Author Archives: Yves Smith

Taxcast: Financial Secrecy Index: Who Are the World’s Worst Offenders?

Taxcast – the Tax Justice Network’s monthly podcast: 30 minutes of unmissable corruption, scandal and analysis you won’t hear anywhere else.

How To Roast the Planet with Good Intentions: The Climate Equity Act

A new bill illustrates how not to tackle climate change.

Links 2/21/2020

Private Equity’s War to Preserve Surprise Billing

Sadly, private equity has beaten back legislation to curb surprise biling.

Coronavirus: Go Forth and Multiply

An ugly take on the coronavirus.

The Potential Climate Consequences of China’s Belt and Roads Initiative

The anticipated heavy use of coal in building out China’s Belt and Road effort is a climate change train wreck.

Links 2/20/2020

Russia Is Defeating The U.S. In The Middle East Oil Game

The US made a mess of Iraq, and at considerable cost, and Russia is in the process of picking up the best pieces.

CalPERS’ Election Rigging: Pushing for Most Costly, Insecure Online and Phone Voting Despite Abject Failure, Why? To Help SEIU Influence Election

CalPERS remains unwilling to run clean and secure elections. One has to wonder why.

HSBC Announces Mass Job Cuts, Huge Write-Down, Asset Sales, Halt of Share Buybacks. Warns of Coronavirus Impact on Credit Losses & Revenues in China & Hong Kong

Once storied, now sprawling TBTF HSBC has started a big retrenchment in the face of mounting business woes. Is it the canary in the coal mine?

Another Demise of a Storied Business at the Hands of Private Equity: Fairway

Fairway shows how private equity ruined a successful and much loved business.