Shrinking Carrot,  Flailing Stick

Shrinking Carrot, Flailing Stick

The conventional thinking, that you can motivate others to do what you want with a mixture of punishment and reward, is at best shortsighted and outdated. Its biggest flaw is that it assumes away any agency and integrity on behalf of those you try to motivate. The...
The Yellow Speech  or the Green Speech?

The Yellow Speech or the Green Speech?

In the seminal Danish movie The Celebration (1998), a family and guests are gathered for the 60th birthday of the patriarch, Helge. Christian, the oldest son, gives Helge the choice between the yellow and the green speech. Helge chooses the green one, which turns out...
The Nature of News

The Nature of News

I am not sure that any of us need any more news or to know about any more risks. I, for one, could use a break to just color-code my turnip collection and maybe enjoy the sound of very soft hand towels.   Therefore, this issue of The Risk Report will focus on topics...
So Close and Yet So Tariffs Away

So Close and Yet So Tariffs Away

Agreement has been in short supply lately, except when it comes to inflation being a pain that everyone wants to stop or at least get into a reasonable range of, say, 2%. As can be seen on the graph below, the Fed has been working its delicate tool of the interest...
Same Time, Elsewhere

Same Time, Elsewhere

As we have mentioned before, the global economy is comprised by more countries than the United States of America and while those other countries are keeping a close eye on what’s going on stateside—either for direction or counterpoint—they are also having their own...