Category Archives: Banana republic

Ilargi: Mario Draghi’s Slippery Downward Slope

Mario Draghi is more and more visibly meddling in politics, yet another reminder that central bank “independence” is a fig leaf.

Gaius Publius: Hillary, TPP, the World of Money, and the Center for American Progress

There is no way that Hillary Clinton is not a strong supporter of TPP and Fast Track

Good News on TPP, as Senate Passes Fast Track Bill with Human Trafficking Poison Pill

Revenge is a dish best served cold. Senator Bob Menendez just served an even bigger plate than he intended via an amendment to Obama’s Fast Track bill that thanks to some Republican help, didn’t get modified into mere symbolism. Ooops!

SEC Commissioner Kara Stein Issues Blistering Dissent on Waivers for Bank Recidivists

SEC Commissioner Kara Stein strikes again, this time to object to the SEC giving waivers to recidivist bank bad actors.

Matt Taibbi on Democracy Now: Banks Admit to Crimes, Pay $5 Billion, And Still No One Goes to Jail

So why shouldn’t banks admit to criminal conduct? They get slap on the writs fines and no one goes to jail.

Barney Frank Denies Earlier Reports That He Called for Weakening Dodd Frank Private Equity Reforms

Barney Frank says that he stands by Dodd Frank registration of private equity firms, walking back a widely-reported earlier remark that gave the industry great cheer.

Wall Street’s Nemesis, Benjamin Lawsky, to Resign in June

Yesterday was a sad day for American citizens. Benjamin Lawsky, the Superintendent of the New York State Department of Financial Services, announced that he was resigning in June.

Thomas Palley: Fraternity of Failure – The Alternative, as in Hillary Clinton, Version

Hillary Clinton does not want to talk about past economic controversies.

IMF Paper Finds That Too Much Finance is Bad for Growth

A new IMF paper strikes another blow against the idea that Big Finance is good for you.

Gaius Publius: If Fast Track Passes, Anything Attached to a “Trade” Treaty Will Pass

How the Administration’s Fast Track authority would transfer more power to the President by limiting Congressional authority on “trade” bills.

Bill Black: Krugman is Half Right

Paul Krugman’s latest column fingers some valid targets but lets way too many other equally deserving ones off.

Will the TransPacific Partnership Agreement Go into the Deep Freeze?

The TransPacific Partnership is far from a done deal,. Delay in securing Congressional approval for Fast Track has high odds of throwing a fatal wrench in the overseas timing.