The hottest Economic Policy Substack posts right now

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One year later: The lessons from the crisis

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 13 Sep 09
💰 Finance Economic Policy
  1. Lehman's failure might have been necessary for Wall Street to recover. Allowing it to collapse helped the government take bigger steps to save other companies like AIG.
  2. Wall Street hasn't really changed after the crisis. They've gone back to risky practices and high bonuses, as if nothing happened.
  3. There’s a pattern of forgetting past mistakes on Wall Street. People there focus more on making deals than learning from what went wrong before.

Culprit found for market crisis!!!!

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 07 Jun 09
💰 Finance Economic Policy
  1. The efficient market hypothesis claims that markets are generally accurate in pricing assets, meaning it’s tough for investors to consistently beat the market. Some people believe this idea is not entirely true.
  2. There are criticisms of the notion that financial leaders fully trusted the efficient market hypothesis. Many academics recognized market inefficiencies long before the crisis and warned about issues like asset bubbles.
  3. The idea that the financial crisis is largely due to the efficient market theory overlooks other factors. Issues like poor regulations, the creation of complex financial products, and incentive structures also played significant roles.

Sticky dividends!

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 27 Dec 08
💰 Finance Economic Policy
  1. Many companies stick to their dividend payments, even during tough times. This shows their commitment to returning value to shareholders.
  2. In recent months, some companies have started changing their dividend habits due to market challenges. Pfizer, for example, didn't increase its dividend for the first time in over four decades.
  3. The uncertainty in capital markets is making companies more cautious. They are now prioritizing having cash reserves to weather potential financial troubles.

Jekyll and Hyde revisited!

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 25 Nov 08
💰 Finance Economic Policy
  1. Citi's plan to split their assets into good and bad parts is interesting. This could lead to other companies doing the same, letting investors trade their good and bad parts separately.
  2. It's easy to see how the good part would be valued higher by investors. The challenge is figuring out how to make the bad part appealing, since it's often not profitable.
  3. If the government takes on the bad assets, it should demand something valuable in return, like a stake in the good part, to make sure the deal is fair.

Step away from the ledge!

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 29 Sep 08
💰 Finance Economic Policy
  1. The current economic situation is bad, and many banks made poor lending choices, leading to a serious credit crisis.
  2. There will be government actions to address the issues, but it's unclear if these will help everyone in the long run.
  3. Despite the challenges, economies and investors have shown resilience in the past, so it's wise to think long-term and invest in strong companies.
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[VYX] Checking Out in 2025? (Part 1)

Nongaap Investing • 0 implied HN points • 23 Dec 24
💰 Finance Economic Policy
  1. It's important to think about the reasons behind certain actions and decisions that might happen in 2025. Understanding motivations can help in making better choices.
  2. Activism might play a key role in shaping the direction of events. People speaking up can influence outcomes and bring about change.
  3. Exploring various strategies now can prepare us for what to expect in the future. Having options can make it easier to deal with challenges later on.

Henry Huiyao Wang: Key lessons from China’s ascent over the past 25 years

Pekingnology • 0 implied HN points • 02 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Economic Policy
  1. Long-term planning and a merit-based, results-driven bureaucracy created policy continuity and encouraged local experimentation that could be scaled nationwide.
  2. A pragmatic hybrid economy — combining state direction, state-owned enterprises, a large private sector and foreign investment — used pilot programmes and data-driven governance to balance stability with market-led innovation.
  3. Heavy investment in education, skills and global engagement built a large, increasingly skilled talent pool that powered industrial upgrading. This strength coexists with new challenges like weak consumption and high local government debt.