Author Archives: Yves Smith

Just How Hard Is It To Cut US Greenhouse Gases?

The US is not surprisingly, going to miss 2020 greenhouse gas targets by a big margin. What will policymakers do?

Fundraiser 2016: Naked Capitalism – The Next Ten Years

Join our 2016 fundraiser and help us make even more trouble!

What We’ve Done for You in the Past Year

What we’ve accomplished since our fundraiser last year.

Links 10/13/16

Wall Street Journal’s Greg Ip Makes Counterfactual Arguments to Defend Bloated Banking Industry

Greg Ip laments an outcome sorely to be wished: that the banking sector ma be forced to shrink due to lackluster profits.

Almost Nobody Is Satisfied With Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf’s Overdue Departure

While John Stumpf has finally departed Wells Fargo, the bank hasn’t made moves consistent with serious change.

Social Democracy, the “Third Way,” and the Crisis of Europe, Part 3

A discussion of why the center-left failed to revive in Europe after the crisis. Some of the reasons apply to the US as well.

Links 10/12/16

Appeals Court Ruling That CFPB’s Structure Is Unconstitutional: A Stealth Win?

A scary-sounding ruling leaves the CFPB largely unscathed, and in some key ways, ahead.

America’s Military and Diplomatic Power in Visible Decline

China and Russia are trying to ensure that Washington no longer exercises unrestrained power, and with a good bit of success.

How Housing Bubbles Destroy Productivity

More evidence that housing bubbles distort economic activity and act as a damper on growth.

Could Falling Chinese Oil Production Kill The OPEC Deal?

Why China will influence any OPEC deal in November, and some broader implications.

Switzerland Seen Backing Down on Supporting Tax Haven USA

The US gets some badly-needed pushback on the tax haven front.

Links 10/11/16

Wolf Richter: Millennials Blamed for Lousy Economy

Millennials aren’t spending like they are supposed to…with good reason.