The GM Labeling Law to End All Labeling Laws
Campaigners for the Orwellianly-named “Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015” falsely demonize those who want GM labeling as anti-science.
Read more...Author Archives: Yves Smith
Robert Reich: Having a Life (Sort of) as a New Perk for “Talent”
If “talent” gets only itty bitty relief from extreme workplace demands, and that due to media pressure, imagine what it’s like for the help.
Read more...Links 8/17/15
Yet More Private Equity Grifting: The SEC Enables “Broken Deal Expense” Con
There’s so much chicanery afoot in private equity that I sometimes don’t write about important aspects on a timely basis. One of the big ones that most investors manage to kid themselves about is how the general partners’ fee structures really work. The widely-cherished fantasy is that the prototypical 2% annual management fee (the “2” […]
Read more...California First, As Both Climate Victim and Responder, the National Style-Setter Leads the Way
An old saying among trend-mavens is that as California goes, so goes the nation. That means its devastating drought is a real warning.
Read more...Does a Strong Dollar Hurt Emerging Markets?
Conventional wisdom has it that strengthening dollar hurts emerging markets via a sudden exodus of host money. A new study argues that real economy forces are a bigger driver, specifically lower commodity prices.
Read more...Climate Change: Have We Reached the Point of No Return?
This Real News Network segment provides a sobering assessment of the speed of climate change and species die-offs.
Read more...Links 8/15/15
A Pragmatic Approach to External Debt: The Write-Down of Germany’s Debts in 1953
Greece’s crisis has invited comparisons to the 1953 London Debt Agreement, which ended a long period of German default on external debt. Unfortunately for Greece, the motivations driving the 1953 agreement are nearly entirely absent today.
Read more...Perry Mehrling: The Fuss about Market Liquidity
I am SO glad to see this post appear. It’s annoying to see investors and banksters whine that they want more liquidity, as if that were a right.
Read more...Links 8/14/15
You Don’t Need to Hire Rapacious Private Equity Firms to Get Their Returns
A new paper by Brian Chingono and Dan Rasmussen shows how to beat the average private equity fund’s return by a solid margin.
Read more...Don Quijones: Spain Hit by Trade Suits, a Bitter Foretaste of TTIP
Spain has been hit by 19 trade suits over renewable energy subsidies alone. More would come if the TTIP become law.
Read more...Is the Local Economy the Solution to a Post-Capitalist World?
Relocalization has the potential to increase political accountability and revitalize communities. But how do you make it happen?
Read more...Greek Debt Sustainability: The Devil is in the Tails
The debate over Greek debt sustainability is muddied by the fact that different analysts use different definitions. But once you use realistic assumptions, as in “tails risks” are actually pretty likely, Greek debt is obviously not “sustainable”.
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