Category Archives: Free markets and their discontents

Schadenfraude Alert: Airbnb Mini-Moguls in Meltdown as Bookings Collapse

Once fat and happy Airbnb landlords are now in a world of hurt.

Public Health and Private Profits Under COVID-19 Pandemic

More discussion of how the private sector is undermining responses to Covid-19.

In a Slap in the Face to Progressives, Biden Appoints Larry Summers, a “Literal Architect of Neoliberalism,” to Economic Advisory Role

If you need proof that Biden doesn’t give a damn about oridinary people, his bringing Larry Summers in from political exile should convince you.

Max Blumenthal and Ben Norton With Michael Hudson: How The US Makes Countries Pay For Its Wars – Economics Of American Imperialism

Economist Michael Hudson explains how American imperialism has created a global free lunch, where the US makes foreign countries pay for its wars, and even their own occupation.

Max Blumenthal and Ben Norton With Michael Hudson: US Coronavirus “Bailout” Is a $6 Trillion Scam

Michael Hudson explians why the coronavirus bailouts are even more of a gimmie to the rich than they look.

Coronavirus-Induced Food Supply Disruptions Hitting Farmers, Poor Consumers

Food scarcity is already starting to bite in the US and is likely to become a serious problem in much of the world.

Become a Manufacturing Powerhouse in 2020—An Economic Recipe for Our Times

On bringing manufacturing back home.

Inequality and the Coronavirus: Destroying American Society From the Top Down

Coronavirus is exposing the severity of inequality in the US, particulary limited access to health care and the health costs of poverty.

Replacing Workers Has Many Costs

Companies remains short-sighted about the cost of ditching workers.

Who Benefits When the Price of Insulin Soars?

Contrary to pharmaceutical company claims, revenue from high insulin prices are going to shareholders, not R&D

How COVID-19 Showed America’s Dependence on Blue-Collar Workers

The outbreak of “hero” talk is a long-overdue admission that blue-collar workers are the backbone of the US economy. Time to pay them more.

Lockdown Rebelliousness: Denying that Coronavirus Is in Charge

The supposed irresistable force of the economy is losing out to the immovable object of the coronavirus.

Taleb: The Only Man Who Has A Clue

A recap of what Taleb and his fellow complex systems analysts have been saying about coronavirus. Not pretty.

The New Fault Lines in a Post-Globalized World

Coronavirus is smashing up the economic and political order. What sort of world comes next?