Tag Archives: Great Depression 2.0

Is Slow or No Economic Growth the New Normal for the United States?

In the below TED talk, economic growth skeptic, Robert Gordon, explains his views: ___________ His vision is certainly a splash of cold water on the Ray Kurzweil’s of this world. But I’m impressed by neither the assumptions he makes nor … Continue reading

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The Greece and Italy Crash and Burn

Greece appears to be going down, and now the Italians are panicking. This is in London’s Telegraph today (written by its international business editor, Ambrose Evans-Pritchard): Italy’s former premier Romano Prodi said the EU risks instant contagion to Spain, Italy, … Continue reading

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Syriza Watch: In Greece, The Center Does Not Hold, And That Means This Bell Is For You

The radical-left Syriza party’s meteoric rise in Grecian politics (it trailed the conservatives by just 2 percentage points in recent elections) has placed Greece on the verge of default. Here’s John Psarapoulos, writing for the Daily Beast, on the fast … Continue reading

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Paul Krugman’s Advice to Italy and Spain: Inflate and Stimulate

Paul Krugman continues to think that what’s going on in Greece, Italy, and Spain says nothing—nothing!—about the political culture surrounding welfare statism in Europe and everything about the way the euro ties the hands of those making monetary policy: Japan is much more deeply … Continue reading

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“Inside Job” documentary: a must see

If you haven’t seen Inside Job yet, it’s a must see. I’ve watched it on DVD three times over the past week. It’s one of the most powerful documentaries I’ve ever encountered (and I’m a longtime follower of documentaries). Liberal or conservative, … Continue reading

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The Global Financial Crisis 101

Perhaps the most honest, clear, and perceptive take on the international financial crisis to date:

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California is Spain: A Debt Crisis Looms for the Golden State

This is front page news in the New York Times today, and, as a California resident, it’s alarming: [M]any state and local governments have so much debt — several trillion dollars’ worth, with much of it off the books and largely … Continue reading

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Paul Krugman 101: Paul Krugman Explains America’s Catch-22 Economy

Now that the Republicans have won the House of Representatives, Paul Krugman predicts their next moves: They’ll refuse to do anything to boost the economy now, claiming to be worried about the deficit, while simultaneously increasing long-run deficits with irresponsible … Continue reading

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Herbert Hoover Ascendent?

In a recent New York Times article, Paul Krugman sees Europe and America channeling Herbert Hoover: As far as rhetoric is concerned, the revival of the old-time religion is most evident in Europe, where officials seem to be getting their … Continue reading

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While you were sleeping, Europe’s Greece crisis was deepening

This at the UK’s Guardian: “The crisis in Greece could pose as big a risk to the global economy and financial markets as the collapse of Lehman Brothers did in September 2008”, said Julian Jessop, of Capital Economics. He added: … Continue reading

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Paul Krugman on the importance of bank regulation

At his blog, Nobel Prize economist Paul Krugman succinctly explains the importance of banking regulation and why Barack Obama must fight for it—and win: I’m reading Gary Gorton’s Slapped by the Invisible Hand, which tells us that there were bank … Continue reading

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The Politics of Economic Stormy Weather?

It would seem that the political fate of Barack Obama and the Democrats is pretty much out of their hands. If the economy recovers, it’s all roses; if it doesn’t, there might not be much that the government can do, and the … Continue reading

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From Liberty Bonds to Bailout Bonds?

The NY Times says that Barack Obama is contemplating letting small individual investors in on the bank bailout—wedding Main Street to Wall Street. Like a mutual or bond fund, you would buy shares, perhaps for as little as a few … Continue reading

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Are Global Markets on the Mend?

According to the New York Times today, some economists and market analysts are moving into the realm of the cautiously optimistic: Garry Evans, Asia strategist at HSBC in Hong Kong, in a note last week said that “history shows that … Continue reading

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Don’t Question or Mock Authority? Jeff Zucker Responds to Jon Stewart by Sounding Like the Pope

Speak truth to power. NBC’s Chief Executive, Jeff Zucker, is pissed at Jon Stewart for mocking CNBC “authority” on matters of business. So reports Reuters: “Just because someone who mocks authority says something doesn’t make it so,” Zucker said, describing the … Continue reading

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Conservative David Frum Calls Out Glenn Beck of Fox News for Passing Out Conspiracy Literature to His In-Studio Audience

Conservative David Frum, of New Majority, notes that Glenn Beck (of Fox News) has been promoting ONE WORLD ILLUMINATI conspiracy theories: The audience for Beck’s Friday night special were each given copies of two books. One of them was Cleon Skousen’s Five Thousand … Continue reading

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Fareed Zakaria’s GPS is the Best Political Talk Show on Television

I’m blown away by the consistently high quality of Fareed Zakaria’s CNN Sunday show, “Fareed Zakaria’s GPS.” He always seems to find, for his show, the super smart among the super smart, and they always seem to have a thought provoking, … Continue reading

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Jon Stewart Takes Down Jim Cramer and Other Fatuous CNBC Business Show Prognosticators

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“I’m Still Falling”: A Russian Joke and the Global Economy

There is a Russian joke that I like, and that bears upon the global economy. It goes like this: Ivan sees his friend, Dmitri, fall into an old well. Ivan runs up to the rim of the well and calls down, “Oh my God, … Continue reading

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Don’t Buy Yet?: Yale Economist Robert Shiller Thinks the Housing Market is Only Halfway to Its Bottom

Yale economist, Robert Shiller, thinks we are only halfway to the bottom of the housing market, and, in consequence, that the economy’s general recovery is still 3-5 years off. See a five minute interview with Shiller, and a chart that he … Continue reading

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