Autonomous Oblast

By KEITH BRADSHER
Published: April 10, 2009

BEIJING — Senior Chinese officials on Friday outlined how they aimed to turn their country into the world’s largest producer of electric cars, including a focus on consumer choice rather than corporate subsidies…..

China is already giving the US it’s lunch money; it looks like they will be eating our lunch as well. As the world shifts to a new economy (one NOT centered on oil) China might be leading the way.

From Financial Times
By Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Published: April 7 2009 20:02

These are the 10 principles read the article to see each items explanation.

1. What is fragile should break early while it is still small.
2. No socialisation of losses and privatisation of gains
3. People who were driving a school bus blindfolded (and crashed it) should never be given a new bus
4. Do not let someone making an “incentive” bonus manage a nuclear plant – or your financial risks
5. Counter-balance complexity with simplicity.
6. Do not give children sticks of dynamite, even if they come with a warning
7. Only Ponzi schemes should depend on confidence. Governments should never need to “restore confidence”
8. Do not give an addict more drugs if he has withdrawal pains
9. Citizens should not depend on financial assets or fallible “expert” advice for their retiremen
10. Make an omelette with the broken eggs.

Geithner Plan II Explained Chalkboard Style

The video was made by The Khan Academy—an educational non-profit focusing on math training. The conclusion: The money ends up in the hands of the people who created the mess.
Via: Max Zeledon

Audio Podcast - 37 minutes:
Six people the from the US, Europe and Asia discus the scope of the International Economic Crisis, Obama’s potential choices and what outcomes we can expect, both positive and negative.

The consensus seemed to be this is a game changing crisis and the economic systems will be very different once the changes finish. Things can get dire or a new order could emerge that is more sustainable and just for every one.

They have a fascinating discussion.

• Ugo Mattei - Italy
• Christopher Lydon- US
• Alfred Gusenbauer - Austria
• Ho-fung Hung - China / US
• Nandan Unnikrishnan - India
• Samir Saran

THOMAS GEOGHEGAN | May 6, 2008 
The American Prospect
Excerpt:

Business as Usury
Before Congress goes after bank misdeeds on Wall Street, let’s stop the petty theft on Main Street — predatory mortgages and usurious loans. Had we protected the poor and the weak, the problems of our mighty banks might not be so great.

We may be the first society since the Code of Hammurabi to be operating with no law against usury at all.

I’d at least like to hear a Democrat, any Democrat, call for a cap on interest rates. For Visa and MasterCard, I’d go for 12 percent. (Does anyone bid 11?)

As to payday loans, let Congress end them. But how will people get money? If people can’t get credit from Visa and MasterCard, let’s set up little state-run banks to offer little payday loans, or encourage NGOs to do so. New Dealers used to think in those terms. But they used to go to movies like It’s A Wonderful Life.

VIA: i1326:

Chart Porn: What the financial landscape looks like.

Professor Shiller on the Paulson bailout.

Professor Shiller is hesitant to cast blame, I am not hesitant