Author Archives: Yves Smith

Links 12/21/19

The Financialization of Child and Elder Care: The Tax Justice Network December 2019 Podcast

Private equity is moving in a big way into elder and child care services in the UK. Patients and parents beware.

Productivity Does Not Explain Wages

As long as we believe the neoclassical productivity farce, we will know nothing about what causes prices.

What Is an ‘Old-Growth’ Forest?

The absence of a universally accepted definition for ‘old-growth’ makes it more challenging to manage and preserve the carbon-rich ecosystems.

Links 12/20/19

Federal Appeals Court Strikes Down Portion Of Obamacare

An appeals court nixed the Obamacare individual mandate and put the rest of the law in play. What might happen next?

US Freight Shipments Fall Below 2014 Level. Answers Emerge

Freight volumes have traditionally served as a measure of economic activity. What do they say now?

Sanders Report Shows How Millennial Generation Is ‘Being Punished With Crushing Student Debt and Low-Paying Jobs’

Sanders commissioned a GAO report on how high student debt levels and lousy wages translate into poor economic prospects for young people.

After the Argentina Debacle, the IMF Endorses Weakening Capital Controls in Ecuador

The IMF is backing a tax reform bill in Ecuador that will enable capital flight and further austerity.

Sweden Retreats from Negative Interest Rate Experiment

Sweden throws in the towel on its negative interest rate policy as inflation stays stubbornly low.

Impeachment Semi-Open Thread

The historic House vote means impeachment is on. Or is it?

Links 12/18/19

Bill Black: Lawrence O’Donnell Aims at Buttigieg, But Hits New Democrats

A takedown of the New Democrats’ love of austerity.

Can The EV Revolution Survive Without Tax Credits?

Automakers are petitioning for an extension of EV tax credits. How critical is that to sales growth?