Category Archives: Social policy

Why Paul Krugman Blew It on His ‘Solution’ for Gentrification

One of the fallacies of proposals to limit gentrification is the idea that promoting more development in cities leads to more affordable housing. Stratified markets mean this is not a simply “supply and demand” problem.

This entry was posted in Guest Post, Income disparity, Real estate, Regulations and regulators, Social policy, Social values on December 4, 2015 by Yves Smith.

America to Working Class Whites: Drop Dead!

On the fallen status of lower-class whites, and the poor prospects for many of their betters.

The Power Of Nightmares 3: The Shadows In The Cave (BBC-2004)

Osama Bin Laden’s cave — and Plato’s.

This entry was posted in Guest Post, Media watch, Middle East, Politics, Social policy, Social values on November 29, 2015 by Lambert Strether.

What Are the Only 3 States That Score Higher Than a D+ in the Corruption Index?

The highest grade (the least corruption) goes to Alaska: C.

This entry was posted in Guest Post, Politics, Social policy, Social values on November 29, 2015 by Lambert Strether.

From G20 to Labour20

Labour20 set forth important goals not just for labor but for the economy and broader society. But does organized labor have the credibility to promote these aims?

The Power of Nightmares 1: The Rise of the Politics of Fear (BBC-2004)

An Adam Curtis documentary on the similarities between the politics of neo-conservatives, and the politics of Islamist radicals.

This entry was posted in Media watch, Middle East, Politics, Social policy, Social values on November 27, 2015 by Lambert Strether.

The REALLY ANNOYING Don’t-Wanna-Subsidize-Wealthy-Kids’-College-Tuition Canard

Yves here. Readers know I have a weakness for righteous rants…

Join Occupy the SEC in Urging the Congress to Oppose H.R. 4002 (“Criminal Code Improvement Act of 2015”)!

Support Occupy the SEC in opposing a bill that would give white collar criminals a new, improved “get out of jail free” card.

US Intergenerational Mobility: 1850-1940

Intergenerational income mobility is currently not very high in the US compared to other developed countries. This column shows that US intergenerational income equality was high in the 19th century but plummeted between 1900 and 1920. The income-mobility ladder was thus pulled up during the so-called Great Gatsby era.

This entry was posted in Guest Post, Social policy, The destruction of the middle class on November 15, 2015 by Lambert Strether.

Microaggression and Macroexploitation

Microaggression, to have appeal and application outside the academy, can be usefully situated in a larger context, which I have labelled macroexploitation. Also, David Brooks.

This entry was posted in Guest Post, Politics, Social policy, Social values on November 14, 2015 by Lambert Strether.

10 Economic Facts that Power the Sanders Insurgency

Why are so many drawn to the Sanders message? It’s because so many of us want to stop our entire society from crumbling beneath the destructive power of runaway inequality.

The Growing Intergenerational Divide in Europe

A review of pension reforms implemented by several countries In Europe, with and policy recommendations to address the intergenerational divide.

This entry was posted in Macroeconomic policy, Social policy, Social values on November 11, 2015 by Lambert Strether.

Wait: Maybe Europeans are as Rich as Americans

Many Europeans argue that when you adjust nominally higher American incomes for how much we spend from our own pockets on healthcare plus the longer hours we work, we aren’t better off.

This entry was posted in Dubious statistics, Economic fundamentals, Europe, Guest Post, Social policy, Social values on November 7, 2015 by Yves Smith.

Supervising Culture and Behavior at Financial Institutions

Financial regulators increasingly acknowledge organizational culture as a source of systemic risk, yet they have been loath to do more than influence compensation structures, since they do not want to be perceived to be interfering with management. This post describes a new approach in the Netherlands that

This entry was posted in Banking industry, Guest Post, Regulations and regulators, Risk and risk management, Social policy on November 7, 2015 by Yves Smith.