Category Archives: Dubious statistics

Science Versus Scientism in Real Life: Where Do We Go from Here?

An engaging discussion of science-adjacent scintism, including Theranos. glysophate, Golden Rice, and rewilding.

The Bizarre and Widely Disparaged Fitch Downgrade of US Government Debt to AA+

The financial press and Mr. Market shrugged off the Fitch downgrade of US government debt from AAA to AA+. Why?

Central Banks and Income Distribution: Does the Taylor Rule Push Up Rentier Incomes?

An explanation of how a favorite Fed rate setting tool, the Taylor Rule, promotes inequality by shifting income away from workers.

Revealed: Fossil Fuel Giants Are Using British Influencers to go Viral

Some badly-needed naming and shaming of soi-disant influencers who ran undisclosed advertorials for dirty energy companies

‘Time for Congress to Act’: Sanders, Scott Unveil $17 Federal Minimum Wage Bill

Another push for a minimum wage boost. The gap between the $17 target and the current level of $7.25 an hour is a yawning chasm.

James Galbraith: How Central Bank Myths and Practices Support Financiers and Dollar Hegemony

Sadly, some bank-serving fables are very durable, so James Galbraith has (yet another) go at them.

The United States’ Financial Quandary: ZIRP’s Only Exit Path Is a Crash

Michael Hudson takes a long, hard look at the origins and costs of the Fed’s ZIRP policy.

It’s Hard for Americans to Engage in China-Bashing Without Tripping on Contradictions

There are no doubt good reasons for Americans to be concerned about China, but our official justificaitons don’t stand up to scrutiny.

The Candidacy and Claims of RFK Jr.

Economist Rajiv Sethi has a look at RFK, Jr.’s election prospects and thinks mainstream experts are underestimating him.

The New York Times Thinks Worker Suffering Is a Fair Price for Lower Inflation

Per the Times, inflation must be tackled, and the only way to do so is through lowering incomes and potentially jacking up unemployment.

Central Banks, Green Finance, and the Climate Crisis

The tough policy choices ahead for confronting the climate crisis.

Oil Prices, Oil Profits, Speculation, and Inflation

n the not inconsiderable role of speculation in the crude oil market in the increase in the WTI crude oil price.

IMF Confirms that Profits Are Driving Inflation

It’s now undeniable that corporate profits are playing a big role in our current inflation.

Why Interest Rate Rises Are Fueling Inflation

Is central bank inflatin medicine even worse than it seems?

Higher Minimum Wages and Mixed Effects on Health

A challenge to arguments about the health benefits of increasing minimum wages. Readers?