Mike Norman Economics

A high minimum wage doesn't seem to harm the Scandinavian economies, but the EU wants to change things.High-wage Nordic countries, including Denmark and Sweden, are battling plans to introduce an EU-wide minimum wage over fears the measure will undermine their century-old models of collective bargaining.The European commission will take the first step towards a common framework for setting minimum wages in EU member states on Tuesday as part of a pledge by its new president, Ursula von der...

A terrifying look at poverty in Britain; but it's also about the landlords who rent out substandard, shoddy properties at maximum rent which the government pays.Margaret Thatcher told councils to stop building houses and to use the private sector instead which has been a disaster.The poverty shown here is quite distressing, but I was struck by the fact that it was a coastal town and so it could have been very beautiful instead of being one of the most run down places in Britain.Jaywick has...

While I have reflected on the corrosive effects that fake and distorted media are having on our society’s well-being for the past few years, I am now more concerned about it than ever. To me media distortions + great polarity + the upcoming elections = a significant risk to quality democracy.It is no longer controversial to say that media distortions are a serious problem. Even most of the media folks I speak with share my concern. As Martin Baron, the Washington Post's Executive Editor,...

Excellent analysis of Sino-American geostrategic rivalry, which is both economic and military. Geostrategy is concerned with the means to effect geopolicy, and the overall geopolicy is the US is global hegemony — preventing rivals from rising. China's is again to become the central realm as the hub of global commerce, with a projected date of 2049, the hundredth anniversary of the Chinese Revolution. These objectives are obviously incompatible. The US views China as the greatest threat...

Candidates and longtime friends trade angry remarks before Tom Steyer offers an awkward hello Contains a video of their heated exchange.  CNN has released the audio of the testy exchange between Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders that took place following Tuesday’s Democratic debate. The Guardian  You called me a liar on national TV’: audio released of testy Warren-Sanders exchange

If the climate nutters are wrong then this will probably be $49....It’s your year. Travel more (for less) in 2020.— Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) January 7, 2020

Ive been remiss in my regularly scheduled re-posting of this oldie but goodie from Mike a while back... nothing has changed since then so it AAAAAAALLLLLL still applies...[embedded content]

Oh wow so now these "out of money!" morons have delivered 400 S&P points in...  TWO YEARS.... BIG F-ING DEAL!!Gimme a f-ing break....

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The Guardian (UK)One in four countries beset by civil strife as global unrest soars Saeed Kamali DehghanReminiscence of the Future (penetrating)A Bit Of ClarificationAndrei Martyanov Wolfgang Streeck (article)The International State System after Neoliberalism: Europe between National Democracy and Supranational CentralizationFort Russ News (the new China is about doing business)China bypasses Europe and Russia in the struggle for Ukraine Sergey Ustinov Fort Russ News (detailed)Iran...