Category Archives: The dismal science

“Might the US Be About to Fall Off an Economic Cliff?

The respected Atlanta Fed NowCast is scary bad, as in economic shoes about to drop in a big way bad.

New York Fed’s Measure of “Inflation Persistence” Nixes Friday’s Idea that YoY PCE Inflation Cooled, Using Same Data

Inflation Whack-A-Mole: price pressures shifted from housing to non-housing services and core goods.

Charles Kindleberger, the Dollar System, and Financial Crises

On Perry Mehrling’s Money and Empire: Charles P. Kindleberger and the Dollar System, including how some of his key ideas have been borne out.

The Bazooka Diplomacy of Trump’s Tariffs

A look at theory and practice as far as tariffs are concerned, and what that means for Trump’s threats and plans.

Trump’s Shock Doctrine: Uncertainty and the Repudiation of Contracts

How Trump’s economic revolution and the uncertainty it is creating are already wreaking havoc.

The Execution of the CFPB: Capitalism Survives Another Attempt to Save It

A discussion of Elizabeth Warren’s naivete about the predatory nature of capitalism.

James K. Galbraith Discusses His New Book, Entropy Economics, Plus DOGE, Bitcoin and Tariffs

A wide-ranging talk with Jamie Galbraith on his book, Entropy Economics, which focuses on the neglect of real resources, and recent events.

Michael Hudson: Trump’s Tariffs Could Cause Huge Global Crisis

Michael Hudson and Ben Norton take a deep dive into Trump’s contradictory and potentially disastrous economic plans, starting with tariffs.

Is Capitalism Falling Out of Favor? We Analyzed 400,000 News Stories to Find Out

On the fundamental flaws in a study meant to assess the popularity, or lack thereof, of capitalism in the US.

Weaponizing the US Dollar. Can It Work?

Michael Hudson refines and extends recent discussions on the future of the dollar, particularly under Trump, and finance-dominated capitalism

UK Economy Falters as Pound Sterling Continues to Slide

Sustained neoliberalism is exacting a toll on the UK via currency wobbles and reluctance to raise rates in the face of budget pressures.

How Is It That xAI’s (Naïve) Grok Does Not Reveal that xAI is a Public Benefit Corporation?

Lambert annotates a Grok transcript.

The One-in-a-Thousand-Day Problem

AI’s ability to handle complexity and respond rapidly means future crises are likely to be much more sudden and vicious than those we have experienced so far.