Liberal elites see mass movements as endangering their ‘educated and wise leadership’. Populism and anti-populism has deep roots in American history.
Recent Items
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Thomas Frank: Populism is Not Mob Rule
Topics: Banana republic, Free markets and their discontents, Guest Post, Income disparity, Politics, Social policy, Social values
Posted by Yves Smith at 4:50 am | 67 Comments »
Even If Joe Biden Wins in a Blowout, the ‘Global Economy’ Is Not Coming Back
Why corporations are past the high water mark for global commerce.
Topics: Auto industry, China, Economic fundamentals, Free markets and their discontents, Globalization, Guest Post, Politics
Posted by Yves Smith at 3:55 am | 47 Comments »
2:00PM Water Cooler 7/24/2020
COVID charts for the five problem states, smaller states, and the world ~ Biden trolls health care ~ Trump losing Iowa, Florida, donors ~ The War Party ~ 2016 is Year Zero ~ Rejected absentee ballots ~ Leading indicators, housing, rail ~ Vaccines ~ 1619 Project ~ Cake ~ What is an individual?
Topics: Guest Post, Water Cooler
Posted by Lambert Strether at 2:00 pm | 156 Comments »
Essential – and Expendable – Labor, in Mexico, for the US
How workers in Mexico are now essential—to U.S. corporations.
Topics: Banana republic, Economic fundamentals, Free markets and their discontents, Globalization, Guest Post, Income disparity, Politics, The destruction of the middle class
Posted by Yves Smith at 9:55 am | 10 Comments »
Links 7/24/2020
Topics: Guest Post, Links
Posted by Lambert Strether at 6:55 am | 216 Comments »
Unequal Consequences of COVID-19 Across Age and Income
A six-country look at who is affected by Covid-19 and what there responses tend to be.
Topics: Guest Post, Health care, Income disparity, Pandemic, Social policy
Posted by Yves Smith at 4:57 am | 6 Comments »
Brexit and Inertia
Things have changed very little on the Brexit front, which is not good.
Topics: Brexit, Doomsday scenarios, Free markets and their discontents, Globalization, Japan, Politics
Posted by Yves Smith at 4:00 am | 48 Comments »
Why Does Essential Work Pay So Little… And Cost So Much?
Ruminations on the nature of work and employment.
Topics: Economic fundamentals, Guest Post, Income disparity, Social values, The destruction of the middle class
Posted by Yves Smith at 12:15 am | 20 Comments »
2:00PM Water Cooler 7/23/2020
New and improved COVID chart ~ Biden’s promises rich donors no new legislation ~ Biden’s empathy ~ Karen Bass in Biden veepstakes ~ Sanders on task forces ~ Glen Ford on fascism ~ Unemployment, manfacturing ~ Climate migration ~ Breonna Taylor ~ Sid the Kitten ~ Taibbi bingo
Topics: Guest Post, Water Cooler
Posted by Lambert Strether at 2:00 pm | 108 Comments »
Indian Farmers Are Staring at Suicide as Modi Government Looks the Other Way
An account from India on farmer suicide and why many could have been prevented.
Topics: Doomsday scenarios, Economic fundamentals, Free markets and their discontents, Guest Post, India, Pandemic, Politics, Social policy
Posted by Yves Smith at 9:55 am | 10 Comments »
Links 7/23/2020
Topics: Links
Posted by Yves Smith at 6:55 am | 249 Comments »
Pathbreaking Public Pension Case Mayberry v. KKR Is Back From the Dead as Kentucky Attorney General Joins Case
The unexpected resurrection of the pathbreaking pension lawsuit Mayberry v. KKR is a welcome but politically extremely puzzling development.
Topics: Banana republic, Hedge funds, Investment management, Legal, Politics, Ridiculously obvious scams
Posted by Yves Smith at 6:54 am | 22 Comments »
Are American Colleges and Universities the Next Covid Casualties?
Colleges and universities need to be saved, not only from financial ruin, but also, all too often, from themselves.
Topics: Doomsday scenarios, Guest Post, Income disparity, Social policy, Student loans, The destruction of the middle class
Posted by Yves Smith at 5:03 am | 62 Comments »
Marketing Is the Original Behavioral Economics
Showing that behavioral economics is just marketing wine in new bottles.
Topics: Guest Post, Ridiculously obvious scams, The dismal science
Posted by Yves Smith at 4:42 am | 27 Comments »
2:00PM Water Cooler 7/22/2020
~ Today’s Water Cooler ~
Topics: Guest Post, Water Cooler
Posted by Lambert Strether at 2:00 pm | 144 Comments »