The Russian version of America’s flyover has it pretty bad: declining industries and environmental stress.
Recent Items
Monday, October 13, 2025
Emergency Situation: The Slow-Moving Tragedy of the Russian Arctic
Topics: Doomsday scenarios, Energy markets, Environment, Global warming, Guest Post, Income disparity, Russia, The destruction of the middle class
Posted by Yves Smith at 6:54 am | 16 Comments »
Another COVID Mystery: Patients Survive Ventilator, But Linger in a Coma
Another way Covid-19 can mess up people who survive the disease: protracted comas
Topics: Guest Post, Health care, Pandemic, Science and the scientific method
Posted by Yves Smith at 5:21 am | 6 Comments »
CalPERS Board Member Theresa Taylor, Under Investigation for Multi-Year Failure to Report Income, Digs Her and CalPERS’ Hole Deeper Via Supporting Conflicted Actions Taken by Ex-Chief Investment Officer Meng
CalPERS’ Board Vice President Theresa Taylor shoots herself and CalPERS in the foot.
Topics: CalPERS, Corporate governance, Investment management, Private equity
Posted by Yves Smith at 12:40 am | 37 Comments »
2:00PM Water Cooler 8/26/2020
Covid in the Midwest and regionally ~ Biden’s grief ~ Trump air war and swing states ~ Kanye West ~ Markey v. Kennedy ~ Coleman ~ Republican National Convention ~ Durable goods, two recessions, debt, Chrome debacle ~ Kenosha: Two dead ~ Executive superspreaders ~ That asteroid
Topics: Guest Post, Water Cooler
Posted by Lambert Strether at 2:00 pm | 205 Comments »
How Do Banks Create Money?
A short primer on banks from a Modern Monetary Theory perspective.
Topics: Banking industry, Credit markets, Guest Post, Payment system, Regulations and regulators
Posted by Yves Smith at 9:55 am | 29 Comments »
Links 8/26/2020
Topics: Guest Post, Links
Posted by Lambert Strether at 6:55 am | 226 Comments »
Columbia Journalism Review Publishes Detailed Expose on Gates Foundation Buys Influence With Journalists
Why you should not trust the Gates Foundation.
Topics: Africa, Banana republic, Free markets and their discontents, Health care, Income disparity, Media watch, Pandemic, Politics, Social policy
Posted by Yves Smith at 5:44 am | 33 Comments »
Summer Rerun: Journey into a Libertarian Future: Part III – Regulation
Another dive, in both senses of the word, into the implications of libertarian ideology.
Topics: Banana republic, Economic fundamentals, Free markets and their discontents, Guest Post, Politics, Regulations and regulators
Posted by Yves Smith at 5:16 am | 8 Comments »
Robot Generals: Will They Make Better Decisions Than Humans – Or Worse?
The odd idea of replacing generals with AI is getting a hearing.
Topics: Banana republic, Guest Post, Politics, Technology and innovation
Posted by Yves Smith at 1:09 am | 39 Comments »
2:00PM Water Cooler 8/25/2020
~ Today’s Water Cooler ~
Topics: Guest Post, Water Cooler
Posted by Lambert Strether at 2:00 pm | 219 Comments »
World Bank’s ‘Mobilizing Finance for Development’ Not Financing Development
The World Bank is trying to rebrand a failed public private partnership scheme as “blended finance”. Developing countries, beware.
Topics: Banana republic, Credit markets, Economic fundamentals, Guest Post, Investment management, Privatization, Ridiculously obvious scams
Posted by Yves Smith at 9:55 am | 7 Comments »
Links 8/25/2020
Topics: Links
Posted by Yves Smith at 6:55 am | 310 Comments »
The Wealth of Corporations: Why Firms Have Zero Net Worth, and Why It Matters
A theory of net worth and what that means for measurements of wealth.
Topics: Guest Post, Investment management, The dismal science
Posted by Yves Smith at 6:53 am | 29 Comments »
Foreign Direct Investment and Supply Chains in a Risky World
More forecasts on the future of supply chains.
Topics: China, Economic fundamentals, Globalization, Guest Post, Pandemic
Posted by Yves Smith at 6:19 am | 7 Comments »
Former Board Member Jelincic: CalPERS Claims It Is Protecting Confidential, as in Criminal, Informants in Hiding Details About Lending
CalPERS made damaging statements to justify withholding information about private loans. That suggestswhat it was hiding is even worse.
Topics: Banana republic, Banking industry, CalPERS, Credit markets, Legal, Private equity, Ridiculously obvious scams
Posted by Yves Smith at 10:42 pm | 27 Comments »