During the 1992 presidential elections, a wealthy individual ran a substantially self-funded presidential campaign as an independent, in competition with the established parties’ candidates, George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton. The impact of Ross Perot’s run on the eventual outcome remains a subject for debate, with no clear consensus as to which of the … Continued
According to a recent article in The Wall Street Journal, researchers at University College London have, using new satellite data, concluded that the total volume of sea ice in the Northern Hemisphere was well above the average in the autumn of 2013, after an unusually cool summer. This is an interesting and potentially important finding. … Continued
According to Wikipedia, predatory pricing is a pricing strategy where a product or service is set at a very low price, intending to drive competitors out of the market, or create barriers to entry for potential new competitors. The objective of this strategy is to eliminate enough competitors to allow monopoly pricing in the future. … Continued
This declaration was part of a justification on the part of Greece’s Education Minister, Aristides Baltas, for his plan to return control of Greek universities to students. This may work for Greek higher education, or not, but investors would be well advised to continue to carefully consider management when committing funds. The importance of management … Continued
According to Wikipedia, in the United Kingdom and in some other places, the “silly season” is the period lasting for a few summer months typified by the emergence of frivolous stories in the media. In U.S. politics and life styles, the “silly season” is the period from early summer until the first week of October … Continued
Successful investing is not rocket science. Morgan Housel, a columnist at the Motley Fool, recently wrote in The Wall Street Journal, “Live below your means. Save the difference. Invest in a low-cost, diversified portfolio. Have a long-term outlook and be patient as compound interest works its magic.” This is an exceptionally clear and concise guide … Continued
With major defaults looming for Greece and Puerto Rico, and concern regarding Illinois and numerous U. S. cities, much has been made of profligate borrowers. All of this coming after the major collapse in the U. S. residential mortgage market. How about irresponsible lending? Did anyone really believe that lending money to homeowners, without adequate … Continued
The Chinese stock market has drawn world attention from the recent sudden, sharp, and violent drop in share prices. Yesterday, the China Securities Regulatory Commission announced prohibitions from certain investors selling shares of stock. The objective, of course, is to stem the selling pressure which is causing stock prices to plummet. The desired effect is … Continued
Does the Supreme Court look at public opinion polls? This is not a new question, but recent decisions may reflect, in the opinion of some, an increased awareness of the “big picture” as opposed to a literal reading of the constitution. This is a question that is not likely to be resolved, but will probably … Continued
We often criticize governments and armies for getting ready to “fight the last war.” To some degree, they all do it. It is inevitable and reflects a mistaken assessment of what the next war will be like. And this is likely to continue until someone comes up with a reliable method of predicting the future. … Continued
Legal scholar, Walter Osborn, was recently quoted in The Wall Street Journal regarding the FDA’s ban on trans fats. He points out that from the 1950s on, dietary reformers promoted trans fats as a safer alternative to animal fats and butter. Public health activists and various levels of government hectored consumers and restaurants to embrace the … Continued
The Sticky Wage Theory is an economic hypothesis that describes how the pay of employed workers tends to respond slowly to changes in the economic environment. Employers are slow to increase wages during an economic expansion, so as to not get caught off guard by a subsequent downturn. On the flip side, wages tend to … Continued
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