Author Archives: Yves Smith

Beneath the Skin of CPI Inflation, March: Inflation Behaves Very Badly, Saga Far from Over

Ugly inflation in services drives up the 3-month “core CPI” for 7th month, to 4.5% annualized, worst in a year.

On the Difficulty of Research in the Biomedical Sciences and Scientific Medicine

Why medical research is hard, and often path-dependent, which may not always be a good thing.

How Biden Can Win on the Economy: Stop Mass Layoffs

Why has Biden failed to add a clause to Federal contracts to protect workers from mass layoffs?

U.S.’s New Hopes in Iraq Are Dashed as It Signs Longest Ever Gas Deal With Iran

The US suffers yet another setback v. Iran.

Yellen and Biden Administration Incompetence: Bullying and Entitlement, Rather Than Making a Case, Here Regarding China Overproduction

Yellen made a complete hash of the question of Chinese overcapacity, a real problem unlikely to sort itself out nicely.

Links 4/9/2024

Tilting at Windmills: Bernanke and Blanchard’s Obsession with the Wage-Price Spiral

The obsession of big-name economists with defending a bad model has consequences, here, a policy aim of whacking wages.

Real Energy Transition Costs Could Spell Danger for EU

The EU is belatedly confronting the costs of their much-touted energy transition. Pols and voters are balking at the bill.

No Exit: Western Imperialism, Capitalism, and Industrialization

Is industrialization the original sin of both capitalist and Communist/socialist economic systems?

BRICS Enlargement – a “Non-Event” or a Stage Victory Against the West?

What does BRICS want to be when it grows up?

The Medicare Maze

Eileen Appelbaum takes a critical look at Medicare Advantage, exposing how it falls short of its cost-saving and quality-enhancing promises.

Links 4/6/2024