Author Archives: Yves Smith

Inside the Trump Admin’s Fight to Keep the Keystone XL Approval Process Secret

The Trump Administration has been withholding documents in the ongoing suit against the Keystone XL pipeline.

Links 2/23/18

How Much Do New York Times Reporters Use Anonymous Sources?

An analysis of David Sanger’s work at the New York Times in 2017 gives a sense of how much reporters crib from anonymous “official” sources.

Tories Double Down on Brexit Fantasies as EU Again Says “Nein”

Yet another Groundhog Day in Brexit land…

“Cash Must Not Be Made the Scapegoat”

The ECB isn’t keen about the war on cash.

Links 2/22/18

Treasury Proposes Dubious, Untested Chapter 14 Bankruptcies for Too Big to Fail Banks

Treasury released an ideologically-driven proposal to change Dodd Frank’s resolution authority.

Technology Change Not the Culprit in Wages Falling Behind US Productivity Gains

Larry Summers and Anna Stansbury challenge the idea that workers getting a smaller cut of the productivity gains pie is due to technology.

Law Professor Proposes Bringing Back Indentured Servitude

Indentured servitude is the new idea for how to get immigrants to come to American at less than minimum wage pay.

Do Russiagate Skeptics Go Too Far?

A Russiagate debate.

Tax Astroturf: The B-Team Lowers the Bar for Tax Transparency

Quelle surprise! The B Team, a supposed top group for “responsible business,” punts on tax transparency.

Another Brexit Mess: “Grandfathering” Existing Free Trade Agreements Looks Unlikely

Another item on the Brexit problem list: what to do about free trade agreements that will cease to apply to the UK on Brexit day.

Wolf Richter: “Blockchain” Stocks Completely Disintegrate

Blockchain plays have collapsed at an astonishing speed.