2009 Economic Year in Review: How Did We Get Here?

Hale "Bonddad" Stewart, 12.19.2009

Tax lawyer, former bond broker, financial blogger

Because we are approaching the end of the year, it is appropriate to take a look back at the economy for the last year to see how we're doing.

Red Light Swaps

Cate Long, 12.14.2009

http://riski.us

Recently several Republican representatives, including Scott Garrett, have questioned whether derivatives helped create the financial crisis. Did derivatives cause the financial crisis? You bet.

China Swaps US Debt for Equity: All Problems Solved!

Tom Gregory, 12.13.2009

Actor, radio personality, and Tony nominated producer

Goldman Sachs has announced that its Treasury Dept. has completed a debt for equity swap with the People's Republic of China, effectively solving most of America's problems.

Does Gordon Brown Attempt to Kill the City?

Georges Ugeux, 12.10.2009

Chairman and CEO, Galileo Global Advisors

While fighting a regulatory battle President Sarkozy and Chancellor Merkel, Prime Minister Gordon Brown is slowly but surely killing the City.

Goldman Bans "Last Suppers"; Suspends 1st Amendment!

Tom Gregory, 12.01.2009

Actor, radio personality, and Tony nominated producer

Editor's note: the following blog post is satire. Reuterz, New York - In swift reaction to recent calls for his resignation, Lloyd Blankfein, Chairma...

The $20 Billion Gamble: The Greatest Coup in Financial History

Blake Fleetwood, 11.17.2009

Former reporter for the New York Times and Daily News

Paulson made his bets in late 2006 just as the sub-prime mortgage markets were starting to weaken. His timing was impeccable, as was his luck.

From Wall Street to Neverland: The Year America Didn't Sleep

Qanta Ahmed, MD, 11.16.2009

Board Certified Physician, Internationally Published Author, "In the Land of Invisible Women".

The public health burden of insomnia on the US is measured in the hundreds of billions of dollars. While we routinely cut calories, or cram in exercise, sleep has not even entered the conversational lexicon.

Fed Releases Rare "Snapshot" on Economy

Tom Gregory, 11.12.2009

Actor, radio personality, and Tony nominated producer

In a rare glimpse behind the closed-doors of The Federal Reserve, Chairman Ben Bernanke released a snapshot of the economy they have been looking at for months.

The Lloyd's Prayer

Tom Gregory, 11.12.2009

Actor, radio personality, and Tony nominated producer

Our Chairman, Who Art At Goldman, Blankfein Be Thy Name.

A Reasonable Case For Regulation

Rep. Jackie Speier, 10.26.2009

How would you feel if you discovered that a highly-rated bond received its grade not because the company is strong, but because the rating agency assumed the government would bail the company out?

My City Is Being Invaded by Banksters

Matthew Filipowicz, 10.24.2009

Comedian, Cartoonist, Satirist

In mere days, my city, Chicago will be overrun by the worst of the worst. The lowest of the low. Criminals who have affected more lives than any mug...

Wiping Blood Off White Buck Shoes

Leo W. Gerard, 10.23.2009

President, United Steelworkers International

In New York, the oldest and snobbiest financial ventures are called "white shoe" firms. Their arrogance, risky investments and confounding dealing in derivatives threw the rest of us into the Great Recession.

Goldman Turns Into a Financial Frankenstein While the Fed Snoozes Away

Raymond J. Learsy, 10.19.2009

Scholar and author, "Over a Barrel: Breaking Oil’s Grip on Our Future"

Goldman was not assisted by the government to become a voracious and even heftier investment bank. Rather, one can presume that the government's assistance was to prevent systemic failure.

The Case For Dismantling Giant Banks

Lawrence G. McDonald, 10.12.2009

Public Speaker, Author of A Colossal Failure of Common Sense, MD Pangea Capital, LP

These 21st century banks have become deadly, systemically risky dominoes that can crush us all if they fail, or can bankrupt us all with debt if we have to bail them out.

Economic Reform is Overdue

Mary Shannon Little, 10.12.2009

Senior Director of Investigations, Nardello & Co.

One would hope Congress would have approached Wall Street reform with the same gusto they have brought to debating a public option in health care. It's time to tackle the thorny issues that brought us to this point.

Time to Stop the Regulatory Circus and to Steer the Ship to Safe Ground

Georges Ugeux, 10.08.2009

Chairman and CEO, Galileo Global Advisors

The real issue for regulators around the globe is a serious definition of the financial world we want to live in. The current focus nearly exclusively on the banking sector could cause authorities to miss the broader picture.

Sorkin On What Happened After Lehman

Robert Teitelman, 10.05.2009

Editor-in-Chief, "The Deal"

New York Times' reporter Andrew Ross Sorkin's excerpt microscopically examines the actions of some key regulatory and Wall Street players, in this case during the period immediately after Lehman failed.

Regulating Systemic Risk and Banker Compensation Will Not Fix What Is Broken on Wall Street

David Paul, 12.03.2009

President of the Fiscal Strategies Group

The incentives to make big bets and take big risks has survived, but without the accountability. Today, the US Treasury and the Fed are trying to hold the pieces together. But why?

"Happy" Anniversary, Iceland

Iris Erlingsdottir, 11.28.2009

Icelandic journalist and writer

This has been a very rough year for Iceland, and it's not likely to get better anytime soon. The public's anger continues to grow, and it would not be surprising if this winter sees a repeat of last winter's uprising.

The American Graduation Initiative: Something Even The Banks Should Bank On!

Gail Mellow, 11.22.2009

President of LaGuardia Community College

The very same industry that has taken billions of dollars in bailout money from the federal government is not ready to loosen its grip on the cash cow that is the private student loan industry.

Bankers Versus Bankers

Pablo Triana, 11.19.2009

Author of "Lecturing Birds On Flying: Can Mathematical Theories Destroy The Markets?"

A (large) group of bankers has been mauled by the mayhem-igniting actions of another (small) group of bankers.