Category Archives: Economic fundamentals

TRIPS: The Story of How Intellectual Property Became Linked to Trade

Why intellectual property rights are a form of private tax, and how they are abusive when applied to IP developed out of public funding.

Gaius Publius: Syria Is Another Pipeline War

We have been at war in Syria over pipelines since 1949. This is just the next mad phase.

Private Equity Consultant Hamilton Lane Trots Out New Excuse, “Evil Populists,” for Already-Flagging Private Equity Performance

Funny how it’s OK for defenders of the 0.1% like Hamilton Lane to blame class warfare on their soon-to-be-fallen standing, but not the 99%.

Why the ECB is Going to Print, Print, PRINT!

The ECB is set to dig its hole even deeper….

The Danger of Germany’s Current Account Surpluses

Economists are more and more worried about Germany’s rising trade surpluses. Calling Wolfgang Schauble to the white courtesy phone….

“Should We Rethink Fiscal Policy?”

Economists are remarkably slow to embrace the idea of more aggressive fiscal policy, despite growing evidence that it is sorely needed.

How Does Diversity Affect Economic Growth? A Look at Data on Immigration, Tax Rates and Real GDP per Capita

Why Trump’s tax policies and Clinton’s immigration policies are both deficient in terms of their stated objective of promoting growth.

Dean Baker: Rigged – How Globalization and the Rules of the Modern Economy Were Structured to Make the Rich Richer

Dean Baker explains how market structure, which results from policy choices, legislation, and regulation, serve the rich first and foremost.

Bill Black: Debt Derangement Syndrome – Saving Our Grandkids from Wall Street

Debt scaremongering is baaack! Why Pete Peterson and his budget falsehoods are a danger to your and your grandkids’ financial health.

Another Huge Brexit Spanner in the Works: UK Faces Customs Train Wreck With Need for IT Upgrade

The UK faces a customs nightmare as IT systems needed to handle the new volumes and requirements are almost certain not to be ready on time.

China’s Insanely Leveraged Housing Market Will Enter Its Secular Bear Market In 2017

Why China’s fabulously leveraged housing market may finally be on the verge of a long-anticipated implosion.

Ilargi: Why the Energy Crisis is Coming Sooner Than Most Experts Forecast

Why the timeframe for replacing oil is much shorter than most experts believe, making a crisis almost impossible to avoid.

Bill Black: Bank of England Says Authorities Mustn’t Fine Banks Because Groaf

The Bank of England offers an easily-debunked defense of predatory and fraudulent lending.

The Evidence Is Clear: Population Growth and Prosperity Are NOT Linked

An in-depth analysis of why the assertion that more population growth promotes higher living standards is bunk.