Author Archives: Yves Smith

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.

Links 2/17/18

The Free Market Threat to Democracy

Democracy is not under stress – it’s under aggressive attack, as unconstrained financial greed overrides public accountability.

Gaius Publius: Obama Energy Secretary Named to Board of Utility Giant

Obama alumni taking revolving door Big Energy jobs puts paid to the idea that Dems are less beholden to corporate interests than the GOP.

Polar Ice Is Lost at Sea

An update on polar ice loss and its implications.

Can Uber Ever Deliver? Part Thirteen: Even After 4Q Cost Cuts, Uber Lost $4.5 Billion in 2017

How the business press got the story on Uber’s latest financial report wrong.

News Watch: A Reading on Collective Angst

Are we wrong in seeing the news being a bit quieter than usual as not a good sign?