Category Archives: Free markets and their discontents

University of California Comes to a Standstill as Academic Workers Strike

Workers at 10 UC campuses struck after the university system failed to offer compensation commensurate to the cost of living in California.

The Only Crypto Story You Need? A Response to Matt Levine’s The Crypto Story

A wide-ranging discussion of why defenses of crypto don’t stand up to scrutiny.

Tom Ferguson: Worker’s Wages & Leverage are the Real Targets

Why did Corporate Democrats “cede” the economic argument? Are they really fighting inflation or trying to weaken workers’ bargaining power?

You’re Living in a World Wrought by Central Banks. Notice Anything Wrong?

Nomi Prins warns that central banks’ strategies are destroying the real economy, worsening inequality, and creating societal chaos.

FTX: New Ex-Enron CEO Finds “Complete Absence of Trustworthy Financial Information,” $3.3 Billion Loans to SBF, Customer Deposits Not Recorded on Balance Sheets; Confirms Software Backdoors, Auto-Deleted Communications

FTX is an even bigger mess than someone with a creative streak might have imagined.

Not Every Robin = Spring and Not Every Story About Moving Away from the Dollar Is Well Founded

A small illustration of why some of the stories about reducing dollar dependence are misguided.

Where’s the Contagion from the Crypto Implosion?

Why, if you aren’t in crypto, you can watch the meltdown in comparative comfort.

Sick Profit: Investigating Private Equity’s Stealthy Takeover of Health Care Across Cities and Specialties

Another account of the extent of the private equity health care grifting, as well as some avenues to check these abuses.

As Gig Economy Grows, Its Toll on Workers Mounts

Democrats help the gig economy expands its reach as it brings pain and suffering to more American workers.

Sam Bankman-Fried and FTX Were Up to No Good, Including Their Customer Agreement

In the unlikely event you have any doubt, Sam Bankman-Fried and his merry band of FTX rogues look mighty dishonest.

Repairing a Fractured World Economy?

Richard Kozul-Wright describes the current world economic disorder, and discusses possibilities and limits of effective regional responses

Oil Executives Warn G7 Price Cap Could Lead To Stranded Tankers

The more you look at the G7 Russian oil price scheme, the worse it appears.

How Workers and Pro-Union Politicians Team Up for Fair Trade

The US gets out of bed to go after some illegal foreign trade subsidies. Sadly this sort of thing does not happen very often.

Real Progressives Live with Michael Hudson: The Destiny of Civilization

Michael Hudson explains how financial capitalism won the struggle with industrial capitalism and gave rentiers the upper hand.