

Afghanistan as an echo of the end of imperial Britain.

“Are vaccines becoming less effective at preventing Covid infection?”

As more data about the Covid vaccines comes out, it is becoming acceptable to step away from cheerleading and make factual judgments.

Iran’s Huge Caspian Gas Find Is A Geopolitical Gamechanger

A new Iran gas find has the potential to supply 20% of Europe’s needs. But its pricing and delivery will be coordinated with Russia.