-
Letter From the Editor (and ChatGPT)
Title: The Timeless Struggle: Power, Liberty, and Markets in Political Thought and Outcomes Throughout history, political and economic debates have revolved around the distribution of power and money. These debates can be organized along a philosophical spectrum ranging from Machiavelli and Tocqueville (0), who emphasize virtue, realism, and institutional control, to Locke and Adam Smith…
-
KKR Craving Clarity
KKR co-founder Henry Kravis said. They’re looking for certainty about where tariff policy is going. Also KKR trails public markets returns?!
-
OPEC
Saudi Arabia’s new approach to oil production amidst ongoing challenges within OPEC indicating a willingness to accept lower oil prices, which has stirred market concerns, particularly as WTI prices fall to just above $58 per barrel. He provides historical context on OPEC’s founding objectives of stabilizing oil prices and ensuring fair returns, while highlighting the…
-
Building Costs
Matt is joined by two experts from Zonda (a leading housing data and insights company), Matt & Todd, to discuss how global tariffs are expected to raise material costs by up to 9%, even for companies that don’t directly import goods. The conversation covers how these pressures are reshuffling market share among building product brands,…
-
Rogue Trader
Nick Leeson, the infamous trader whose 1.4B loss led to the collapse of Barings Bank 30 years ago. Leeson reflects on his overwhelming feelings of embarrassment and shame stemming from his role in the bank’s downfall, emphasizing that despite a successful start to his banking career, he ultimately failed to achieve what he wanted.…
-
HSBC Shenanigans
In 2012, HSBC Holdings (HSBC), one of the world’s largest global banks, was hit with a $1.9 billion fine for, most notably, serving as a conduit for Mexican drug cartels. The penalty, which was coupled with $665 million in civil penalties, exposed severe problems with the bank’s compliance and anti-money laundering (AML) controls. It ranks…
-
Fed Chair vs. The World
Speech starts at 10:45 Jerome H. Powell, Chair of the Federal Reserve, addresses the Economic Club of Chicago, discussing the current economic outlook and the Fed’s dual mandate of maximizing employment and ensuring price stability. Powell outlines the resilience of the U.S. economy despite heightened uncertainties, acknowledging challenges arising from trade policy changes, inflation concerns linked…
-
Selling Fear
“I Worked At Palantir: The Tech Company Reshaping Reality” delves into the controversial role of Palantir Technologies in government surveillance and military operations, highlighting its ambition to dominate defense contracting while grappling with ethical implications. The host reflects on Palantir’s evolution since its inception in the post-9/11 era, connecting it to the normalization of government surveillance and…
-
College Sports and Contracts
“How Money Has Permanently Changed College Basketball” delves into the profound effects of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) on the sport, noting a shift in recruitment practices as teams leverage collective funds to financially incentivize players, leading to concerns about competition dynamics and the integrity of the game. Coaches are retiring due to the increasing pressures from…
-
Econ in 20 minutes
tl;dr: great video on theories why humans make “bad” choices over and over again.
Got any book recommendations?