Author Archives: mkevane

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About mkevane

Economist at Santa Clara University and Director of Friends of African Village Libraries.

Gossip and publicity about the Caine Prize and ‘African Literature’ |

A very fine article Acts of mutiny: the Caine Prize and ‘African Literature’ by Ranka Primorac.  In the end, labeling is marketing.  A writer can object to labeling, and refuse to be labelled: but then they have to be prepared … Continue reading

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IFLA day #2 in Cape Town South Africa

As with any conference, the fun part is time between sessions when you get to have more in-depth chats about library stuff.  This afternoon I had coffee with Ari Katz from Beyond Access, who is now based in Thailand working … Continue reading

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First day at IFLA in Cape Town

Worked on my presentation all morning… realizing audience will probably be like 300 people…. and they strictly enforce time limits, so have to say everything in 15 min, so have to practice a dozen times… Walked down to convention center… … Continue reading

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None has or None have? Is there any grammar question more important than this? Maybe the Oxford comma?

Usage Note: It is widely asserted that none is equivalent to no one, and hence requires a singular verb and singular pronoun: None of the prisoners was given his soup. It is true that none is etymologically derived from the … Continue reading

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Is Burkina Faso changing?

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Size of mortgage backed securities market

In my macro class a student (Mark or Steve… whatever!) asked about the size of the MBS market relative to Federal Reserve holdings.  Here’s a nice description of the market: Agency mortgage backed securities (henceforth “MBS”) are fixed income securities … Continue reading

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I do not understand a moral obligation bond

Hi I would like to borrow some money from you and my contract says I do not have to repay you if it turns out that I can but do not want to.  Of course there is nuance, but the … Continue reading

Posted in Teaching macroeconomics | Comments Off on I do not understand a moral obligation bond

Lehman Brothers bankruptcy and Repo 105

I have been doing a little extra reading for my MBA macroeconomics class, for the sections on the U.S. financial crisis.  Lehman Brothers’ actionable fraud (resulting in settlements by Ernst & Young, their accounting firm) was for a strategy they … Continue reading

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Recent Fed interest rate decision to not raise rates, and video of Fed board meeting

Anticipatory commentary on recent Fed interest rate decision Fed implementation of capital surcharges on too big to fail firms Fed FOMC press release July 29, 2015  “To support continued progress toward maximum employment and price stability, the Committee today reaffirmed … Continue reading

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How effective has the Federal Reserve QE program been?

The facts.  After hitting 0% nominal interest rates in the short term Federal Funds market, the Fed purchased almost $3 trillion longer-term assets (mortgage backed securities guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and longer-term Treasury bonds guaranteed by the … Continue reading

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Africa rising? Somebody forgot to tell the rulers

Indeed, about half of the more than 50 countries in the African Union have presidents, prime ministers or monarchs who have been in power longer than Mr. Obama, some of them for decades. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has ruled Equatorial … Continue reading

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Bank of America during and after the financial crisis

Bank of America has had to pay a lot of legal settlements and fines since 2009.  The New York Times has a timeline.   Here are the highlights, adding up to about $48 billion: June 7, 2008 $108 Million Settlement on … Continue reading

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Decent fantasy novels and sci-fi short stories

I’ve taken a break from reading serious fiction, and have enjoyed reading light stuff over the summer so far. Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen is very light.  She is a Bay Area resident, apparently.  The novelty in the … Continue reading

Posted in Book and film reviews | Comments Off on Decent fantasy novels and sci-fi short stories

Stiglitz oped on Greece is a missed opportunity

Here is his conclusion: For now, the Greek government has capitulated. Perhaps, as the lost half decade becomes the lost decade, as the politics get uglier, as the evidence mounts that these policies have failed, the troika will come to … Continue reading

Posted in Teaching macroeconomics | Comments Off on Stiglitz oped on Greece is a missed opportunity

Ted Chiang… the best!

The humans use Arecibo to look for extraterrestrial intelligence. Their desire to make a connection is so strong that they’ve created an ear capable of hearing across the universe. But I and my fellow parrots are right here. Why aren’t … Continue reading

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“In a world where…” come to Burkinabè film-making… can almost hear the announcer

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Great essay on WDR2015 from G. Sampath “Teaching the poor to behave”

Worth reading in full.  Not new insight, but very nicely written. In order to change the behaviour of the poor, one must first understand it. It is this understanding that behavioural economics promises to codify into knowledge. To be sure, … Continue reading

Posted in Development thinking | Comments Off on Great essay on WDR2015 from G. Sampath “Teaching the poor to behave”

More on global capitalism’s responsibilities for everything that is bad

Even the New York Times cannot escape absurd reporting on absurd discourses.  The discourse, dear reader, is to name something with a label so broad and amorphous that everyone can interpret in any old convenient way, where convenient means “mystify.”  … Continue reading

Posted in Teaching macroeconomics | Comments Off on More on global capitalism’s responsibilities for everything that is bad

Three Protestants, one Catholic, and two Muslims walk into a maquis to advise the President of Burkina Faso

Guess who isn’t on the conseil des sages advising President Kafando?  Nobody from labor, nobody from secular civil society, no women, nobody representing the poor. Just a bunch of old white guys, if you know what I mean. En rappel, … Continue reading

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One reaction to President Kafando’s message to Burkina Faso

I think there was only one real line of substance: I will refer your case to international tribunals if you step out of line. Eh bien ! Quel ton grave dans ce discours !!!!! Nous sommes tant que ça au … Continue reading

Posted in Politics | Comments Off on One reaction to President Kafando’s message to Burkina Faso