Author Archives: Yves Smith

Diary of Samuel Pepys Shows How Life Under the Bubonic Plague Mirrored Today’s Pandemic

Samuel Pepys’ emotional roller coaster during a plague outbreak, and search for treatments in a medical fog, suddenly seems familiar.

Is There Deflation or Inflation in Our Future?

We don’t have a recovery in sight, but some economists are already worried about inflation.

‘No Warming, No War’: Report Details How US Militarism and Climate Crisis Are Deeply Interwoven

“In the face of both COVID-19 and the climate crisis, we urgently need to shift from a culture of war to a culture of care.”

Max Blumenthal and Ben Norton With Michael Hudson: US Coronavirus “Bailout” Is a $6 Trillion Scam

Michael Hudson explians why the coronavirus bailouts are even more of a gimmie to the rich than they look.

Coronavirus-Induced Food Supply Disruptions Hitting Farmers, Poor Consumers

Food scarcity is already starting to bite in the US and is likely to become a serious problem in much of the world.

Become a Manufacturing Powerhouse in 2020—An Economic Recipe for Our Times

On bringing manufacturing back home.

Mitch McConnell to State Pension Funds: Drop Dead

Prominent Republicans are threatening to gore the public pension fund ox.

Inequality and the Coronavirus: Destroying American Society From the Top Down

Coronavirus is exposing the severity of inequality in the US, particulary limited access to health care and the health costs of poverty.

Our Extraordinary 50th Earth Day

The Earth Day milestone occurs in the shadow of the coronavirus.

The Coronavirus New Normal Has Only Started To Arrive

Why we aren’t even at the end of the beginning of coronavirus-induced change.

The Worst Is Yet To Come for Oil Prices

Collaping oil prices demonstrate the severity of the fall in real economy activity.

Hissy Fit by CalPERS Board: Falsely Blames Margaret Brown for Staff Leaks of CIO Meng’s $1 Billion Giveup, Public Opposition to Staff Coup

Sports fans, it seems hard to believe, but the CalPERS board has sunk to a new low with an extended display of incompetence and pique.

Replacing Workers Has Many Costs

Companies remains short-sighted about the cost of ditching workers.

Who Benefits When the Price of Insulin Soars?

Contrary to pharmaceutical company claims, revenue from high insulin prices are going to shareholders, not R&D