Michael Hudson’s favorite theme: why debt cancellation was a regular practice in ancient societies and what happens now that we’ve rejected it
Recent Items
Thursday, December 25, 2025
Michael Hudson: On Debt Parasites
Topics: Credit markets, Economic fundamentals, Free markets and their discontents, Guest Post, Income disparity, Moral hazard, Politics, Privatization, Social policy, Social values, The destruction of the middle class
Posted by Yves Smith at 4:48 am | 43 Comments »
2:00PM Water Cooler 1/6/2022
~ Today’s Water Cooler ~
Topics: Guest Post, Water Cooler
Posted by Lambert Strether at 2:00 pm | 119 Comments »
Strong Earthquakes Spell Trouble For America’s Oil Heartland
It’s hardly a secret that fracking has produced a sharp increase in the frequency of earthquakes. But now they are becoming more severe too.
Topics: Commodities, Doomsday scenarios, Energy markets, Environment, Guest Post, Regulations and regulators
Posted by Yves Smith at 9:55 am | 17 Comments »
Links 1/6/2022
Topics: Links
Posted by Yves Smith at 6:55 am | 187 Comments »
The Fed Sets Out to Kill the Economy to Save It
The Fed is trying to solve an economic problem that is largely outside its reach.
Topics: Banana republic, Dubious statistics, Economic fundamentals, Federal Reserve, Free markets and their discontents, Macroeconomic policy, Pandemic, Politics
Posted by Yves Smith at 6:42 am | 91 Comments »
Lawrence Wilkerson: Is Biden Risking War by Pushing Taiwan Independence?
Larry Wilkerson discusses whether Biden is provoking a military response from China that could go nuclear.
Topics: China, Doomsday scenarios, Guest Post, Income disparity, Middle East, Politics, Russia
Posted by Yves Smith at 4:59 am | 67 Comments »
Our Ancestors Worked Less and Had Better Lives. What Are We Doing Wrong?
In an age of both untold prosperity and existential crisis, it’s time to rethink work
Topics: Free markets and their discontents, Guest Post, Income disparity, Social values, The destruction of the middle class
Posted by Yves Smith at 4:22 am | 43 Comments »
2:00PM Water Cooler 1/5/2022
~ Today’s Water Cooler ~
Topics: Water Cooler
Posted by Lambert Strether at 2:00 pm | 143 Comments »
Germs in the Family: The Long-Term Consequences of Intra-Household Endemic Respiratory Disease Spread
Garden-variety respiratory infections lead to more hospitalizations among infants than older kids and produce adverse long term results.
Topics: Doomsday scenarios, Guest Post, Health care, Pandemic, Risk and risk management
Posted by Yves Smith at 9:55 am | 7 Comments »
Links 1/5/2022
Topics: Links
Posted by Yves Smith at 6:55 am | 211 Comments »
More Omicron: Diabetics Appear Even More Vulnerable as Diabetic Ketoacidosis Strikes
A wee update on the state of Omicron.
Topics: Doomsday scenarios, Dubious statistics, Health care, Pandemic, Risk and risk management
Posted by Yves Smith at 6:54 am | 49 Comments »
Covid Crisis Hits New York City Schools
With students and teacher absences high, New York City schools are buckling under Omicron. A harbinger for other US cities?
Topics: Doomsday scenarios, Guest Post, Health care, Pandemic, Politics, Social policy
Posted by Yves Smith at 5:20 am | 57 Comments »
Is the Doom of Humanity Really Inevitable? Maybe Not.
David Graeber and David Wengrow contend early humanity featured experiments in living that have much to teach us.
Topics: Free markets and their discontents, Guest Post, Privatization, Social values
Posted by Yves Smith at 4:17 am | 76 Comments »
2:00PM Water Cooler 1/4/2022
~ Today’s Water Cooler ~
Topics: Guest Post, Water Cooler
Posted by Lambert Strether at 2:00 pm | 105 Comments »
Links 1/4/2022
Topics: Guest Post, Links
Posted by Lambert Strether at 6:55 am | 113 Comments »



