Monday, November 17, 2025

Webinar with Michael Hudson: A 4000-Year Perspective on Economy, Money and Debt

Michael Hudson gives a long historical account of the role of debt and money as a tool for promoting prosperity and political dominance.

Clarification of Spending/Inflation Constraints According to Modern Monetary Theory

Economists go on tilt with the supposed profligate implications of Modern Monetary Theory. But there are many ways to check demand.

So Much For May Day

On the peculiar decline of May Day.

Mamata Banerjee’s TMC Retains West Bengal, Shutting Out Modi’s BJP from Taking Power in the State

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP failed to pull off an upset in West Bengal, and still has never atatinaed a majority in the state.

Links 5/2/2021

Biden Urged to Stand ‘On the Side of Humanity’ and Back Waiver for Covid Vaccine Patents

Biden faces increased wroldwide pressure for WTO waiver of intellectual property rules for Covid-19 vaccines as case counts soar in India.

Links 5/1/2021

Mark Blyth – An Inflated Fear of Inflation?

Mark Blyth explains why inflation in the U.S., Canada, & E.U. is highly unlikely: a room for more government spending and higher wages.

American Cities Have Long Struggled to Reform Their Police – but Isolated Success Stories Suggest Community and Officer Buy-In Might Be Key

A hard look at why police reform has failed, and what approaches might work.

Musical Interlude (“On the Path of Decent Groove”): Dimash Qudaibergen

Reader Bob H asked for an occasional musical feature. I’m being self-indulgent and offering a recent find: the remarkable Dimash Qudaibergen.

2:00PM Water Cooler 4/30/2021

~ Today’s Water Cooler ~

Social Tipping Points and Forecasting Norms Changes

What does it take to move the norms needle?

Links 4/30/2021

How Dodgy Government Accounting Fueled Rapid Rise of Federal Student Loans

Why the student loan mess is even worse than you thought.

A Lifetime “at War”

Even for those comfortably ensconced in the US, war-making has been a constant backdrop for all but the oldest Americans.