Category Archives: Economic fundamentals

Ukraine Endgame Accelerates as Congress Denies Any Funding in Stopgap Bill and Fico Wins in Slovakia Vote

Project Ukraine is going wobbly.

The Neoclassical Growth of China

A model finds that China closely tracked the trajectory of Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. Does this claim hold up to close scrutiny?

$100 Oil Is Bad For The Economy (And For OPEC+)

$100 a barrel oil does not bode well for the economy in the US and even more so around the world. What might the political fallout be?

The State of Antitrust and the FTC’s Case Against Amazon

The FTC suit against Amazon argues the online giant coerced its online merchants. How does that map against antitrust law?

The Coming Ukraine Collapse and the “Rebuilding” Headfake

The hyping of Ukraine rebuilding is at least as delusional as the earlier war talk.

Poland & Ukraine Have Plunged Into A Full-Blown Political Crisis With No End In Sight

Ukraine and its one-time enthusiastic backer Poland are in an escalating row, due at least in part to the need to play domestic politics.

The Intercept’s Latest Leak Might Deal Irreparable Damage to Pakistani-Chinese Relations

The latest Intercept leaks confirm the notion that neither China nor Russia can trust Pakistan. That has awkward implications for China.

Yanis Varoufakis: TECHNOFEUDALISM – What Killed Capitalism

Yanis Varoufakis’ forthcoming book examines our changed economic system, which he callls “technofeudalism.”

The South China Sea’s Resource Wars

Taiwan is only a part of the ongoing conflict between Chana and America plus its Asian allies.

At What Level Will Saudi Arabia And Russia Stop Pushing Oil Prices Higher?

Russia and Saudi Arabia seem finally to have gotten the oil price increases they wanted. How much higher might they go?

A Sign that the West Is Having to Compete for Emerging Economy Loyalty? Long Overdue Progress on Africa-Instigated International Tax Reform

After long resistance by rich nations, African governments successfully pushed for the UN to lead on international tax cooperation.

Will It Be Socialism or Barbarism for the Twenty-First Century?

How the end of policies supporting the material well-being of workers, aka socialism, has created widespread distress and political schisms.

My Favorite Recession Indicator: The Next Recession Moves Further Out of Sight

There will be a recession, there’s always a recession eventually. But we’ll just have to keep watching for it.

Productive and Unproductive Crises

Making a case from past crises that we’ll muddle through our current set and thanks to technology, eventually come out better.