Author Archives: Yves Smith

CalPERS’ CIO Plays Board Like a Fiddle, Uses Trumpian Tactics on Credulous True Believers

CIO Ted Eliopoulos digs CalPERS a bigger PR hole and CalPERS’ board is so thick that it approves.

CalPERS CIO Sings Out of Tune, But Board Applauds His Poor Performance

A former chief investment officer critiques a remarkable, and not in a good way, performance by CalPERS’ CIO Ted Eliopoulos.

US Senate Strikes for Russian Equality – The Oligarchs Targeted in New Sanctions Bill

Parsing the details and the logic of the Senate sanctions against Russia and in particular, its oligarchs.

Links 7/4/17

More Animals in Government!

Why we should have government go more officially to the dogs and cats.

Has Keystone XL Become Obsolete?

New troubles for Keystone XL.

Economics of the Populist Backlash

Populist movements are the regular result of trade-induced economic dislocations and distribution. So why were economists surprised?

Links 7/1/17

Jim Chanos: U.S. Economy is Worse Than You Think

Famed short seller Jim Chanos gives a hard look at America’s fundamentals. He is not impressed by what he sees.

Stadiums or Schools: An Analysis of Public Expenditures

A look at yet another sop to the rich, in this case sport franchise owners: government-supported stadiums.

The Slogan ‘Globalization Equals Growth’ Is Wrong

Looking at different types of globalization helps explain why it isn’t necessarily beneficial.

Links 6/30/17

Gaius Publius: An Investigation in Search of a Crime

How one element of the investigation into Trump is a nothingburger even if it pans out.

CalPERS’ Massive Copyright Infringement Strongly Resembles Case That Awarded $19.2. Million in Damages

An key precedent confirms that CalPERS’ massive copyright infringement could generate over $10 million in damages to both the NYT ad and WSJ.