Publications

By: John E. Charalambakis | On: June 22, 2013 |

Financial Stress, Chinese Credit Squeeze, and Emerging Markets: Lessons from the Cosmological Constant

The Fed’s hint that they may taper the purchases of financial assets ignited a fear in the markets last week. We have long been advocates of sound money while questioning […]

By: John E. Charalambakis | On: June 15, 2013 |

Production of Illusions by Means of Illusions: Aristotle Confronts Volatility

We are coming to a juncture in the markets where we need to decide if the means of illusions used can produce any real lasting effects. The truth of the […]

By: John E. Charalambakis | On: June 8, 2013 |

Hegel Meets Kierkegaard on Wall Street: The Unintended Consequences of Placebo Treatments

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Kierkegaard’s birth. The father of existentialism had a clear target, to show that Hegel’s attempt to systematize all reality was an exercise in […]

By: John E. Charalambakis | On: May 30, 2013 |

Speculating into the Void: The Demarcation of Absorption Capacity

It has been a week now since the Japanese markets have been exhibiting significant volatility. What we have been observing is that both equities and bonds show signs of turmoil. […]

By: John E. Charalambakis | On: May 21, 2013 |

On Gold, the Proclaimed “Success Stories”, and the Placebo Treatment: Is there Substance in Recent Developments?

Late last year I wrote that we anticipate precious metals to suffer losses in 2013. We would not be surprised if this lasts more than a year. In one of […]

By: John E. Charalambakis | On: May 15, 2013 |

At the Intersection of Equities Road and Monetary Boulevard: Seeking Collateral Base

Could it be that the over-collateralization and re-hypothecation of paper assets via the derivatives avenue has created a huge hole in the financial system that the monetary authorities are called […]

By: John E. Charalambakis | On: May 3, 2013 |

The Eureka Moment of the EU, Market Cyclicality, and Monetary Aggregates: Approaching a Crossroad

A few days ago Jose Manuel Barroso (President of the European Commission) declared that austerity has its limits. The Eureka moment which says that you cannot add by subtracting finally […]

By: John E. Charalambakis | On: April 13, 2013 |

Resilient Markets Searching for Vitality: Incompatible Affections and Inept Detachments

I do not think that we would have had a hard time if we desired to find alarming market signals. However, the message from the markets seems to be a […]

By: John E. Charalambakis | On: April 2, 2013 |

An Attempt to Explain Stagnation, Growth, and Inflationary Episodes in the Post Bretton Woods II Era: The Absorption Framework

I think we are all puzzled by the fact that despite the pumping of credit via monetary reserves in several western nations, we still feel that stagnation prevails and certainly […]

By: John E. Charalambakis | On: March 29, 2013 |

“It is Finished”: Financial Institutions, Economic Stability, and Hades

Last Thursday (March 28) professor Simon Johnson of the MIT (former chief economist of the IMF) published an excellent piece in his blog (http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/28/the-debate-on-bank-size-is-over/#postComment). Needless to say that nothing else […]

By: John E. Charalambakis | On: March 23, 2013 |

10 to Midnight in the Garden of Credit: Socrates Wonders About Cardinal Rules, Historical Precedents, Matter-Antimatter, and the Fantasy Era of Fiat Money Creation

The unfolding events – by the hour – in Cyprus shine light to a historical precedent: When the next crisis comes around bank deposits may not be spared. This is […]