Economics is often best-understood through the use of a “thought-model.”  Around here, when enough pieces of the Big Picture aren’t fitting well, we fall back to a hypothetical “super agency” that is in charge of delivering an agreed-upon future to those of us who are blissfully ignorant of the game’s highest levels. With this in … Read More

I was telling Peoplenomics subscribers recently in our crooks of Hollywood story, how I was predicting another one – maybe two – Big Name sacrifices would be offered up as The Network continues it’s house-cleaning. The real rulers (the ones with the muscle) have been messaging when the house-cleaning is sufficient.  Which, as we wildly … Read More

I love veterans (and thank you for your service).  But I hate the day in one way because it symbolizes two of the Great Problems in America that we could fix, if we had any glue left to hold us together as a country. The first problem is the “holiday gap.” If you’re in the … Read More

This ain’t our usual serving of high-brow economics this morning.  Naw…this epistle is dirt simple. When taxes go down, markets go up.  The rational is simple:  People will have more to spend, corporations will pay lower taxes, and there will be cries of joy and spending in the streets.  The roar of the clicks, the churning … Read More

My buddy Oilman2 sent me a link this week.  He was excited to find a long discussion of how the Iroquois band had a “Great Nation” centuries ago and how the Native American traditions were largely borrowed-from by the Framer’s of America’s Constitution. It’s an interesting theory, plain enough, so I put it on my … Read More

It’s all in the numbers this morning as we behold one of the most interesting spectacles of human history.  We have been screwed out of 12 percent of our real lifestyle and it takes some clever work in statistics to see it and understand how it’s been pulled-off.Before we get you straightened out on that, … Read More

Headlines today suggest the rest of this week will be exceptionally busy for the one-percent.  The world is “trying to break” out from under them. The headlines deal with two topics and one if an “oldie but goodie” that keeps everything in context.  Perhaps, it is best to start there. We go back to Matthew … Read More

Elaine finally decoded our “Great Topic” note for today’s report. As explained Monday, the note didn’t make much sense Monday, but after several hours thinking back on it, things came into focus for Elaine. We’re planning to come out with a new kind of “Android Pet.” (Continues below)   The idea is simple:  Our forthcoming Android Pet will … Read More

It may sound odd for what is nominally an economics website to mention Monday morning news in terms of three novels.  However, these are odd times, and anything goes. Novel #1 involves the present Trump trip. As yourself the following question:  What you really know:  If Robert Mueller were to convince a grand jury that president … Read More

I know what’s wrong with America now:  We don’t make useful notes. A short story to illustrate the point. As promised, I baked bread Saturday.  While it was on the wire rack cooling, Elaine and I stepped into the “180-room.”  That’s our room, made out of mostly recycled windows, where we can see at least … Read More

This morning we go through a review of what has gone wrong in Hollywood.  Long list.  And, as our contribution to “public service” we also offer some free consulting advice on how to fix what ails the silver screen crowd. Except, in mid-report a mystery pops up and it leads to the underworld… After charts … Read More

In the event you’re wondering why the whole market was being painted (again) Thursday, the answer is simple:  There was a new fed boss (Jerome “Jay” Powell) being named.  It’s typical for markets to put on a good showing when the Street wants suck-points down the road. The alert reader will note that we hinted at … Read More

Being old is entertaining as hell.  As you slide, however unwillingly, toward The Big Sleep, the folly of humans comes every more clearly into focus. Take this stuff we have convinced ourselves is “Progress,” for instance.  There was a time when people physically did things themselves.  However, in order to “make-up an economy” we had … Read More