Author Archives: Yves Smith

Matt Stoller: How the US Saw Multinationals as a Means to Prevent War

The role of multinationals in the post World War II order.

Patrick Cockburn: How Neoliberalism and Cold War Obsessions Fractured the Middle East

How neoliberalism, the resource curse, and military interventions by Washington and its allies, profoundly destabilized the Middle East.

Links 6/28/16

How Brexit Threatens to Turn the UK Into “Borisland”

How the Tories and UKIP intend to use Brexit to impose permanent austerity and reduce workers’ rights.

Why Income Inequality Will Get Worse Before It Gets Better

A reader critical thinking exercise! Debunk an article that justifies rising inequality in the guise of offering policy advice

Satyajit Das: What If Anything Does Brexit Really Signify?

An appraisal of the Brexit sound and fury.

Boris “Just Kidding” Johnson Outlines His Rainbows and Unicorns Brexit Plan

Boris Johnson is now the most hated person in the Western world.

Mathew D. Rose: Brexit – Land of Hope and Glory

Why the vote for Brexit is the best thing that has happened to European society for decades.

Private Equity Expert/Reformer Opposes California Treasurer Chiang’s Now-Phony “Fee Transparency” Bill

A key private equity reformer weighs in against the current version of California Treasurer Chiang’s fatally weakened transparency bill.

Brexit: Fear, Loathing, and Anger on Both Sides of the Channel

Politicians in the UK and the EU are virtually at each other’s throats over Brexit.

Links 6/25/16

Brexit: Pulling the Signal Out of the Noise

Getting a better picture on Brexit: the underlying class and economic stresses and how that might play into what happens next.

MIchael Hudson: The Slow Crash

Michael Hudson discusses some of his favorite themes; debt deflation, the high cost of consumer debt, negative interest rates.

California Treasurer Chiang’s Private Equity Transparency Three Card Monte

California Treasurer John Chiang promised landmark private equity transparency but instead acted as a stooge of the private equity industry and failed to stand up to captured public pension funds.

The Sterling Depreciation of 2007-2008 and Its Implications for Brexit

The unexpected impact of the fall in sterling in 2007-2008 suggests Brexit could produce a drastic drop in UK living standards.