Author Archives: Yves Smith

Private Equity Energy Funds Did So Badly They Might Have to Do the Unthinkable – Pay Clawbacks

Clawbacks, a provision meant to protect investors, seldom work as advertised. Investors might get better terms as the defects become obvious.

Election 2016: Playing a Game of Chicken With Nuclear Strategy

Too many parties are becoming less inhibited about pressing the nuclear button.

Links 11/6/16

Wolf Richter: Come on Moody’s, Spare Us These Falsehoods: That $1.3 Trillion “Overseas Cash” Is Already in the US

Moody’s turns into tax lobbyist for its biggest corporate clients.

A Colorado Ballot Measure Could Make it Nearly Impossible to Ban Fracking

Green groups hope to amend the Colorado constitution so communities can ban fracking. An industry-sponsored amendment could block that.

Links 11/5/16

Michael Hudson on Meet the Renegades

Michael Hudson gives a freewheeling interview on some favorite topics like rentier capitalism and why the Great Moderation wasn’t so great.

Easy Money is Dangerous Without Activist Fiscal Policy

Why over-reliance on monetary policy and the failure to engage in fiscal deficits is a toxic mix.

Links 11/4/16

Gauis Publius: TPP Has Picked Up a Powerful Enemy — Black Lives Matter

Black Lives Matter takes on Obama’s plan to pass the TPP in the lame duck session.

Creating a National Security State ‘Democracy,’ Or How the American Political System Changed and No One Noticed

The stealthy rise of America’s new fourth estate.

How Your State and Local Tax Dollars Paid for Private Equity Firm TPG’s Elton John Appearance

Yet another example of how private equity operates by its own set of self-serving rules.

Links 11/1/16

CalPERS Reverses Itself on Its Plan to Violate California Constitution, Pave Way for Hiring Underqualified Candidate for Chief Actuary

CalPERS dodges a bullet after we prodded them.