Raising Rivals’ Costs, Goldman Edition

21 April 2010 at 9:58 am Peter G. Klein 2 comments

| Peter Klein |

One could also call this “From the Department of ‘Duh'”:

A powerful alumni network plus bundles of campaign cash mean Goldman will get what it wants — and contrary to the media narrative, what Goldman wants is not laissez-faire.

Politico quoted a Goldman lobbyist Monday saying, “We’re not against regulation. We’re for regulation. We partner with regulators.” At least three times in Goldman’s conference call Tuesday, spokesmen trumpeted the firm’s support for more federal control. . . .

Goldman reported on the conference call that it holds 15 percent “Tier 1 capital,” meaning it is very liquid and not very risky. Goldman can play it safe, you see, without needing a regulation. But regulations prevent smaller competitors from taking the risks needed to compete with Goldman (and every competitor is smaller).

The article is also very good on Obama’s Goldman problem. (Link from Steve Horwitz via Per Bylund.)

Entry filed under: - Klein -, Bailout / Financial Crisis, Myths and Realities, Public Policy / Political Economy.

Melnyk on Flew New Klein Book

2 Comments Add your own

1. Richard O. Hammer | 22 April 2010 at 8:47 pm

I am glad to see your spelling of “Duh” because I believe that is the correct spelling.

But I am troubled because one person whom I respect insists that the spelling is “Doh”. This person says “Doh” is what Homer Simpson says. Homer is undoubtedly the authority.
2. Peter Klein | 23 April 2010 at 7:20 am

Richard, I take these to be different words — “Duh” as a marker for obviousness and “Doh!” as an expression of surprise or alarm. But I will have to check the Simpsons section in the Chicago Manual of Style.