Where finance and media intersect with reality.

Spot Markets Live Transcript: 05/09/22

Today’s Spot Markets live session is with Dario Garcia Giner, assistant editor of the Blind Spot Izabella Kaminska 10:59 HELLO! Welcome to a front seat to the Fall of Rome. Part Deux. Exciting isn’t it? Who knew my Ancient History degree would come in so useful? Dario Garcia Giner 11:00 These days it sounds like […]

Diesel Generators, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Fuel Crisis

Startling news regarding insane price increases in electricity bills have pleased few. According to Citi, the UK inflation rate will hit 18 per cent in early 2023, while Ofgem announced the average household bill will increase to £3,549 a year from October 1, 2022 – 2.5 times higher than last year. Stories like that of […]

ALTIF Transcripts: All that Glisters… (Sachin Khajuria)

ALTIF

All that Glisters… The private equity industry has grown massively in recent years, but is it a bubble or a genuine money-making machine? We talk to Sachin Khajuria, a former partner of Apollo and author, who believes the buyout chiefs really can turn pension funds’ base metal into gold. Presented by Jonathan Ford and Neil Collins, With […]

Hi Shrinkflation, Meet Your Cousin Shitflation

The Rise of Shrinkflation The term Shrinkflation, coined and popularised by American economist Pippa Malmgren, speaks to hidden price increases in the world around us. It has taken the world by storm. As the above graph from Manage by Walking Around, shows, size really does matter — never mind what your first sweetheart told you. […]

In the Blind Spot (Price Controls, Nationalisation, Perpetual Futures)

This edition of The Blind Spot wrap was compiled by Dario Garcia Giner (DGG) and Izabella Kaminska (IK). Econ, Finance, Business etc… A Finnish company is warning that energy costs are leading to production stoppages and a potential toilet-paper shortage. Commodity market expert Craig Pirrong offers policy makers a lesson on why price controls applied […]

There’s an Arms Race Going on With Online cults, and it Affects Us All

In our previous post, we discussed how the XRP crypto movement has leveraged cult dynamics to rally networks and communities to silence and repress critics in ways that both boost and defend the value of its key token. The question at hand is whether democracy can survive in an environment where anyone can print their […]

When Crypto Cults Collide with Influence Operations, XRP Edition

Of all the cryptos, in all the world, XRP — the brainchild of Ripple Labs — has always seemed the most redundant and pointless to this author. One of the reasons for this is that the structure seems purposefully designed to make gazillionaires out of its key holders. That includes people like Chris Larsen, a […]

In the Blind Spot (BBBY, Quantitative Tightening, Aircraft Carriers)

This edition of the Blind Spot Wrap was compiled by Izabella Kaminska (IK) and Dario Garcia Giner (DGG). Econ, Finance & Business etc: An announcement by Bed, Bath, and Beyond (BBBY) management prior to market open on Wednesday has the Wall Street Bets community all excited. The stock’s price has now recovered from August lows […]

In the Blind Spot (Zuck, VAT, Rationism)

Due to travel, this edition of the wrap looks back at all of the week’s events. It is compiled by Izabella Kaminska (IK) and Dario Garcia Giner (DGG). Econ, Business and Finance etc: The Vatican is centralising its finances to avoid another property scandal. President Biden unveils plans to cancel up to $20,000 of student […]

On the attempted cancellation of Jeffrey Sachs

I’m on the road this week on the way back from the European Forum in Alpbach, Austria, where I participated in a bitcoin panel — so excuse typos etc (writing on my phone). As it happens, American economist Jeffrey Sachs was also there. For those who don’t know, Sachs is a key figure in sustainable […]