If the economy was a person, then the producing sector (agriculture, manufacturing, mining, etc) would be its “income”. If the service sector is much smaller than the producing sector (like China today or the US one hundred years ago), then a country is living below its means (net saver). If the service sector is much larger than the producing sector (like China today or the US one hundred years ago), then a country is living above its means... 

Below are the numbers for soybean consumption in first six months of crop year for 2008/09 and 2009/10. Soybean Consumption in first six months of 2008/09 (Metric Tons) Crush Exports Combined September 3,276,153 481,268 3,757,421 October 3,902,693 4,658,425 8,561,118 November 3,794,428 4,387,222 8,181,650 December 3,668,363 3,974,350 7,642,713 January 3,785,746 4,570,448 8,356,194 February 3,501,828 4,311,998 7,813,826 Total 21,929,211 22,383,711... 

Please excuse the lack of activity these last few days. I have had some non-blog things to take care of. I have also been doing a lot of the research which is very technical in nature (about the workings of the security settlement system for example) and would require significant explanation to make understandable. Tomorrow I will try to put together an entry explaining how all the topics I have covered lately tie together.  Read More →

The Hindu Business Line reports about controlling food price inflation in India . (emphasis mine) [my comment] Controlling food price inflation ——————————– Food price inflation is one of the most critical economic problems in the country today, and the ability to control prices of food articles quickly and effectively is one of the main bases on which people will judge the performance... 

I am having computer problems, but I think I have found solution. More later  Read More →

Sorry for the lack of updates. I wanted to do a quick entry showing what I have been up to. I use outlook to blog, and, as you can see in the picture below, a lot of unsent emails have accumulated in my Drafts folder. Here is a picture of my Drafts folder showing the most recent email I have been working on. Below is shows the title of the emails in my draft folders. This should give you a general idea what I have been researching about. I…  Read More →

I will explain these charts in more detail tomorrow. To see the full pattern, I still need to add stock “fail to deliver” and commodity IOUs to charts above. The quick explanation of charts above is that Wall Street is a complete, Madoff-style ponzi scheme.  Read More →

Sorry for the lack of updates. I have a whole bunch of material of material I need to publish on MarketSkeptics.com. ——————————– Anyhow, for now, here is an explanation for the Fedwire Funds Transfer System from the Federal Reserve. It is very helpful for understanding the financial system if you understand the payment system holding it up. (emphasis mine) [my comment] Fedwire Funds... 

The Wall Street Journal reports that Florida Freeze Results in 30% Crop Loss . (emphasis mine) [my comment] JANUARY 19, 2010 Florida Freeze Results in 30% Crop Loss By TOM SELLEN And HOLLY HENSCHEN A blanket of ice covers strawberries Jan. 5 in Plant City, Fla. Businesses that rely on Florida may have to scramble to get products elsewhere. Florida farmers will sustain at least a 30% crop loss due to freezing temperatures, resulting in losses of... 

The Wall Street Journal reports that food costs push up asia inflation . (emphasis mine) [my comment] FEBRUARY 10, 2010, 3:47 P.M. ET Food Costs Push Up Asia Inflation By ALEX FRANGOS HONG KONG— The rising cost of food is driving Asian inflation rates higher, increasing the stakes for a successful harvest this year in a region still bruised by the 2008 food crisis. Prices for rice, sugar, milk, and in some places, fruits, vegetables and cooking... 

I have been researching “The Litigation Explosion”. Below are some of the articles I intend to blog about in greater detail later. (emphasis mine) [my comment] http://www.triallawyersinc.com/kstreet/kstr02.html#02 INTRODUCTION POLITICAL POWER How Trial Lawyers, Inc. Became Washington’s Most Influential Business Lobby … The Rise of the Plaintiffs’ Bar Although the legal profession and the Anglo-American system of tort law long... 

I have been researching “The Litigation Explosion”. Below are some of the articles I intend to blog about in greater detail later this week. (emphasis mine) [my comment] http://www.rjmintz.com/appch1.html The Litigation Explosion It has been estimated that 50,000 lawsuits are filed in this country every day of the week. This has come to be known as the “litigation explosion.” Whatever the causes—a breakdown of traditional... 

I have been researching social security (and Medicare). Below are some of the articles I intend to blog about in greater detail tomorrow. (I will also explain why I am looking into Social Security (and Medicare) tomorrow) The Washington Post reports that Social Security could be next to need a bailout . (emphasis mine) [my comment] Social Security could be next to need a bailout By Allan Sloan Tuesday, February 2, 2010; A13 Don’t look now.... 

Businessweek reports that Record Brazil, Argentine Soy Crop Hurt by Disease . (emphasis mine) [my comment] Record Brazil, Argentine Soy Crop Hurt by Disease: Week Ahead February 01, 2010, 09:30 AM EST By Lucia Kassai and Rodrigo Orihuela Feb. 1 (Bloomberg) — Soybean fungi are spreading across Brazil and Argentina, the world’s second- and third-largest producers, threatening record crops as demand gains. Argentine farmers confront an “unprecedented”... 

The Economic Times reports that violence erupts against rising food prices in Eastern India . (emphasis mine) Bihar faces food price discontent, violent protests 28 Jan 2010, 1552 hrs IST, REUTERS NEW DELHI/PATNA: Violence erupted against rising food prices in Bihar on Thursday, heaping more political pressure on the government to focus on inflation rather than growth and financial reform. Mobs stoned trains and jammed roads with burning tyres...