Is there to be a run on the banks…..?

Sunday 5th October, 2008

The decision tonight by Germany to guarantee 100% of all savings in German banks first flagged up by the BBC earlier this Sunday evening, but modified later, is a clear signal that there is panic afoot.  A run on German banks must be imminent. Why? Because the only way to prevent a run on banks is to guarantee 100% of savings. The fact that Germany has done so, or hinted that she will do so,  means that her government is taking urgent, unprecedented and unco-ordinated action, to prevent such a financial catastrophe occurring tomorrow morning.  Others must now follow to prevent a systemic run on the global banking system. To avoid armageddon.
Continue reading… ›

The week that changed everything

The US-centred financial crisis will damage the lives and futures of savers, employees, businesses and consumers across the world. All the more reason to address the systemic failures that led to it, is what I have argued in this piece published on Open Democracy today.

Continue reading… ›

Where, oh where, are the orthodox economists now?

20th September, 2008

In the midst of all this tragedy and chaos, one has to savour the moment.  The sight of all those free-market capitalists, trained by economists at the Chicago School of neo-liberalism,  handing over to ‘big government’ the financial system of the biggest free market economy in the world.

Continue reading… ›

The Bankers’ Recession and the £200 billion bail-out

A Mr. David Smith in a letter to the Financial Times, (29 Aug 08) has suggested we brand this global recession ‘the bankers’ recession’.  He has my support and enthusiastic commitment to raising awareness of the brand.  Especially after today’s UK news.

Continue reading… ›

Keynes, inflation and the Green New Deal

Keynes prolfiled in Time Magazine, 1965Apologies in advance . This is a long post. I am getting feedback from those who have read the Green New Deal (GND) (which I co-authored) complaining that the Keynesian policies espoused therein will simply drive us back to the 1970s, to militant trades unionism and ‘stagflation’. Their concerns need a response.

Continue reading… ›