Tag Archives: Banks
Cassandra on debt
Posted by on Oct 27, 2018
This week on Facebook: I can’t think of an answer to a financial dilemma constantly driven by political imperatives and am not so conceited that I would ever try to suggest one¹. Regression at my age is a common occurrence and my diffuse dissatisfactions increase day by day, with my belief that the world “is going to hell in a handcart”. On becoming an octogenarian next May what other view would I hold! Perhaps my interest in history is an expression of that regression. I constantly regard events as being a case of “one step forward two steps back” and history replete with stories of debt. Read more of this post
Cassandra on Money & Debt
Posted by on Aug 4, 2018
This week on Facebook: Money and debt caused me to review my postings from five years ago, and one from even earlier (2011). I posted Money money money…. in January 2013 and then Crises & Credit in February, the first article posted being somewhat allegorical and intending to be amusing. However, it did lead to the second article, which is intended to be specifically about private debt but mentioning both private and public debt. The difference being that private debt is the debt accumulated by individuals or private businesses in the debts of personal loans, credit cards, or business loans (including corporate bonds). Whereas public debt is the sum of the financial obligations incurred by the State and its public administrations. This debt can be accumulated by the government directly or a government agency at any level and is recovered by taxation and income from the sale of government bonds (gilts).
Trouble in Paradise?
Posted by on Nov 18, 2017
This week on Facebook: Blissful ignorance, Tax Havens and the Paradise Papers —
To each his suff’rings: all are men,Condemn’d alike to groan,The tender for another’s pain;Th’ unfeeling for his own.Yet ah! why should they know their fate?Since sorrow never comes too late,And happiness too swiftly flies.Thought would destroy their paradise.No more; where ignorance is bliss,‘Tis folly to be wise.
Cryptocurrency as fiat
Posted by on Jul 1, 2017
This week on Facebook: When I wrote Monday’s article in 2011 about fiat money I never had in mind the cryptocurrency in last week’s post, although I was certainly aware that the ravages created by the inflationary effects of fiat money did not protect wealth. Wealth protection only comes to those with the means of investing in things whose rarity increased their value. The rise in the value of cryptocurrency, particularly as a wealth protector (like that of gold), shouldn’t really have come as the surprise it did. Read more of this post
The rising cryptocurrency
Posted by on Jun 24, 2017
This week on Facebook: My attention was caught yet again by shills offering fantastic returns on a financial investment. It could be harsh perhaps to use the definition of a shill as, an accomplice of a confidence trickster or swindler who poses as a genuine customer to entice or encourage others [SOED]. However, it’s implausible the think that a shill is anything other than, a person who pretends to give an impartial endorsement of something in which they themselves have an interest [SOED]. Of course the term shill, when used in this context and especially in a derogatory sense, is sure to raise a lot of resentment, especially when shills are simply responding to the volatility of an economic cycle that is the inevitable result of a fiscal policy adopted by a public administration. In today’s world the euphemism financial crisis is used to disguise actions taken by the public administration that exacerbate the economic cycle and inevitably fail to provide a stable economy. Read more of this post
Men in Black
Posted by on Oct 20, 2016
Sir James Faulkner QC regarded juries with disdain, thinking the uneducated hoi-palloi who now sat on them as being incapable of grasping the finer points of common law and particularly those involving finance and economics. Nevertheless, he had just delivered what he considered to be a flawless case for the prosecution. His innate hubris convincing him that the lucid presentation and eloquence of his delivery must surely have convinced even the simplest mind on the jury of the defendant’s guilt. Sitting down he brushed the front of his gown, a preening habit he had developed since taking the silk, smiling self assuredly whilst nodding to The Honourable Mr Justice Pettigrew, confident that he had impressed the judge. In his own mind at least, the outcome of the trial in his favour was assured.
Aware that the jury shared his ennui after having endured such a marathon delivery Mr Justice Pettigrew looked at the pocket watch that he always placed on the bench before him, relieved that it indicated a suitable time for him to call an adjournment until the following morning.
Read more of this post
The Budget Deficit – The Record
Posted by on Apr 29, 2015
The role that economic theory plays in the creation of money — even if understood by a government — is ignored in favour of economic manipulation for the purpose of a fiscal policy. Self interested post war governments have little interest in the social responsibility that Peter Drucker applied to a private enterprise.
“The first responsibility of business is to make enough profit to cover the costs for the future. If this social responsibility is not met, no other social responsibility can be met.”
Funny Money? (SNAFU)
Posted by on Nov 7, 2014
On Thursday 20th November Parliament will debate ‘Money Creation and Society’ (pdf). This is probably the most important economic debate to precede a general election since the Banking Act of 1844 and one which most politicians would like to avoid. While the majority of the public may not know how money is created, the fact that most politicians do not have any understanding of ‘money creation and how we arrived here’ ought to be of great discomfort to them. These politicians being the very people in control of the economy. Read more of this post
Doctor Faustus I presume!
Posted by on Nov 6, 2013
The mantra of the previous New Labour Government was that it only borrowed money to invest. All borrowing became an investment and while the mantra may not be chanted by the present Government, the borrowing philosophy continues. Most people (I assume) would define an investment as:
An asset or item that is purchased with the hope that it will generate income or appreciate in the future. [Investopedia] Read more of this post
Don’t bank on it!
Posted by on Sep 25, 2013
The 1979 Banking Act introduced by the Labour Government, was the first UK Banking Act to put banking regulation on a statutory footing. ‘The words “bank” and “bankrupt” date from the 13th century when it was bankers bankrupting banks. In the 21st century, bankers are still bankrupting banks. But it is no longer just banks. In England and Wales alone, over half a million individuals and nearly 100,000 businesses have found themselves in insolvency since 2007. Internationally, a growing number of sovereign states face a similar fate’. [2011 Andy Haldane – Control rights (and wrongs)] Read more of this post
