In 1907, the U.S. banking system was brought to its knees by a bank panic—a condition where depositors lose confidence in their bank’s ability to pay back their money and thereby withdraw it. This situation occurred several times throughout U.S. history causing economic mayhem until the panic settled back down and liquidity returned to most […]
HOW THE FEDERAL RESERVE WAS FORMED AND HOW IT FUNCTIONS Read More »
Chinese emigration is on a long-term rising trend. Many Chinese of all stripes have mustered the courage to leave China for a better life in another country. However, thanks to the current regime, the shadow of the Chinese Communist Party follows all emigrants wherever they go. Just as the regime expects proper political behavior at
THE DIFFICULTIES FACING CHINESE EMIGRANTS Read More »
When the China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001, an up-and-coming economy soon became an economic powerhouse with dynamic 6-10% plus growth in GDP year after year. The Chinese stock markets became the market of choice for many foreign investors to take their money for great, and sometimes outsized, returns. For sundry reasons this
IS NOW THE RIGHT TIME TO INVEST IN CHINA: PART III Read More »
Life insurance companies do not always make a profit from the insurance underwriting portion of the business. Most of the profit comes from investing the policyholders’ premiums and realizing the financial returns. In a way this amounts to a double-edged sword of risk taking—first in the underwriting of insurance policies, and secondly in the management
HOW LIFE INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE IMPACTED BY PRIVATE-MARKET FIRMS Read More »
On January 16, 1919, the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified by the requisite number of state governments and became the law of the land ending the manufacture, importation, or distribution of most alcoholic beverages. For the next thirteen years, this country went officially dry, but what actually happened as a consequence of
WHAT WAS LIFE LIKE IN THE U.S. DURING PROHIBITION? Read More »
For centuries European seafarers have been looking for a short, safe way to sail merchant ships to Asian ports in order to capitalize on the lucrative trade possibilities. The North and South American continents soon had their own trading possibilities, but to get to the big prize, these continents had to be circumnavigated. To sail
THE STORY OF THE PANAMA CANAL Read More »
This is the third in a series of blogs regarding private foreign investment in Chinese companies. Efforts are underway in Beijing to stimulate the Chinese economy to return it to its former levels of growth. Ordinarily this would provide potentially outstanding opportunities for foreign investors, but there are a number of pitfalls remaining that should
IS NOW THE RIGHT TIME TO INVEST IN CHINA: PART III Read More »
During the period from November, 1926, to June, 1985, famous U.S. Route 66 was the primary highway corridor from the Midwestern U.S. to the Pacific Coast. It began in Chicago near Grant Park, crossed through eight states, transversed 2,448 miles, and ended at the pier in Santa Monica, California. It was the subject of pop
HAVE YOU EVER DRIVEN ON ROUTE 66? Read More »
Although the Federal Reserve has said that it will leave the door open for more interest rate hikes should rampant inflation revive, the interest rate tightening cycle is nearly complete. The rampant inflation factor in the economy has been checked for now, but how soon will interest rates be reduced? Too Low Too Long: Since
INTEREST RATES ARE LEVELING OFF, BUT WHEN WILL THEY DECREASE? Read More »
In September of 1973, the Chilean Army marched on the Presidential Palace in Santiago and ousted the popularly elected socialist president, Salvador Allende. What followed was brutal repression, murder and torture, as General Augusto Pinochet seized control and ruled with an iron fist for the next seventeen years. At the time democracy was lost in
THE 1973 COUP IN CHILE–FIFTY YEARS AFTER Read More »