Author Archives: Yves Smith

Larry Wilkerson: No Evidence of Massive Russian Hack

Col. Lawrence Wilkerson says so far the anti-Russia hysteria about an alleged hack looks like the phony claims about WMD in Iraq.

Links 12/30/2020

4 Burning Questions on the Global Vaccine Rollout

Warnings of “corruption and incompetence coming together,” as vaccine distribution begins.

A Hard Look at Rent and Rent Seeking with Michael Hudson & Pepe Escobar

An in-depth discussion of financial capitalism versus earlier models and the Chinese and Russian approach, with a focus on the role of rent.

Links 12/29/2020

Polarization, Then a Crash: Michael Hudson on the Rentier Economy

Michael Hudson discusses the chokehold of pro-finance, pro-rentier capitalism reaching into the present COVID-19 crisis.

Links 12/26/2020

Rolling Out the Vaccine

More discussion of vaccine policy, such as it is.

Links 12/25/2020

Quick Notes on the Brexit Deal

Brexit: an undertaking of great advantage, but nobody to know what it is.

Larry Summers’ Opposition to $2000 Covid Payments Confirms Our Classic: “Why Larry Summers Should Not Be Permitted to Run Anything More Important than a Dog Pound”

Larry Summers is at it again.

A Mini-Tour of Christmas/Holiday Feasts and Traditions

Christmas traditions vary considerably. What are the ones in your part of the world like?

Explaining Fiscal Multipliers, a Stealthy but Important Budget Battleground (Part 1)

Fiscal multipliers, an economic concept often misused to justify austerity, is rearing its head in Beltway budget debates. Time to bone up.