Calling all Swedes

[Horatio Parker]

Passing on a bleg from Naked Capitalism:

We’ve been trying to help move a potentially significant initiative forward in Sweden. A couple of Swedish readers would like to submit a letter to some governmental bodies on a topic near and dear to our hearts. This effort is more likely to succeed if a few more people with experience and expertise relevant to this matter join them.

The signers need to be Swedish citizens. Ideal backgrounds would include academics, like professors of economics (finance specialists and labor economists are particularly likely to take interest), sociologists, and law. Other parties that might want to support this effort are print and TV journalists who cover finance and politics, labor officials, members of left-leaning think tanks, and any others who have been critics of questionable practices in the financial services industry.

Contact info at the link

http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2015/07/calling-all-swedish-and-sweden-connected-readers.html

 

[whichphilosophy]

Passing on a bleg from Naked Capitalism:

We’ve been trying to help move a potentially significant initiative forward in Sweden. A couple of Swedish readers would like to submit a letter to some governmental bodies on a topic near and dear to our hearts. This effort is more likely to succeed if a few more people with experience and expertise relevant to this matter join them.

The signers need to be Swedish citizens. Ideal backgrounds would include academics, like professors of economics (finance specialists and labor economists are particularly likely to take interest), sociologists, and law. Other parties that might want to support this effort are print and TV journalists who cover finance and politics, labor officials, members of left-leaning think tanks, and any others who have been critics of questionable practices in the financial services industry.

Contact info at the link

http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2015/07/calling-all-swedish-and-sweden-connected-readers.html

You haven't presented a reason to support what you say is Naked Capitalism. It looks more like a fishing expediting to look for since you haven't presented any specifics in the text.

 

[dystopian]

"We want to send a letter to the Swedish government, it's super important you guys! Oh, but we need experts to sign it; which we hope to find by randomly putting a call out there on a blog nobody's ever heard of. Why do we need experts to join us before we ever send anything? Well uh, look, just sign the damn thing. But only if you're a citizen. And have impressive credentials. Or have access to a media empire so we can publicity."

Some people don't have any shame, I guess.

 

[Horatio Parker]

I suggest contact only if you're interested.

 

[fromderinside]

I suggest contact only if you're interested.

click.

 

[barbos]

I have no frailing clue what is all this about, but then I am not Swedish

 

[DrZoidberg]

Passing on a bleg from Naked Capitalism:

We’ve been trying to help move a potentially significant initiative forward in Sweden. A couple of Swedish readers would like to submit a letter to some governmental bodies on a topic near and dear to our hearts. This effort is more likely to succeed if a few more people with experience and expertise relevant to this matter join them.

The signers need to be Swedish citizens. Ideal backgrounds would include academics, like professors of economics (finance specialists and labor economists are particularly likely to take interest), sociologists, and law. Other parties that might want to support this effort are print and TV journalists who cover finance and politics, labor officials, members of left-leaning think tanks, and any others who have been critics of questionable practices in the financial services industry.

Contact info at the link

http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2015/07/calling-all-swedish-and-sweden-connected-readers.html

I'm Swedish. But I haven't a clue what it is about. Looked through the web-site and it mostly looks like something produced by a bi-polar guy in his manic phase. It seems full of grandiosity and his solutions on how to fix the world. Is it that this guy thinks he sees the world like it really is and is telling it straight? I'm not saying he's wrong, because I don't understand what he wants. I'm just commenting on the general tone of that blog.

 

[Horatio Parker]

Passing on a bleg from Naked Capitalism:



Contact info at the link

http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2015/07/calling-all-swedish-and-sweden-connected-readers.html

I'm Swedish. But I haven't a clue what it is about. Looked through the web-site and it mostly looks like something produced by a bi-polar guy in his manic phase. It seems full of grandiosity and his solutions on how to fix the world. Is it that this guy thinks he sees the world like it really is and is telling it straight? I'm not saying he's wrong, because I don't understand what he wants. I'm just commenting on the general tone of that blog.

The blog is run by a financial analyst, a woman, named Yves Smith. The tone is often grandiose, admittedly, though I would say that it runs more to pointing out problems in trade and financial matters rather than advancing solutions. I find it a useful counterpoint to the MSM.

According to the specific post, NC is working with some Swedish citizens who are hoping to better regulate Swedens financial sector. Hence the "bleg". Since I've noticed that there are several Swedes(or who say they're Swedes) here, I thought I'd call attention to it.

YMMV

 

[DrZoidberg]

I'm Swedish. But I haven't a clue what it is about. Looked through the web-site and it mostly looks like something produced by a bi-polar guy in his manic phase. It seems full of grandiosity and his solutions on how to fix the world. Is it that this guy thinks he sees the world like it really is and is telling it straight? I'm not saying he's wrong, because I don't understand what he wants. I'm just commenting on the general tone of that blog.

The blog is run by a financial analyst, a woman, named Yves Smith. The tone is often grandiose, admittedly, though I would say that it runs more to pointing out problems in trade and financial matters rather than advancing solutions. I find it a useful counterpoint to the MSM.

According to the specific post, NC is working with some Swedish citizens who are hoping to better regulate Swedens financial sector. Hence the "bleg". Since I've noticed that there are several Swedes(or who say they're Swedes) here, I thought I'd call attention to it.

YMMV

So what does she say Sweden should do better? Sweden has plenty of faults, but my impression is that our financial sector is one of the more healthy ones? I have no complaints. But then again I live here. I have nothing to compare with.

edit: I still don't understand in what way she wants to reform the Swedish financial sector. I'm not going to buy into her plan just because she says it'll be great. The fact that she has trouble formulating what she wants makes me worried.

1. Collect underpants
2. something something
3. Rule the world.

 

[Horatio Parker]

The blog is run by a financial analyst, a woman, named Yves Smith. The tone is often grandiose, admittedly, though I would say that it runs more to pointing out problems in trade and financial matters rather than advancing solutions. I find it a useful counterpoint to the MSM.

According to the specific post, NC is working with some Swedish citizens who are hoping to better regulate Swedens financial sector. Hence the "bleg". Since I've noticed that there are several Swedes(or who say they're Swedes) here, I thought I'd call attention to it.

YMMV

So what does she say Sweden should do better? Sweden has plenty of faults, but my impression is that our financial sector is one of the more healthy ones? I have no complaints. But then again I live here. I have nothing to compare with.

The specific issues aren't listed.

 

[DrZoidberg]

So what does she say Sweden should do better? Sweden has plenty of faults, but my impression is that our financial sector is one of the more healthy ones? I have no complaints. But then again I live here. I have nothing to compare with.

The specific issues aren't listed.

So then why did you create this thread? If you have no idea what she wants, then why promote her?

 

[whichphilosophy]

I'm Swedish. But I haven't a clue what it is about. Looked through the web-site and it mostly looks like something produced by a bi-polar guy in his manic phase. It seems full of grandiosity and his solutions on how to fix the world. Is it that this guy thinks he sees the world like it really is and is telling it straight? I'm not saying he's wrong, because I don't understand what he wants. I'm just commenting on the general tone of that blog.

The blog is run by a financial analyst, a woman, named Yves Smith. The tone is often grandiose, admittedly, though I would say that it runs more to pointing out problems in trade and financial matters rather than advancing solutions. I find it a useful counterpoint to the MSM.

According to the specific post, NC is working with some Swedish citizens who are hoping to better regulate Swedens financial sector. Hence the "bleg". Since I've noticed that there are several Swedes(or who say they're Swedes) here, I thought I'd call attention to it.

YMMV

I am sure all Western financial sectors need better regulation but what needs regulation and what examples have been presented to support this.

 

[Horatio Parker]

The specific issues aren't listed.

So then why did you create this thread? If you have no idea what she wants, then why promote her?

I don't know the specific issue in Sweden, but am aware of NC's general attitude towards finance, which is that it is often corrupt and poorly regulated.

Presumably an appropriate candidate would know of and be concerned with Sweden's financial sector.

 

[DrZoidberg]

So then why did you create this thread? If you have no idea what she wants, then why promote her?

I don't know the specific issue in Sweden, but am aware of NC's general attitude towards finance, which is that it is often corrupt and poorly regulated.

Presumably an appropriate candidate would know of and be concerned with Sweden's financial sector.

To do what? One-size-fits-all doesn't work for the economy. General attitudes won't impress me. If she doesn't have a concrete plan, I don't care.

Regulation for the sake of regulation does more harm than good. Sweden has an odd financial system which is openly corrupt, ie the state has outsourced certain government functions to private companies, which is not ok in any shape or form. But the Swedes seem to be ok with it, and the system works. Swedes believe that the degree of corruption is low. Which is all that really matters. It's all about the faith in the system, and Swedes have an extremely high degree of faith in the system. Which is what it's all about isn't it? So why fix it if it isn't broke?

And whenever I whine about problems in the Swedish system I'm reminded that internationally Sweden is top of the class. A fucking honor student compared to most other countries. BTW when Greece asked Sweden for loans at the beginning of this century the Swedish finance minister said "you have got to be kidding". So Greece owe's Sweden no money at all. It's stuff like that which makes Swedes trust our government.

And we all need to be reminded that economy is an art. It's not science. It's so soft it makes psychology look like hard science. They're worse at predicting what happens in the market than meteorologists are for the weather. Nobody knows why things are so successful in Sweden, and nobody knows why USA is so successful... not really.

 

[Horatio Parker]

I don't know the specific issue in Sweden, but am aware of NC's general attitude towards finance, which is that it is often corrupt and poorly regulated.

Presumably an appropriate candidate would know of and be concerned with Sweden's financial sector.

To do what? One-size-fits-all doesn't work for the economy. General attitudes won't impress me. If she doesn't have a concrete plan, I don't care.

Regulation for the sake of regulation does more harm than good. Sweden has an odd financial system which is openly corrupt, ie the state has outsourced certain government functions to private companies, which is not ok in any shape or form. But the Swedes seem to be ok with it, and the system works. Swedes believe that the degree of corruption is low. Which is all that really matters. It's all about the faith in the system, and Swedes have an extremely high degree of faith in the system. Which is what it's all about isn't it? So why fix it if it isn't broke?

And whenever I whine about problems in the Swedish system I'm reminded that internationally Sweden is top of the class. A fucking honor student compared to most other countries. BTW when Greece asked Sweden for loans at the beginning of this century the Swedish finance minister said "you have got to be kidding". So Greece owe's Sweden no money at all. It's stuff like that which makes Swedes trust our government.

And we all need to be reminded that economy is an art. It's not science. It's so soft it makes psychology look like hard science. They're worse at predicting what happens in the market than meteorologists are for the weather. Nobody knows why things are so successful in Sweden, and nobody knows why USA is so successful... not really.

OK, so Swedens financial sector is unhealthy, but since most Swedes have faith in it, it's healthy. Whatever.

If you want to know the specific issue, I suggest clicking the link and emailing. And if anything seems not up to snuff, please let me know.

 

[fromderinside]

To do what? One-size-fits-all doesn't work for the economy. General attitudes won't impress me. If she doesn't have a concrete plan, I don't care.

Regulation for the sake of regulation does more harm than good. Sweden has an odd financial system which is openly corrupt, ie the state has outsourced certain government functions to private companies, which is not ok in any shape or form. But the Swedes seem to be ok with it, and the system works. Swedes believe that the degree of corruption is low. Which is all that really matters. It's all about the faith in the system, and Swedes have an extremely high degree of faith in the system. Which is what it's all about isn't it? So why fix it if it isn't broke?

And whenever I whine about problems in the Swedish system I'm reminded that internationally Sweden is top of the class. A fucking honor student compared to most other countries. BTW when Greece asked Sweden for loans at the beginning of this century the Swedish finance minister said "you have got to be kidding". So Greece owe's Sweden no money at all. It's stuff like that which makes Swedes trust our government.

And we all need to be reminded that economy is an art. It's not science. It's so soft it makes psychology look like hard science. They're worse at predicting what happens in the market than meteorologists are for the weather. Nobody knows why things are so successful in Sweden, and nobody knows why USA is so successful... not really.

OK, so Swedens financial sector is unhealthy, but since most Swedes have faith in it, it's healthy. Whatever.

If you want to know the specific issue, I suggest clicking the link and emailing. And if anything seems not up to snuff, please let me know.

Read Kafka.

 

[Horatio Parker]

OK, so Swedens financial sector is unhealthy, but since most Swedes have faith in it, it's healthy. Whatever.

If you want to know the specific issue, I suggest clicking the link and emailing. And if anything seems not up to snuff, please let me know.

Read Kafka.

Heh. Good call.

I love Kafka. My wife and I are hoping to a visit to the old and rotting world, as Nabokov called it, next year, and Prague is at the top of the list. Well, maybe except Italy...

 

[Tammuz]

I agree with DrZoidberg. I don't know of any big issues with our financial sector.

Sweden's main problems are (I'd say) lack of housing, poor integration of immigrants, unemployment, and a poorly performing education system. Other issues that are not immediate problems but could become so are Russian expansionism and the Eurozone mess.

And I don't have faith in our politicians, I despise them.

 

[DrZoidberg]

OK, so Swedens financial sector is unhealthy, but since most Swedes have faith in it, it's healthy. Whatever.

I didn't say it was unhealthy. A people's faith in its financial sector can be measured in how much people are investing in Sweden (Swedes and foreigners) and in household debt. If people feel secure in the system they take risks. The more secure they feel, the more risks they take. Investments in Sweden are on par with the UK or USA. Both when it comes to investment money going in as out. So people obviously have faith in Sweden. Especially in our IT sector. If Swedes had low faith in our financial institutions they would invest more abroad than in Sweden, and vice versa.

A simple metric is house hold borrowing. Not the accumulated debt. But the level of continuous indebting. That could also simply be a measurement of national stupidity. But it does measure how much faith people have that the system to allow them to compensate for living above their resources today.

Swede's do both of these. Conclusion = Swedes have faith in our financial institutions.

Here's reliable data on it.
https://data.oecd.org

Yes, money all about faith. The value of money is based on how elaborate fantasies people have regarding what they can purchase based on the numbers printed on the note. That's why it's so laughable when people think it's science. Sometimes a reform succeeds while somewhere else the same reform fails, simply based on who introduced it and how. These are self fulfilling prophesies. It's all about a population pulling in the same direction or in different directions. This is why corruption is so damaging, since it's eats away at faith. Well... usually. No clue why Swedes are so fine with it. But it does mean that Sweden works!

 

[DrZoidberg]

I agree with DrZoidberg. I don't know of any big issues with our financial sector.

Sweden's main problems are (I'd say) lack of housing, poor integration of immigrants, unemployment, and a poorly performing education system. Other issues that are not immediate problems but could become so are Russian expansionism and the Eurozone mess.

Sweden has a system to encourage people to move away from big cities. Sweden has zero housing shortage outside the big cities. I have no clue why Sweden has this policy, but it's by design. Yes, I hate it to.

When it comes to eduction... we're fine. We're somewhere above France and Spain and below the UK and USA. And we're all below Japan and Russia. Russia inherited and excellent educational system from USSR, one of the few things communist countries do right. And Japan has a culture where you're fucked if you don't get a uni degree. I don't get the fixation with being best in the world. I'm happy as long as we're not way below. We're mid-field. We've been mid-field since they started measuring in the 70'ies. I'm happy about that. We do have something to be proud of though. Education is free. So whether or not you have a degree is not a class-marker in Sweden. I think that is awesome.

I'll give you poor integration of immigrants. We suck at that.

And our unemployment rate is 7.9 which is bad. But it's not a disaster. Also, easily fixed by liberalising employment laws IMHO.

And I don't have faith in our politicians, I despise them.

Maybe not you, but Swedes in general obviously do. Faith in politicians can be measured in how healthy public debate is. People who despise politicians give up and stop discussing politics... because there's no point.

And faith in our financial system is not the same thing as faith in our politicians.