7 $ins?

Mind reading

A selection of recent articles, comments, books, news or upcoming events on capitalism, economics and economies, society and sociology, politics, trends, crises… on www.mikeconomics.net. To give a broader perspective -of the same mind, a different mind or of two minds-, spark discussions, spot some trends, and carry on the debate launched in many places, including Mike Guillaume’s book “The Seven Deadly Sins of Capitalism”. Although many articles and comments are picked because of their connection with the book, Mike does not necessarily endorse all the ones published, but found them worthy of attention. The debate goes on! Headlines appear in their original wording. Some words or figures may be highlighted or underlined.

The related sin (capital or venial) as addressed in Mike’s book is referred to below each piece (in orange fonts).

 

Global carbon emissions to rise 43 percent by 2035, says US report

Global emissions of carbon dioxide will grow by 43 per cent by 2035 if current patterns of energy usage continue and no global restrictions are applied, according to the latest figures from the US Energy Information Administration.
The emissions rise will be driven by a 49 per cent increase in the world’s energy consumption over the same period. Developing Asia will account for 35 per cent of the increase. From: http://www.businessgreen.com/business-green/news/2263703/global-carbon-emissions-rise.

Too Much. Too Selfish.

 

It is time to plan for the post-Keynesian era

By Jeffrey Sachs, Financial Times (June 8, 2010).

Alternatives.

 

Keynes vs. Alesina. Alesina Who?

Alberto Alesina is a new favorite of fiscal hawks like former President George W. Bush's chief economic adviser, N. Gregory Mankiw. A professor of economics at Harvard University, the 53-year-old Italian disputes the need for more government spending to prop up growth and advocates spending cuts instead. Read more in BusinessWeek article by Peter Croy (June 30, 2010). http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_28/b4186012969951.htm?chan=rss_topStories_ssi_5.

Too Much. Too Short. Lies. Crazy Rational. Alternatives.

 

When financial markets force too much austerity

This time financial markets do exactly the opposite of what they did prior to the eruption of the crisis. They now judge an increasing number of government bonds to be highly risky, leading investors to sell these bonds and precipitating a debt crisis in the Eurozone. But if financial markets and rating agencies were so spectacularly wrong prior to the crisis, when they underestimated risks, why would they be right now? Questions Paul De Grauwe on www.eurointelligence.com.

Too Short. Too Far. Interdependence. Crazy Rational. Lies.

 

The $1 trillion question about the Greek “rescue”

What would have been the cost of adjustment measures (a) had the Greek crisis been resolved quicker; (b) had the eurozone not been in place (devaluation measures, etc.)? The question is asked by Mike Guillaume in the Economist of the World discussion group on www.linkedin.com.

Too Short. Too Much. Interdependence. Crazy Rational. Lies.

 

Now It’s a European Banking Crisis

While the EU hesitated on a remedy for Greece's debt woes, a virus spread As it spread, markets started to pummel European banks and insurers for their exposure to what could prove to be one of the worst sovereign debt disasters ever. A bank crisis and a debt crisis rolled into one. On www.businessweek.com (April 29, 2010).

Too Big. Too Far. Too Selfish. Interdependence. Crazy Rational.

 

Cash calls expected as Europe’s banks face tests

By Patrick Jenkins and Daniel Schäfer in the Financial Times (July 1, 2010).

 

German banks expected to call on rescue fund

By Gerrit Wiesmann, Patrick Jenkins and David Oakley in the Financial Times (June 30, 2010).

Too Big. Too Short. Too Greedy. Too Far. Lies. Crazy Rational.

 

Economics may be dismal, but it is not a science

By John Kay, in the Financial Times (April 14, 2010).

Too Much. Crazy Rational.

 

The Origins and Development of the Economic Crisis

As the banking crisis emerged upon a startled world, I became increasingly horrified at the actions of governments in response to the crisis. I argued strongly that the response to the crisis would eventually backfire on sovereign states, and we are watching this process now unfolding. My analysis of the situation... is that the banking crisis was a symptom of an economic crisis, not the cause of an economic crisis. That’s how Cynicus Economicus introduces his very interesting perspective on http://cynicuseconomicus.blogspot.com/ (May 23, 2010).

Too Short. Too Much. Crazy Rational. American Debit.

 

A credo for a revived capitalism

At some stage it will be necessary to look beyond bail-outs and emergency packages and ask what kind of capitalism should emerge after the present crisis, writes Samuel Brittan in a well-inspired column in the Financial Times (May 6, 2010).

The Seven Deadly Sins of Capitalism.

 

A Money Too Far

By Paul Krugman, in the New York Times (May 6, 2010).

Too Big. Interdependence. Lies.

 

Warum die spanischen Sparkassen ein Risiko für den Euro sind

Erst Griechenland, jetzt die Iberer? Der Kapitalmarkt sorgt sich um den Bankensektor des Spaniens. In Financial Times Deutschland (May 26, 2010). On www.ftd.de.

Too Big. Too Short. Too Far. Too Selfish. Interdependence. Crazy Rational.

quinn.anya - Flickr CC

 

The end of the euro?

More broadly, and more worryingly, recent developments significantly raise the (long-term) risk of a euro break-up, in our view. That’s what some Morgan Stanley analysts declared. From http://ftalphaville.ft.com/blog/2010/04/15/.

Too Short. Too Far. Too Selfish. Interdependence. Crazy Rational.

 

Don’t blame the euro

With all the turbulence rocking the financial markets and the sharp drop in the euro’s exchange rate, you could almost forget that the single European currency has been quite a success, says Heleen Mees on http://www.eurointelligence.com/.

Too Far. Too Short Interdependence. Crazy Rational.

 

Faut-il sauver notre très cher euro?

le sauvetage de la monnaie unique coûte bien trop cher à l'Europe, et s'en affranchir pourrait nous éviter la catastrophe, écrit le Blogueur Associé sur http://www.marianne2.fr/ (12 mai 2010).

Too Far. Interdependence. Crazy Rational.

 

Spanish Crisis Raises Bailout Fears

In The Independent and BusinessWeek (june 17, 2010).

Too Far. Too Short. Too Big. Interdependence. Crazy Rational.

 

Greece wouldn’t find it easy to leave the Euro

The crisis threatening to spread out from Greece to the other vulnerable members of the single currency has exposed a problem. Europe has copious and precise rules for countries wishing to join the monetary union. There are no contingencies for a country that wants to leave. By Larry Elliott, Economics editor, the Guardian, on http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/apr/29/greece-euro-debt-crisis.

Interdependence.

 

Figures that surprise –or don’t?

In the US… in cash terms, national income has risen $200 billion since the depths of the recession in March 2009. But corporate profits have risen by $280 billion over that period, while wages are down by $90 billion. One would have to go back to the 1950s to find profits outperforming wages in absolute (cash) terms… In Britain, national income rose $27 billion in the last two quarters of last year. Profits were up £24 billion and wages just £2 billion. From Buttonwood on http://www.economist.com/blogs/buttonwood/2010/03/
Giles Wilkes’s comment on http://freethinkingeconomist.com/: This has not been a bad recession for capitalists.

Too Wild. Too Selfish.

 

The post-crisis outlook. Banks in crisis: 1929 and 2007

The 1929 banking crisis that launched the Great Depression was caused by stressed banks whose highly leveraged retail borrowers were unable to meet margin calls on their stock market losses, resulting in bank runs from panicky depositors unprotected by government insurance. In the 1920s, there were very few traders other than professional technical types. By contrast, the 1990s and 2000s were the decades of the day trader and big-time institutions. By Henry C K Liu, in Asia Times. Read more on http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Global_Economy/LD14Dj03.html.

Too Short. Too Greedy. Too Big. Lies. American Debit. Crazy Rational.

 

Time to take Wall Street out of Washington

By Robert Reich, former U.S. labor secretary and professor at the University of California at Berkeley. In the Financial Times (April 26, 2010).

Too Short. Too Much. Too Selfish. Too Greedy. American Debit.

 

Time to get personal about the financial crisis

Those statistics are always worth repeating:
- an increase in the number of people around the world in chronic hunger and poverty by over 100 million, to 1.02 billion;
- between 200,000 and 400,000 more babies could die each year between now and 2015 if the crisis persists;
- an increase in global unemployment by between 29 million and 59 million people;
- one in eight US mortgage borrowers is behind on mortgage payments or facing foreclosure at the end of the second quarter 2009;
- pensioners relying on developed country stock market returns for their retirement incomes have seen their savings fall by 45%.
But all this talk of aggregates repeats part of the problem that got us into this mess in the first place. Aggregates create emotional distance. They enable us to forget that the crisis both impacts and was brought about by individuals. By Andrew and Angela Newton on Apesphere. Read more on http://www.apesphere.com/.

Too Much. Too Wild.

 

Crise: le système est au bord du gouffre? Faisons un pas en avant!

Pourquoi s'évertuer à vouloir sauver un système financier qu'on devrait plutôt remettre en cause et refonder? Le blogueur Laurent Pinsolle retranscrit les propositions d'intellectuels venus de tous bords pour concevoir la finance d'une autre façon. En lui donnant des règles. Sur: http://www.marianne2.fr/Crise-le-systeme-est-au-bord-du-gouffre-Faisons-un-pas-en-avant!_a192234.html.

Alternatives.

 

El riesgo espanol se dispara

La desconexión total entre los discursos de los políticos y las acciones de los inversores se hizo patente ayer. En http://www.elpais.com/articulo/economia/riesgo/espanol/dispara/elpepieco/20100506elpepieco_1/Tes/.

Too Short. Too Far. Too Much. Interdependence. Crazy Rational.

 

Rating bias

The rating agencies have also failed to learn the lessons... Or maybe they are simply turning a blind eye on the likely impact of the recession and dollops of bailout packages on government finances. Since Greece is passé, Spain and Ireland still enjoy very high rating despite their economy being in shambles. By Kunal Kumar Kundu on Kunal's thoughts: http://kunalsthoughts.weebly.com/1/archives/12-2009/1.html.

Too Short. Crazy Rational. Lies. Interdependence.

 

Ratings agencies’ Nixon moment

Conflict of interest concerns raised. Agencies ‘acted in favour of banks’ in the Financial Times (April 25, 2010). Read also internal e-mail leaks. Astonishing, isn’t it¿ Or is it?

Too Short. Crazy Rational. Lies. Interdependence. Buy What.

 

Should financial markets dictate budgetary policies in the eurozone?

The crisis that started in Greece culminated into a crisis of the eurozone as a whole. It may find a temporary resolution... The crisis has made clear that the financial markets... will continue to dictate the speed with which the eurozone governments are reducing their budget deficits and debt levels. By Paul De Grauwe in the Economists’ Forum (Financial Times, March 15, 2010, on http://blogs.ft.com/economistsforum/).

Too Short. Too Far. Too Much. Interdependence. Crazy Rational.

 

ECB must re-examine its dependence on rating agencies

By Erik Nielsen, Chief European Economist at... Goldman Sachs, in the Financial Times Insight column (March 25, 2010).

Too Short. Lies. Crazy Rational.

 

China and Germany unite to impose global deflation

By Martin Wolf, in the Financial Times (March 16, 2010). On http://www.ft.com.

Too Wild.

 

Deutschland über Europa

Up to recently, the German policy, whatever the government, could be summed up as: “What’s good for Europe is good for Germany.” The shift of these last weeks is increasingly regarded as a move in a more self-centred direction. Or : “What’s good for Germany should be good for Europe.” By Mike Guillaume. For the PDF click here.

Too Far. Too Much. Interdependence.

 

Germany: Looking for Bismarck

The current crisis is providing Germany with one of the best opportunities to make its control over the eurozone explicit, before its own demographic problems catch up with it. Germany essentially has a limited window of opportunity in the next 10 years to make or break its leadership of the European Union and therefore its claim to global relevancy. Wrote Stratfor e-mail news (March 26, 2010). More on http://www.stratfor.com

Too Wild. Too Far. Interdependence.

 

Why Germany cannot be a model for the eurozone

By Martin Wolf, in the Financial Times (March 30, 2010). On http://www.ft.com.

Too Far. Too Much. Interdependence.

 

A Greek bail-out at last but no real solution. Greece will default, but not this year

By Wolfgang Munchau, in the Financial Times (April 4 and 11, 2010). On http://www.ft.com

Too Far. Interdependence. Crazy Rational.

 

Greek contagion

By Aline van Duyn, in the Financial Times (Short View) (April 7, 2010). On http://www.ft.com.

Too Far. Too Much. Interdependence. Crazy Rational.

 

The Greek crisis and the future of the eurozone

The crisis that started in Greece culminated into a crisis of the Eurozone as a whole. There is no doubt that the major responsibility rests with the Greek authorities who mismanaged their economy and deceived everybody about the true nature of their budgetary problems... This being said, there is more than one villain in the play. The financial markets and the eurozone authorities also bear part of the responsibility for letting this crisis degenerate into a systemic crisis of the eurozone. The destabilizing role of financial markets has been illustrated dramatically again... Financial markets are first blinded and see no risks, until the wake-up call and then they overreact making the resolution of the problem more difficult. By Paul De Grauwe on http://www.eurointelligence.com/article.581+M56693ac617c.0.html.

Too Short. Too Far. Too Much. Interdependence. Lies. Crazy Rational.

 

Another Greek tragedy? Time for Europhiles to admit the dream is over

It seems that from the Greek crisis, only three scenarios might occur. And all of them qualify as “worst case”. An extended version of Mike Guillaume’s article published in Lib Dem Voice (http://www.libdemvoice.org/ for the Op-Ed and the comments). For the PDF click here.

Too Short. Too Far. Too Much. Interdependence. Lies. Crazy Rational.

 

Greece and Portugal Debt Crisis, Euro An Anchor of Stability?

The world’s attention is on the fiscal malaise in Greece and Portugal. In our assessment, what we see unfolding is a sign of greater instability to come. That said, writing off the euro may be premature; as global dynamics play out, we believe the euro may yet prove to be an anchor of stability. That’s what Axel Merk thinks. Read his full article on http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article17091.html.

 

EU warns Portugal and says bloc needs permanent crisis fund

By Andrew Willis, on http://euobserver.com/9/29861 (April 14, 2010)

Too Short. Too Far. Too Much. Interdependence. Lies. Crazy Rational.

 

Pour sauver la zone euro, il faut que l’Allemagne la quitte

L'Allemagne profite de l'euro pour acheter pas cher à l'extérieur, et revendre cher dans la zone euro. Cela représente 45% de ses exportations et pénalise les autres pays, dont la France. Comment faire? Par Bernard Maris, économiste, sur http://www.marianne2.fr/.

Too Wild. Interdependence. Crazy Rational.

 

Das Hellas-Komplott

Monatelang haben Politiker und Notenbanker um Hilfen für Griechenland gerungen. Sie waren Getriebene: Während sie kämpften und stritten, spekulierten Hedge-Fonds und Banken gnadenlos gegen den Pleitekandidaten und den Euro. Chronik eines europäischen Dramas. In http://www.ftd.de/politik/europa/ (April 26, 2010).

Too Short. Too Far. Interdependence. Lies. Crazy Rational.

 

Can the US Escape Another Lost Decade?

A greater possibility of a double dip? By Kunal Kumar Kundu on http://kunalsthoughts.weebly.com/.

Too Wild. American Debit.

 

Greenspan: 'I was right 70% of the time'

In testimony before the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, Greenspan said the recent financial meltdown was possibly "the most severe in history." He admitted that regulators failed to grasp the severity of the crisis, but he maintained that his policies and predictions were correct most of the time. Story on http://money.cnn.com/2010/04/07/news/economy/Greenspan.

Too Short. Too Far. Too Much. Interdependence. Crazy Rational.

 

A.I.G., Greece, and Who's Next?

As Greece has tottered on the brink of fiscal chaos, threatening to drag much of Europe down with it, Wall Street's role in the fiasco has drawn well-deserved scorn. New York Times Editorial (March 4, 2010), on http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/05/opinion/05fri1.html?hp.

Too Short. Too Far. Too Greedy. Too Wild. Interdependence. Crazy Rational. American Debit.

 

Why do Finland's schools get the best results?

In 2006, Finland's pupils scored the highest average results in science and reading in the whole of the developed world. In the OECD's exams for 15 year-olds, known as PISA, they also came second in maths, beaten only by teenagers in South Korea. This isn't a one-off: in previous PISA tests Finland also came out top. On http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/world_news_america/8601207.stm.

Alternatives.

 

The Uneducated American

Until now, the results of educational neglect have been gradual — a slow-motion erosion of America's relative position. But things are about to get much worse, as the economic crisis … deals a severe blow to education across the board. By Paul Krugman, in his Op-Ed Column in the New York Times. Read the full column on: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/09/opinion/09krugman.html

Too Much. American Debit.

 

Upper Mismanagement Why can't Americans make things? Two words: business school.

By Noam Scheiber. In The New Republic (December 18, 2009). http://www.tnr.com/article/economy/wagoner-henderson

Too Short. Too Selfish. Standard Things. American Debit.

 

California and Kazakhstan –just who is the underdog?

The real Kazakhstan, although not problem-free, looks fairly solid compared to California and many other states, writes Spencer Jakab in the FT (April 3, 2010).

Too Short. Too Selfish. Too Much. American Debit.

 

Financial Reform Endgame

... all momentum for serious banking reform has been lost, wrote Paul Krugman in the New York Times (March 1, 2010).

Too Short. Too Far. Too Greedy. Too Selfish. Crazy Rational. American Debit.

 

Time to outlaw credit default swaps

I generally do not like to propose bans. But I cannot understand why we are still allowing the trade in credit default swaps without ownership of the underlying securities. Especially in the eurozone, currently subject to a series of speculative attacks, a generalised ban on so-called naked CDSs should be a no-brainer. By Wolfgang Munchau in the Financial Times (February 28, 2010).

Too Short. Too Greedy. Too Wild. Interdependence. Crazy Rational. American Debit.

 

10 innovations that will reshape business

From blue-sky computing to less greed (really?) to smater energy sources. By FT writers on http://www.ft.com (February 26, 2010).

Alternatives.

 

The green debate goes tribal

Climate change believers and sceptics are two sides of the same coin – it is logical that one will always hate the other. By Giles Wilkes in The Guardian (February 4, 2010) on http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cif-green/2010/feb/04/climate-change-denial.

Too Much. Growth Nonsense.

 

Bankers' bonuses (again)

Cartoon by Kipper Williams on http://freethinkingeconomist.com/.

Too Short. Too Greedy. Too Selfish. Too Wild. Lies.

 

The Making of a Euromess

The real story behind Europe's troubles lies not in the deficit but in the policy elites who pushed the Continent into adopting a single currency before it was ready. By Paul Krugman in the New York Times (February 14, 2010). Read the Op-Ed on http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/15/opinion/15krugman.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Too Much. Interdependence. Crazy Rational.

 

Eurozone meltdown

Eight scenarios how the unthinkable might happen. In this briefing note we are asking whether the euro area could ever break up. We think not. But we are not as certain as we used to be. A download of this very interesting paper (published in April 2009) may be done from http://www.eurointelligence.com/.

Too Much. Interdependence. Crazy Rational.

 

Germany's Merkel: She's Got the Whole Euro in Her Hands

As head of Europe's biggest economy and the country that has ladled out billions to support the European Union, she has emerged as the key player in the drive to save Greece from default. Good analysis in BusinessWeek (February 17, 2010) on http://www.businessweek.com/.

Too Short. Too Far. Too Wild. Interdependence. Crazy Rational.

 

Wall Street Euro Scams

Lobbyists are quietly working to ensure the secret derivatives deals behind the euro crisis stay secret, reported Michael Hirsch in a Newsweek Web Exclusive article (February 16, 2010). Read on http://www.newsweek.com/.

Too Short. Too Far. Too Greedy. Lies.

 

What's next for the dollar?

Can the dollar rise while the Fed pauses and other market observers believe the Fed will toughen its stance and mop up the liquidity, even if housing is crushed in the process? By Axel Merk, in Asia Times Online (February 5, 2010). Merk is manager of the Merk Hard and Asian currency fund. On http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Global_Economy/.

Too Short. Interdependence. American Debit.

 

The UK as Catalyst for Crisis

The flashpoints for a savage deepening of the crisis are multiplying. The UK is moving closer to the brink, and we now have to wait and see whether those reliant on the state, those bribed by the state, might stand back and make a hard choice, writes Cynicus Economicus on his blog (March 17, 2010). Read on http://cynicuseconomicus.blogspot.com/.

Too Much. Too Wild.

 

Needed: Britain's economic reinvention

Britain's economy is not only going down, but is not up to what it used to be. Economic reinvention should top the agenda. This is neither about betting again on the invisible hand of the market (with a little help from the City) nor counting on the heavy hand of the State. A shorter version of this article by Mike Guillaume was posted on Liberal Democrat Voice (see: http://www.libdemvoice.org/opinion-from-shipyards-to-wind-turbines-britain-needs-bets-17942.html). For an extended version, click here.

Too Far. Too Short. Interdependence. Alternatives.

 

A plan for Britain's banking sector

A collapse has been averted, but there is still a lending crisis. Splitting up the banks should be on the agenda to remove large-scale systemic risks. A more varied banking ecology... Among the many points developed by Vince Cable at a Thomoson Reuters event (February 23, 2010). Full text on: http://www.libdemvoice.org/vince-the-lib-dems-plan-for-the-banking-sector-18055.html.

Too Big. Too Short. Alternatives.

 

What EU regulation has cost the UK

Open Europe finds that regulation has cost the UK economy £176 billion since 1998 and, of this amount, £124 billion, or 71%, had its origin in EU legislation. The report finds that, on average, it is two-and-a-half times more cost-effective to regulate at the national than the EU level. Full report downloadable from http://www.openeurope.org.uk/.

Too Big. Too Far. Too Much.

 

Credit where it's due: the hidden cost of quantitative easing

Quantitative easing was needed to prevent financial collapse but it has made the rich richer – and taxpayers will foot the bill for growing inequality. By Giles Wilkes in The Guardian (March 2, 2010), excerpted from a carefully thought paper written for UK's Centre Forum think tank. Downloadable from http://www.centreforum.org/publications/credit-where-its-due.html.

Too Short. Alternatives.

 

Ireland: more than half of all jobs for young men have disappeared

In total about 55% of jobs for young men have disappeared in the last three years. In some parts of the country, up to two-thirds of young men are now signing on. By Ronan Lyons on http://www.ronanlyons.com.

Too Far. Too Wild. Too Much. Interdependence.

 

An Irish default is unavoidable: the debt burden is too great

There’s been an enormous national reluctance to assess whether Ireland can get through its present economic crisis without having to default and, if not, what form that default might take and the effects it would have. More on http://www.feasta.org.

Too Short. Too Wild. Too Much. Crazy Rational. Interdependence.

 

Is Italy Europe's Bigger Problem?

Nobel-winning Columbia professor Robert Mundell, considered the "father of the euro," said in an interview this week that Greece isn't Europe's biggest problem these days. He believes that honor goes to Italy. By Daniel Costello on Planet Money Blog: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2010/02/is_italy_europes_bigger_proble.html.

Too Far. Too Short. Interdependence.

 

Cinq petits cochons (Five little pigs)

Ce n'est plus seulement le titre d'un roman, c'est désormais la plus dangereuse crise de l'union européenne depuis le passage à l'euro. Les pays européens qualifiés élégamment de PIIGS (Portugal, Italie, Irlande, Grèce, Espagne) font l'objet depuis une semaine d'attaques spéculatives, marquées... surtout par des tensions sur les marchés obligataires, et une montée du cours des credit default swaps (CDS) sur les obligations publiques. Le principal pays en ligne de mire est actuellement la Grèce mais d'autres pays sont sous pression: les autres PIIGS, mais aussi la Belgique ou L'Autriche. Sur le blog d'éconoclaste: http://econoclaste.org.free.fr/dotclear/index.php/?2010/02/08/1698-cinq-petits-cochons

Too Short. Too Far. Too Wild. Interdependence.

 

Athens Finanzmisere bedroht europäische Banken

Für das krisengeplagte Griechenland scheint Hilfe nah. Hinter der geplanten Rettungaktion stehen auch Sorgen um den Bankensektor: Institute aus Europa sind wichtige Gläubiger des Staats und seiner Bürger, vor allem jene aus der Schweiz und Frankreich, von Christine Mai, in FT Deutschland: http://www.ftd.de/finanzen/maerkte/anleihen-devisen/:risiko-athens-finanzmisere-bedroht-europaeische-banken/50072251.html

Too Far. Interdependence.

 

A Greek bailout: is it legally possible and what will it cost EU taxpayers?

Open Europe argues that an EU-led bailout will come with huge economic and political risks, and will for the first time make Europe's taxpayers fully liable for an individual country's debts, while centralising new economic powers at the EU-level. Read on http://www.openeurope.org.uk/.

Too Far. Interdependence.

 

How Goldman Sachs Helped Greece to Mask its True Debt

Greek Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou speaking at a conference in January (www.spiegel.de) by Beat Balzli in Spiegel Online (February 8, 2010): http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/.

Too Big. Too Short. Too Far. Too Greedy. Too Wild. Crazy Rational.

 

A Greek Tragedy or a European Farce? Time to Re-Write the Script

In the official account of the unfolding Greek tragedy the villain is readily identified, the plot is clear, and the dénouement inevitable, tragic, but ultimately both just and morally uplifting. The villain of the piece is Greece itself… Other leading roles in the drama are played by gullible European policymakers who admitted the country, under false pretenses, into the euro club. Cassandra is played by the European Central Bank, warning of the perils of transgressing against the iron laws of actually existing monetary union. Bondholders, 'the markets', and fiscally prudent countries have heroic roles as fearless tellers of truth to power. By Andrew Watt, on http://www.social-europe.eu/2010/02/.

Too Far. Interdependence.

 

Athens dinner that led to political indigestion

By Sam Jones, hedge fund correspondent, in the Financial Times (March 4, 2010).

Too Short. Too Greedy. Too Wild. Lies. Crazy Rational.

 

What Greece Thinks About Globalization

Greece, a European country in the Mediterranean, known for its ancient culture, beautiful landscapes, and delicious food, provides a rather complex case study on globalization. A detailed review on http://www.globalization101.org/.

Too Short. Too Far. Too Much. Too Wild. Growth Nonsense. Interdependence.

 

A Greek crisis is coming to America

It began in Athens. It is spreading to Lisbon and Madrid. But it would be a grave mistake to assume that the sovereign debt crisis that is unfolding will remain confined to the weaker eurozone economies. By Niail Ferguson, in the Financial Times (February 10, 2010). On http://www.ft.com/.

Too Short. Too Far. Crazy Rational. Interdependence.

 

Grèce et déficits: la revanche des marchés sur les Etats

La gestion de la crise grecque témoigne d'un phénomène en plein essort selon l'économiste Gabriel Colletis : la défense des activités de spéculation par les financiers. Les marchés s'attaquent pour cela à une nouvelle cible : les Etats. Avec, en ligne de mire, la réduction des dépenses et du déficit public. Par Gabriel Colletis, professeur déconomie à Toulouse 1. Article: http://www.marianne2.fr/Deficit-la-revanche-des-marches-sur-les-Etats-2-2_a189579.html. Blog: http://www.mediapart.fr/club/blog/Gabriel%20Colletis.

Too Short. Too Far. Too Selfish. Too Much. Crazy Rational. Interdependence.

 

The Next Financial Crisis. It's coming-and we just made it worse

By Peter Boone (chairman of Effective Intervention, a Britain-based charity, and a research associate at the London School of Economics) and Simon Johnson (professor at MIT's Sloan School of Management) They write for The Baseline Scenario, a blog on economics. This very interesting paper can be read in The New Republic: http://www.tnr.com/article/economy/the-next-financial-crisis?

Too Short. Too Greedy. Too Selfish. Interdependence.

 

The banking crisis – A rational interpretation

This leads us directly into a discussion of 'cures'. What can be meant by 'cure' when the crisis is inevitable (even though unpredictable)? We mean measures that can either reduce the chances of a banking crisis or reduce the fall-out from it. By Patrick Minford, professor at Cardiff University and member of the CEPR. On http://www.eurointelligence.com.

Too Short. Too Big. Interdependence.

 

Wealth & Health of Nations

A graph on http://www.gapminder.org/world/ shows how long people live and how much money they earn.

Too Much. Too Selfish.

 

Eyes are starting to open and see the world as it is

One of the long running themes of this blog is that people have chosen an illusionary vision of the world rather than confronting reality. Read the full story on http://cynicuseconomicus.blogspot.com/

Too Much. Growth Nonsense. Lies. Buy What.

 

Economic growth no longer possible for rich countries

This new report tests a thesis in detail in the context of climate change and energy. It argues that indefinite global economic growth is unsustainable. Just as the laws of thermodynamics constrain the maximum efficiency of a heat engine, economic growth is constrained by the finite nature of our planet's natural resources. A paper published by the New Economics Foundation (http://www.neweconomics.org/publications).

Too Much. Too Selfish. Growth Nonsense. Alternatives.

 

China May Succeed Where the West Failed –In Africa

Deborah Brautigan doesn't argue with critics who call China's interest in Africa self-serving. But she may be one of the first American academics to declare that China's deeds will be good for Africa, too. On http://www.globalenvision.org/ (March 1, 2010).

Too Far. Too Much. Too Selfish. Alternatives.

 

Africa: unprecedented Chinese investments

China is the largest investor in Africa while bilateral trade has just past US$100bn annually. Read more on http://scepticalmarketobserver.blogspot.com/.

Too Far. Too Much. Too Selfish. Alternatives.

 

Growth is good, isn't it? El desarollo medido en bienestar en vez de PIB

Expansion has progressed so far that key resource boundaries have been broken: we're teetering on the edge of an ecological cliff. By Andrew Simms, in The Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cif-green/2010/jan/25/uk-growth-energy-resources-boundaries. Or by Marcus Hurst in http://www.yorokobu.es/2010/01/27/el-desarrollo-medido-en-bienestar-en-vez-de-pib/

Growth Nonsense.

 

The price of environmental destruction? There is none

World's top firms cause $2.2 trillion of environmental damage, report warns. Putting a price on nature becomes meaningless if we treat the ecosystems upon which we depend as mere commodities with a price for trading. By Andrew Simms, in The Guardian (February 18, 2010): http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/feb/18/price-of-environmental-destruction.

Too Much. Growth Nonsense.

 

In a Renewable Energy World, Is There an Alternative to Growth?

Human-caused climate change (if you accept it as a real phenomenon) presents a new problem: even if enough resources exist to continuing rapid growth, it's the growth itself that is introducing weaknesses. Controversial: http://industry.bnet.com/energy/10002854/in-a-renewable-energy-world-is-there-an-alternative-to-growth/

Too Much. Growth Nonsense. Lies.

 

Sustainability will not be delivered without Equality

I would suggest that reclaiming and proclaiming equality as the core of progressive politics is the way forward. In other words we must concentrate, above all, on massively reducing the gap between rich and poor and persuading people that it has to be done, writes Bill Kerry on http://www.social-europe.eu/2010/04/.

Too Much. Too Wild. Growth Nonsense

 

Climate sceptics are recycled critics of controls on tobacco and acid rain

We must not be distracted from science's urgent message: we are fuelling dangerous changes in Earth's climate. By Jeffrey Sachs in The Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/cif-green/2010/feb/19/climate-change-sceptics-science.

Too Much. Growth Nonsense. Lies.

 

GDP Growth, Debt and Current Accounts

Is this economic growth coming back? Or something else? According to Cynicus Economicus watching both U.S. and U.K. “growth”, this is instead a steady process of national impoverishment. It is the feel good of consuming more than you produce, and the hell with the consequences in the future. It is a road to ruination. Read the full and much charted story on http://cynicuseconomicus.blogspot.com/

Growth Nonsense.

 

The “GDP Fraud”

If GDP is telling us that the US economy is steadily improving, how come so many folks on Main Street feel so bad? Don't they read the papers? Don't they know the GDP is improving? The short answer to these questions is that the GDP calculation is a fraud…or perhaps it's a fraud wrapped in a deception. Writes the Australian-born Joel Bowman, managing editor of The Daily Reckoning, in BusinessWeek. More on: http://bx.businessweek.com/causes-of-the-financial-crisis/view?url

Growth Nonsense.

 

Why We Need a New Macroeconomics

By Richard Alford, a former economist at the New York Fed. Economic and financial policymakers became prisoners of an ideology. I do not doubt that ideology has affected the evolution of economics and policy. However, I believe that (one) has underestimated the importance that macro economists attached to the elegance of their models and their failure to continuously verify the models’ accuracy and usefulness. On http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/.

Alternatives.

 

Capitalizing on the Environment?

Can capitalism and environmentalism coexist not only peacefully but also profitably? Can the big corporations and the green movement work together? By Dr. Robert Muller (January 31, 2010) on http://thezeitgeistischanging.blogspot.com/

Growth Nonsense.

 

Innovators Creating Cash from Carbon Challenges

As it becomes more likely that companies in the U.S. will have to start paying for their carbon emissions, many of those companies will pass the cost onto their customers. There are three core areas where they could instead create stakeholder value by innovating their way to carbon reduction. By Thera N. Kalmijn and R. Paul Herman on http://sustainablelifemedia.com/content/column/strategy/innovators_create_cash_from_carbon_challenges.

Too Selfish. Too Much. Alternatives.

 

Growth and Greenhouse Gases

On one side, there are those who insist that greening the economy is win-win: more jobs, more growth, as well as less carbon. On the other, those who insist that you can only be serious about protecting the planet if you admit that we have to give up on economic growth. By Paul Krugman on http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/ (April 13, 2010).

Too Much. Growth Nonsense. Alternatives.

 

Reframing the Question: From Growth to Reallocation

Is the purpose of the economy to expand the power and privilege of a ruling elite? Or is it to secure and enhance the well-being of all the people who depend on it for their livelihood? Asked author David C. Korten on http://davidkorten.org/Reallocation. Read also his book: “The Post-Corporate World: Life after Capitalism”.

Alternatives.

 

US financial crisis far from over

"The crisis is just beginning." "Have bankers won? In the short-term, absolutely. The immediate opportunity for change has already been missed." More plus links in the India Times. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international-business/US-financial-crisis-far-from-over-Economists/articleshow/5410915.cms

Too Big. Too Short. Too Greedy. Too Selfish. Too Much. Crazy Rational. American Debit.

 

With caution, Americans still want a house

Nearly two-thirds of Americans would still prefer to own a home (April 6, 2010). On http://money.cnn.com/2010/04/06/real_estate/.

American Debit. Buy What.

 

Global Markets Could Soon Crash

The global markets are at risk of crashing when the dollar rebounds, says economist Nouriel Roubini. Roubini, a professor at NYU, is credited with long predicting the financial collapse of 2007 and 2008. Read on MoneyNews.Com: http://moneynews.newsmax.com/streettalk/roubini_global_crash/2009/10/28/

Too Short. Interdependence.

 

Economic theory and the crisis

How will economic theory emerge from the global crisis? The column written by Alan Kirman (professor at Paul Cézanne University of Aix-en-Provence) says that representative agent models and the efficient markets hypothesis are assumptions that have persisted too long in the face of empirical evidence. It argues that economic theory is due for an overhaul but fears that economists will resist such change. Full column on http://www.voxeu.org/

Too Short. Crazy Rational. Too Much.

 

Why Are Tariffs Preferable to Quotas?

By Mike Mofatt, on http://economics.about.com/cs/taxpolicy/a/tariffs_quotas.htm

Too Far. Interdependence.

 

A balancing act: fair solutions to a modern debt crisis

A… balanced paper written by Giles Wilkes for the Centre Forum. Full report downloadable from http://www.centreforum.org/publications/a-balancing-act.html

Alternatives.

 

Small Change: Why Business Won't Save the World

Why doesn't business fix itself instead of meddling with others where it has no comparative advantage? By Michael Edwards on http://www.apesphere.com.

Too Much.

 

Too interconnected to fail = too big to fail. What's in a leverage ratio?

This Commentary by CEPS Director Daniel Gros argues that being 'too interconnected' is a factor, and that US accounting standards should recognise exposure of gross derivatives on the balance sheet to make this interconnectedness, and the resulting exposure, clear. Read and download on http://www.ceps.eu/book/.

Too Far. Too Short. Interdependence. American Debit.

 

How Reagan ruined conservatism

By Gideon Rachman in the Financial Times (http://www.ft.com, March 2, 2010).

 

He took advantage (Blues for Ronald Reagan)

Song written by Glenn L. Frey and Jack Tempchin, from the album “Strange Weather” (MCA, 1992). Lyrics available from: http://lyrics.filestube.com/song/04248d987d0a924d03e9,He-Took-Advantage-Blues-for-Ronald-Reagan.html.

Lies. American Debit.

 

The Future of Conservatism

What is conservatism? Various derogatory claims are often propagated. Firstly some claim that it is a mere pragmatism. Others say the Tories are the party of vested interest – they represent the status quo, they will always defend the rich against the poor, the strong against the weak and the haves against the have-nots. Others still say that conservatism is best expressed by a pure libertarianism, that extreme individualism, the glorification of self-interest… That again captures much, but not modern conservatism. Phillip Bond's speech to launch UK's ResPublica on http://www.respublica.org.uk/

Too Much. Lies. Alternatives.

 

The Future of Social Democracy

The Future of Social Democracy by Dr Jon Cruddas MP in association with Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney Labour Party. A viable political alternative to market capitalism will require creative open thinking, new kinds of alliances and inventive forms of political organisation. Jon's lectures invite us to look once again at Labour's traditions and to collectively debate how we might renew and develop them. Full text downloadable from http://www.compassonline.org.uk/index.asp.

Alternatives.

 

Quatre voies de sortie pour une science en crise

Les economists bousculés par la crise. Le débat est ouvert sur la meilleure façon de redonner de la crédibilité aux economists… les partisans d'un changement radical s'organisent. Dans Alternatives Economiques (Janvier 2010) sur http://www.alternatives-économiques.fr

Alternatives.

 

Copenhagen, Carbon, Consumer Goods Supply Chains

A guest post about the UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen from Peter Lacy of Accenture. The good news—at least on logistics—is that around 60% of potential carbon abatement opportunity is within the transport and logistics industry's direct control, and a few other interesting facts and figures. On BusinessWeek: http://www.businessweek.com/careers/managementiq/archives/2009/12/copenhagen_carb.html

Alternatives.

 

Manufacturing Framework and Intellectual Capital

Athena Alliance is releasing a Policy Brief--Intellectual Capital and Revitalizing Manufacturing--which expands the Framework to explicitly incorporate intellectual capital. The paper's recommendations are summed up by Ken Jarboe on http://www.athenaalliance.org/weblog/archives/2010/02/manufacturing_framework_and_ic.html

Alternatives.

 

There is no integration without work

The increase in migration collides with an economic crisis that affects especially the poorest classes, making cohabitation of natives and immigrants even more difficult. But it is important to remember that the economic integration of immigrants is essential for a complete social integration and for the peace of all society. By Emanuela Scridel on http://www.resetdoc.org/EN/Migrations-europe-work.php.

Too Wild. Alternatives.

 

If you want to know who's to blame for Copenhagen, look to the US Senate

As a result the political cost of the failure at Copenhagen is zero. Where are you. By George Monbiot, in The Guardian (December 21, 2009). Read on: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/dec/21/copenhagen-failure-us-senate-vested-interests

Too Short. Too Much. Interdependence. Growth Nonsense.

 

Ben Bernanke as public intellectual? Are you serious?

Time Magazine's Person of the Year, Ben Bernanke, is heralded as the savior of the US economy. But the Fed chairman is actually the real villain of the piece. By Dean Baker, in Prospect Magazine (December 16, 2009): http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/2009/12/ben-bernanke-as-public-intellectual-are-you-serious/

Too Short. Crazy Rational. Interdependence. American Debit.

 

How to escape currency volatility and contagion in the globalized world of finance

By Edward Harrison of Credit Writedowns. The question I ask is this: now that finance is global and capital can move in and out of markets and countries on a dime, how can any country protect itself against the volatility of currency markets? Read the full viewpoint on http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/

Too Far. Too Short. Too Wild. Crazy Rational. Interdependence.

 

Dubai World: A great precedent

Comment by Felix Salmon on http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2009/11/26/ who refers to the chart of the debt structure published on the same day on http://ftalphaville.ft.com/blog/2009/11/26/85571/csi-dubai/ (see also reference below). It goes as:

Too Far. Too Short. Crazy Rational. Interdependence. Lies.

 

The dark side of Dubai

Dubai was meant to be a Middle-Eastern Shangri-La, a glittering monument to Arab enterprise and western capitalism. But as hard times arrive in the city state that rose from the desert sands, an uglier story is emerging. Johann Hari reported about that in The Independent six months before the burst of the Dubai mirage. His analysis still makes a compelling read. On: http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/the-dark-side-of-dubai-1664368.html.

Too Big. Too Much. Too Short. Crazy Rational. Interdependence. Lies. Growth Nonsense.

 

I'm a celebrity, get me out of Dubai!

Posted by Izabella Kaminska on ft.com/alphaville blog (http://ftalphaville.ft.com November 26, 2009), who reminds us that investors as smart (sorry, just famous) as Beckham, Michael Jackson, Naomi Campbell and Brad Pitt followed the crowd of investors as famous (sorry, not even smart) as HSBC, RBS, Lloyds, Citi, and more to be disclosed (?). Read the comment made by Benz Sudta, from Thailand, who really makes a good point: Dubai tried to copy the Singapore's model of development. They tried to be the hub of the region in service sector particularly finance and logistics. But they lacked 3 vital element of development.
1. The most important is the lack of well-established education. In stead of investing heavily in human capital, they chose to flood money into foreign financial asset and domestic infrastructure and real estate. Moreover, they must depend own external pool of talent people. They must import expats.
2. They lack their own source of capital. Unlike GIC and Temasek, those super and complicated Sovereign Wealth Funds were built mostly from external financing. Therefore, creating debt burden to this city.
3. Dubai ruler lacks sharp and long vision in assessing global trend and shaping long-term policy. Dubai ruler is not absolutely equal to Lee Kuan Yew in term of vision.

Too Far. Crazy Rational. Interdependence.

 

The Risk Management of Islamic Finance

No joke. The course was held in Abu Dhabi (December 6-8, 2009) in the aftermath of the Dubai rescue plan. Want to avoid being a sinner? More on http://www.islamicfinancetraining.com/.

Crazy Rational. Interdependence.

 

Bankers Blow $20 Billion Faster Than Gamblers

Two years ago, sovereign wealth funds were heralded as saviors of world markets. That was when Lehman Brothers seemed too big to fail. It was a quainter time, when Iceland was a country, not a failed hedge fund, and American- style capitalism still had some appeal. The thinking then was that the trillions of dollars that governments were pouring into markets… By William Pesek in BusinessWeek: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-03-03/bankers-blow-20-billion-faster-than-gamblers-william-pesek.html

Too Short. Too Greedy. Lies. American Debit.

 

The bosses who break their banks – The men who earned too much

In an extract from a new book, John Cassidy reveals why huge salaries commanded by Wall Street bosses created a culture that help trigger the financial crash. Extract in The Guardian (November 25, 2009) and book published by Allen Lane (How Markets Fall: The Logic of Economic Calamities).

Too Greedy. Too Selfish.

 

Reaching into Bank Executives' (Deep) Pocketbooks Motivates Action

Daniel Gross says the threat of restrictions on how much executives can be paid has motivated banks subject to the limits to "get their houses in order". Read more on: http://economistsview.typepad.com/economistsview/2009/12/reaching-into-bank-executives-deep-pocketbooks-motivates-action.html

Too Short. Too Greedy. Too Selfish.

 

2009 Nobel Economics Prize: What does it mean?

The common theme of Ostrom and Williamson's work is economic governance – basically, how economic agents cooperate and coordinate their actions without the presence of the market and market prices. By Ari A. Perdana, in The Jakarta Post (October 19, 2009). On: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/10/19/2009-nobel-economics-prize-what-does-it-mean.html

Too Far. Too Selfish. Too Much. Alternatives.

 

How to tame global finance

A group of leading financial analysts quiz Britain's top regulator on what went wrong, while experts including Robert Kuttner and Oliver Kamm offer their responses. The Prospect interview panel: John Gieve is chairman of financial transaction specialists VocaLink and formerly deputy governor of the Bank of England Jonathan Ford is commentary editor of Reuters and an associate editor of Prospect Gillian Tett is an assistant editor of the Financial Times, specialising in global financial markets Paul Woolley is a senior fellow at LSE, where he founded a centre for the study of capital markets Read the debate on Prospect: www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/2009/08/how-to-tame-global-finance/

Too Big. Too Far. Too Short. Too Greedy. Too Wild. Too Selfish. Too Much. Etc.

 

Goldman Sachs, the lords of time

Just for the moment, let's pretend that James Cameron's 1984 The Terminator was being made for the first time today, and, instead of the evil robots emerging from the fatally misguided foundries of Cyberdyne Systems, they came from the dark laboratories of Goldman Sachs. By Julian Delasantellis, consultant, private investor and educator in the state of Washington, on Asia Times Online (August 5, 2009): http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Global_Economy/.

Too Big. Too short. Too Greedy. Crazy Rational. American Debit.

 

Implementation of Alternate Energy - The Role of the Government

.. all homes that are under construction or being remodeled must use alternative energy sources. Ultimately a time would come when all homes as well as corporate buildings would use alternate energies for 100% of their energy needs. The other important mandate that is expected from the government is that all new vehicles built in must be hybrid and be powered by hydrogen fuel cells by the year 2020. By Ron Harene on http://thezeitgeistischanging.blogspot.com/2009/11/alternative-energy-implementation-of.html

Too Much. Alternatives.

 

Nouriel Roubini calls for radical reforms to fix the broken financial system

The crucial challenge is to design a better system of regulation. There is no doubt that the previous model has failed miserably (Financial Times – The Future of Finance. November 2, 2009).

Too Big. Too Short. Too Greedy. Too Selfish. Alternatives.

 

Take the lead on regulation to call the bankers' bluff

Tony Jackson, in The Financial Times (November 2, 2009)

Too Big. Too Short. Too Greedy Too Wild. Too Selfish. Alternatives.

 

Time to say hard cheese to Swiss banks

A comment by David Prosser read in The Independent (August 20, 2009). Related article: UBS to disclose details of 4,450 accounts in US tax evasion case, by James Thompson

Too Greedy. Lies. American Debit.

 

Painful death of the American economic dream

This crisis has been a long time in coming, and history suggests that the period of upheaval will be long and painful, just as it was between 1914 and 1945. By Larry Elliott, in The Guardian (November 2, 2009).

American Debit.

 

Fiat faces heavy burden with U.S. waistline

As an American with a longish tenure in Europe, I never fail to be impressed on trips home by the ever-expanding frontier of the American waistline. It was, therefore, that I read of Francesco Guerrera's sincere hope that the restyled and relaunched Fiat “Cinquecento” finds as warm an embrace in the US today as it did in Italy in the 1960s. However, as the US ranks first in obesity among 28 OECD countries and Italy 25th, one wonders whether this hope can ever be fulfilled. But it may. After all, they are not being asked to ride Vespas.
A letter from Paul Hennemeyer to the Financial Times (November 14, 2009). Edited.

Too Much. American Debit.

 

A Quick Comparison of Capitalism, Socialism and the “Just Third Way”

By the Center for Economic and Social Justice (Washington, D.C.). The table can be read on: http://www.cesj.org/thirdway/comparison3rdway.htm

Alternatives.

 

New AIG chief to receive $7m pay

By Francesco Guerrera in the Financial Times (August 17, 2009).

Too Greedy.

 

Rating agencies under scrutiny by lawmakers

Credit rating agencies came under renewed fire as lawmakers examined their role in the financial crisis and discussed new legislation that could make the agencies liable for each other's mistakes. Read the full article in the Financial Times (October 1, 2009).

Crazy Rational.

 

Going Solar – Frequently Asked Questions

As with any sizable financial investment, it's best to go into the world of solar energy with your eyes wide open and with as many facts under your belt as possible so you can make an informed decision. FAQs on http://thezeitgeistischanging.blogspot.com/ (April 6, 2010).

Alternatives.

 

Green Living: Greensizing for Productivity

We all want to do our part to help the environment. But if you can give the Earth a break and increase your productivity at the same time, that's a real no-brainer!... Give your PC a rest… Drive smart… Travel less… When you get down to it, greensizing is just a matter of paying a little more attention to the habits that you wouldn't usually give a second thought. By Laura Stack on http://thezeitgeistischanging.blogspot.com/2009/10/green-living-greensizing-for.html

Alternatives.

 

Green Consumer Awareness vs Reality

A viewpoint by Louise König, based on a study of New Scientist magazine. On http://www.sustainable-perspectives.com/.

Too Much. Buy What. Alternatives.

 

12 Tips for Ethical Marketing to the New Consumer

Chris Arnold's new book Ethical Marketing and the New Consumer discusses how marketing must change to reach today's consumers. If you are interested in any aspect of ethical marketing – Arnold covers product development and design, messaging, positioning and more – this is a recommended read. Summary on http://www.triplepundit.com/2010/01/12-tips-for-ethical-marketing-to-the-new-consumer-book-review/

Alternatives.

 

Island genießt die Krise (How Iceland Is Coping With a Broken Economy)

Ein Land am Abgrund: Vor einem Jahr brachen auf Island erst die Banken und dann die Staatsfinanzen zusammen. Bis heute hat sich die Wirtschaft davon nicht erholt. Doch das Inselvölkchen arrangierte sich mit dem Crash. Es lebt wieder bescheidener - und ist überraschend zufrieden. Von Niels Reise in Der Spiegel (08.10.2009). On http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/soziales/.

Too Far. Too Short. Too Wild. Interdependence. Growth Nonsense.

 

Iceland Wants in, but Unity Diminishing in the EU

Iceland, prior to the government's collapse, had a very high standard of living. Iceland needs to question if the decision to join the European Union is the right one. Although they may receive additional bailout funds from the union, it is questionable if there are even enough funds to bailout current members. More on: http://www.globalization101.org/news1/Iceland_Financial_Crisis.

Too Far. Too Short. Too Wild. Interdependence.

 

Chinese Company Buys Hummer from GM

Seen on: http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/blog/eyeonasia/. Mikeconomics liked very much the comment of a reader named Steve: I'm not sure I would call Hummer an "iconic" brand. Corvette is iconic. Hummer is damaged goods. I would like to think that the Chinese just purchased a toxic asset and freed G.M. to produce cars people actually want to drive, not fantasize about.

 

The DownFall of General Motors and the 2009 Hummer

Today on the highways or in town you still can pull up to a stop light and look out your window to see a rubber tire and a fender. Above your head if you look up high enough you may see a massive vehicle that has monstrous wheels driven by only one person. The vehicle is an SUV. On Green Earth Way: http://greenearthway.blogspot.com/2009/07/downfall-of-general-motors-and-2009.html

Too Big. Growth Nonsense.

 

Ah, cachez ces problèmes que nous ne saurions voir !

Par Jean Matouk. http://www.rue89.com/matouk/2009/10/05/ah-cachez-ces-problemes-que-nous-ne-saurions-voir

Too Much. Growth Nonsense. Lies. Alternatives.

 

After subverting bank insolvency, our leaders are now about to make a mess of liquidity

Unless there is a major change of direction among global economic and financial officialdom, we are at risk of ending up with a world in which liquidity provision is privatised and insolvency risk for banks is socialized. Writes Willem Buiter in the Financial Times (October 6, 2009). Read the full article at: http://blogs.ft.com/maverecon/2009/10/

Too Short.

 

A financial revolution with profound political implications

The Independent's commentator Robert Fisk on the plan to de-dollarise the oil market, discussed both in public and in secret for at least two years and widely denied yesterday by the usual suspects – Saudi Arabia being, as expected, the first among them – reflects a growing resentment in the Middle East, Europe and in China at America's decades-long political as well as economic world dominance. On http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-a-financial-revolution-with-profound-political-implications.

Too Much. American Debit.

 

Failures of Small Banks Grow

A year after Washington rescued the banks considered too big to fail, the ones deemed too small to save are approaching a grim milestone: the 100th bank failure of 2009… In all, bank failures have cost the FDIC $26.6 billion in 2009. Read the article by Eric Dash and check out the graph in the New York Times (October 10, 2009). On http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/business/economy/.

Too Big.

 

The Transmission of the Financial Crisis to Emerging Markets

In 2008 there was a lot of talk about emerging market economies being able to decouple from the US recession and financial crisis. But, in spite of these arguments, first financial re-coupling and then real economic re-coupling took place once the advanced economies' financial tsunami became global after the summer and fall of 2008. A paper by Nouriel Roubini, on October 9, 2009, available from http://www.rgemonitor.com/blog/roubini

Too Wild. Interdependence.

 

Jobs, industry and opportunity: Growth strategies after the crisis

This is the challenge that the progressive centre-left has to take on. Not through backward looking debates or ideological introspection, but by mobilising the political and intellectual capital of the entire progressive community within and beyond our countries. This selection of short articles, written by leading experts in the field, attempts to guide, inspire and, in particular, challenge some of the key issues at stake. More on http://www.policy-network.net/publications/publications.aspx?id=3606.

Growth Nonsense. Alternatives.

 

How Did Economists Get It So Wrong?

Few economists saw our current crisis coming, but this predictive failure was the least of the field’s problems. More important was the profession’s blindness to the very possibility of catastrophic failures in a market economy. During the golden years, financial economists came to believe that markets were inherently stable — indeed, that stocks and other assets were always priced just right. There was nothing in the prevailing models suggesting the possibility of the kind of collapse that happened last year. Meanwhile, macroeconomists were divided in their views. But the main division was between those who insisted that free-market economies never go astray and those who believed that economies may stray now and then but that any major deviations from the path of prosperity could and would be corrected by the all-powerful Fed. Neither side was prepared to cope with an economy that went off the rails... By Paul Krugman in The New York Times (September 2, 2009).

Too Much. Crazy Rational. American Debit. Lies. Growth Nonsense.

Too Big. Too Far. Too Short. Too Greedy. Too Wild. Too Selfish. Too Much.
And more sins in: