Category Archives: Social values

Syriza Emulates Nixon Going to China in a Bad Way

It’s painful to watch the Greek ruling coalition unwittingly do the creditors’ work by wringing Greece dry of cash more aggressively than Pasok or New Democracy would have dared to.

This entry was posted in Doomsday scenarios, Economic fundamentals, Europe, Politics, Social policy, Social values on May 4, 2015 by Yves Smith.

Insurance in Extended Families

Yves here. Color me appalled by the premise of this post. It starts from the assumption that social safety nets are bad because they crowd out “informal institutions” namely family, as the insurer of the last resort. Note it may be unfair to single out this post, since the authors are addressing an apparently conventional […]

This entry was posted in Free markets and their discontents, Guest Post, Social policy, Social values, The dismal science on May 1, 2015 by Yves Smith.

Satyajit Das: Two Views of Japan’s Setting Sun

Das discusses two recent books on Japan, and both provide windows on how Japan is coping with its now lost two decades. One of them is by Tag Murphy, who I met in my days in Japan and has long been a very insightful commentator. As I said at the Atlantic Economy conference, rather than trying to “jump start the economy,” which would take more radical restructuring than they are willing to engage in, the top wealthy might be better served to worry about managing low growth better. And for its many flaws, egalitarian Japan has muddled through a far more severe bubble and bust with more grace than we have.

This entry was posted in Economic fundamentals, Guest Post, Japan, Politics, Social values on April 28, 2015 by Yves Smith.

Bill Black: Obama & TPP – Every One That Doeth Evil Hateth the Light

President Obama wants the world to know that he takes it personally that the Democratic Party’s base opposes his latest effort to sell out the people of the world to the worst corporations through the infamous Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal.

This entry was posted in Banana republic, Banking industry, Doomsday scenarios, Globalization, Guest Post, Legal, Politics, Social policy, Social values on April 26, 2015 by Yves Smith.

Gaius Publius: What’s Wrong with Wyden-Hatch-Ryan’s Fast Track Bill – The Specifics

Why the proposed “fast track” authorization for misnamed “trade” deals is even worse than you imagined.

This entry was posted in Banana republic, Free markets and their discontents, Globalization, Guest Post, Legal, Politics, Social policy, Social values on April 22, 2015 by Yves Smith.

The IMF’s Big Greek Mistake

Instead of demanding repayment and further austerity, the IMF should recognize its responsibility for Greece’s predicament and forgive much of the debt.

This entry was posted in Banking industry, Doomsday scenarios, Europe, Guest Post, Politics, Social values on April 22, 2015 by Yves Smith.

The Continuing Depopulation of Detroit

Detroit is getting the same treatment as Latvia and Ireland, and we are already seeing similar results in Greece, with most people who have good foreign job prospects taking a hike. But while Latvia and Ireland stabilized at much lower levels of output and have started to recover from their, Detroit, like Greece, looks like a failed state. And this is perversely seen as acceptable in America.

On Generic Management in Health Care: Hospital Chief Information Officers (CIOs) Say Patient Engagement is All About… Themselves?

Health care management seems to believe it delivers health care, as opposed to facilitating those who really deliver it: Doctors and nurses.

This entry was posted in Guest Post, Health care, Social values, Technology and innovation on April 20, 2015 by Lambert Strether.

Quick Note on Slavery, Finance, Minsky, and the Panic of 1837

Looking at slavery from the financial perspective, 1837 looks a lot like the Crash of 2007 – 2008.

Richard Wolff: Scapegoat Economics 2015

A new politics organized around scapegoat economics appeals to voters by promising to “protect” them from austerity policies.

This entry was posted in Banking industry, Europe, Guest Post, Politics, Regulations and regulators, Social policy, Social values on April 15, 2015 by Lambert Strether.

Satyajit Das: Book Reviews – Politics and Political Posers

These books merely confirm our worst fears. Today, acquisition and preservation of power is all. The self-interest of politicians and their associated apparatchiks dominates.

This entry was posted in Guest Post, Politics, Social values on April 14, 2015 by Lambert Strether.