Author Archives: Yves Smith

Ilargi: Marine Le Pen Will Reap What The EU Has Sown

Thanks to EU and Eurozone misrule, Le Pen is right when she says: “Nothing can stop us”.

We Won a Fight Against CalPERS Over Its Plan to Ignore Private Equity Risk

A Los Angeles Times headline recapping a board meeting Monday says it all: “CalPERS shelves controversial private equity policy.”

The Continuing Fight Over Fannie and Freddie, and the Real Problem of US Mortgages

How understanding the history of Fannie and Freddie, as well as how unnatural US mortgages are, helps explain why the fight over the future of the GSEs continues.

Partial Tally of Hidden Private Equity Fees: 6% of Equity Invested

A new study on private equity’s hidden charges is sure to fuel demands for more transparency.

Links 12/13/15

Debunking “The Big Short”: How Michael Lewis Turned the Real Villains of the Crisis into Heroes

How Michael Lewis’ The Big Short, whether for profit or by accident, has denied the public the truth about what really causes the crisis.

Ilargi: CON21

To halt the demise of the planet, you can’t rely on the same people who cause it.

Links 12/11/15

Our Bloomberg Op-Ed on CalPERS’ Plan to Get Rid of Private Equity Risk by Ignoring It

CalPERS’ plan to eliminate the measurement of private equity risk, a seismic change, is a case study in how staff manipulates the board to its own advantage.

How Far Can The Syria Conflict Spiral Out Of Control?

An astute, high level reading of Russia and Turkey’s jousting.

US Life Expectancy Flat for Third Year

The fact that life expectancy in the US is no longer rising, in a time of economic growth, is yet another sign of underlying societal decay.

Matthew Cunningham-Cook: How the Christie Stole New Jersey Local Government Workers’ COLA

A vignette of how pensioners are being shafted by being denied their COLA, or cost of living increase. In New Jersey, this looks to be a transfer to Wall Street.

Links 12/10/15