rdan A reader commented that market share statistics do not reflect whether competition occurs in a health insurance market. To stress a point he stated competition occurs when companies >1, and many states have competition of >2 major players, which makes for a more competitive market than a monopoly allows. Competition to me means that […]

This graphic offers perspective

by cactus Since I just had a post on Bailout Nation, the book Barry Ritholtz co-wrote with Aaron Task, I figured, why not have another post about Ritholtz. See, something I read on his blog has been botheirng me for a few weeks now. Ritholtz has done a great job pointing out over and over […]

from Baseline Scenario Three myths about the consumer financial product agency by Elizabeth Warren is well written and timely at Baseline Scenario. I’ve written a lot about the creation of a new Consumer Protection Financial Agency (CFPA), starting with an article I wrote in the Democracy Journal in the summer of 2007. My writing has […]

rdan Jeff Sharlet and The Family from a Salon post: Today’s roll call is just as impressive: Men under the Family’s religio-political counsel include, in addition to Ensign, Coburn and Pickering, Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Jim DeMint and Lindsey Graham, both R-S.C.; James Inhofe, R-Okla., John Thune, R-S.D., and recent senators and high officials […]

by cactus A Review of the First Half of Bailout Nation Barry Ritholtz is on my mind. I started reading Bailout Nation, Barry Ritholtz’s book (with co-author Aaron Task) about the mess we’re in, and I’m about half through. Its an easy read, and yet very informative, even though I’ve been following the whole mess […]

rdan Pujo Committee (1912-13) transcripts at the St. Louis Fed look interesting. In 1912, a special subcommittee was convened by the Chairman of the House Banking and Currency Committee, Arsene P. Pujo. Its purpose was to investigate the “money trust,” a small group of Wall Street bankers that exerted powerful control over the nation’s finances. […]

rdan McClatchy reports: The final installment of a three-part increase in the federal minimum wage is proving to be the most controversial. Two previous wage hikes, one in 2007, the other in 2008, pushed the federal wage to $5.85 and then to the current $6.55 an hour. The third, which goes into effect Friday, will […]