DECEMBER 12, 2011 In the U.S. mortgage crisis and the European sovereign debt crisis, bad policies subsidized bad investments. By L. GORDON CROVITZ EXCERPT FROM THIS ARTICLE: The reason prosecutors can’t prove criminal intent is that in many cases the bankers were simply trading in compliance with the regulations governing them. Art imitates life, even
FINANCIAL REGULATION: WORSE THAN A CRIME Read More »
By TOM ORLIK ReutersResidential buildings under construction in the Kangbashi ‘ghost town’ in Ordos in Inner Mongolia, now hit by falling prices and unsold inventory. ORDOS, China—For a sense of the sharp policy shift China’s leaders have to orchestrate to avoid the world’s second-largest economy landing with a hard thud, look no further than this
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DECEMBER 1, 2011 MF Global and the new era of crony capitalist regulation. More than $1 billion of client money is still missing at failed brokerage MF Global, according to the bankruptcy trustee’s latest estimate. At Thursday’s hearing of the Senate Agriculture Committee, the company’s principal regulator will try to explain how his agency failed
MR. CORZINE AND HIS REGULATORS Read More »
US NEWS & WORLD REPORT December 1, 2011 by Rick Newman The bank bailouts in 2008 and 2009 were controversial because wealthy bankers seemed like the last people who needed help. Now, the Federal Reserve and other central banks are rescuing one group held in even lower regard than bankers: politicians. [See 11 dates investors need
THE FEDERAL RESERVE, NOW BAILING OUT POLITICIANS Read More »
NOVEMBER 30, 2011 The Congressman from Fannie Mae retires. It is a newspaper truism that what is good for journalism is bad for the country, and vice versa. Let’s just say that regarding the pending retirement of Congressman Barney Frank, we’re delighted to make the professional sacrifice. Few House Members have made a bigger legislative
THE BARNEY FRANK ERA Read More »
ZUBRIN: Obama readies to blast NASA Ending planetary exploration would leave agency adrift by Robert Zubrin Robert Zubrin is the president of Pioneer Astronautics and author of “The Case for Mars: The Plan to Settle the Red Planet and Why We Must” (Free Press, 2011, second edition).The Washington Times Wednesday, October 26, 2011 Illustration: NASA
OBAMA SENDS NASA ADRIFT Read More »
THE ECONOMIST Unless Germany and the ECB move quickly, the single currency’s collapse is looming Nov 26th 2011 | EVEN as the euro zone hurtles towards a crash, most people are assuming that, in the end, European leaders will do whatever it takes to save the single currency. That is because the consequences of the
THE EURO ZONE, IS THIS REALLY THE END? Read More »
NOVEMBER 26, 2011 New Strains Hit Euro, Global Markets Common Currency Falls After Italy’s Borrowing Costs Soar; Coming Week Poses Key Test of Sentiment By STACY MEICHTRY and JONATHAN CHENG ROME—Uncertainty in financial markets deepened as Italy’s borrowing costs soared to euro-era highs and Prime Minister Mario Monti said European leaders understood an Italian collapse
NOVEMBER 18, 2011 On Thursday, Americans got a clear a view of the Obama philosophy of government. By KIMBERLEY A. STRASSEL The House Energy and Commerce Committee Thursday held another hearing on the bankruptcy of taxpayer-backed Solyndra and, fortunately for the mere politicians present, the panel this time had access to the wisdom of a
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NOVEMBER 17, 2011 The Germans are richer and more stubborn.The French are flashier and faster on their feet. By WALTER RUSSELL MEAD The European crisis repeats the same pattern endlessly. Bad news sinks markets, ultimately accelerating into a panicky wave of liquidation. European leaders convene, deliberate and emerge with what they say is a “fix.”
THE CULTURE WAR OVER EUROPE’S MONEY Read More »
