Category Archives: Regulations and regulators

How Do Banks Create Money?

A short primer on banks from a Modern Monetary Theory perspective.

Summer Rerun: Journey into a Libertarian Future: Part III – Regulation

Another dive, in both senses of the word, into the implications of libertarian ideology.

Paltry Flint Toxic Water Settlement: Let’s NOT Kill All the Lawyers (at Least Not Some of Them)

Michigan gets off easy with its $600 million settlement of allegations that lead-tainted water in Flint has caused permanent brain damage for its victims.

How the Agricultural Lobby Is Sabotaging Europe’s Green Deal

The European Commission’s ambitous Green Deal plans are already stumbling over bureaucratic infighting and ag industry opposition.

How Dairy Monopolies Keep Milk Off the Shelves

How consolidation in dairy processing has led to overproduction of milk and dumping.

Fed Economists Finger Monopoly Concentration as Underlying Driver of Neoliberal Economic Restructuring; Barry Lynn in Harpers and Fortnite Lawsuit Put Hot Light on Tech Monopoly Power

Some good work on monopoly is marred by the bizarre inclusion of Uber. Its predatory pricing is the result of deep pockets and ideology, not potential market power.

The Bakken Boom Goes Bust With No Money to Clean up the Mess

How the Bakken oil boom, particularly hasty development and transport by rail, was destined to create an environmental hangover…..and no one bothered to prevent it.

Trump EPA Poised to Weaken Obama Methane Rule, Despite Possibility of Later CRA Overturn

Trump EPA to weaken Obama methane rule, acceding to fossial fuel pressure, despite the Congressional Review Act, which may kick in aft Nov.

Why International Financial Regulation Still Falls Short

Financial regulators still don’t like to tame bubbles even after seeing how costly it is when they go boom. Shame, that.

Hubert Horan: The Airline Industry Collapse Part 3 – Recovery Expectations Were Always Dreadfully Wrong

Not only is the airline industry in desperate shape, but its executives have made its bad situation worse, increasing resolution costs for all bagholders.

Vaccine Research on Covid-19: An Update

A clinical and not very cheery look at the state of Covid-19 vaccine play.

Public Health Experts Fear a Hasty FDA Signoff on Vaccine

Experts have the willies about the rush to get a Covid-19 vaccine approved.

Plastics in Oceans Will Triple By 2040, Absent Immediate Drastic Action

Unless we take drastic steps NOW- and stop allowing plastics pushers to set the agenda- plastics in the world’s oceans will triple in twenty years, by 2040.

Boeing 737 Max Ungrounding Pushed Back Again; WSJ Sources Say Early 2021

Moar bad news for the 737 Max.

COVID-19 Mistakes to Avoid: Don’t Conflate Contact Tracing with Contact Tracing By App

Big Tech and Big Pharma each has a dog in the COVID-19 fight and wish to replace what has worked before and is working now with technofixes.