Friends of African Village Libraries (I post regularly here)- Daytime session at Sherigu Community Library
- La deuxième journée des activités de café littéraire à la bibliothèque de Boni
- Échanges avec la nouvelle gérante de la bibliothèque de Koho
- Reprise des activités de la bibliothèque mobile Pénélope
- Sortie de la Bibliothèque Mobile Pénélope à l’école Sainte Thérèse
- Bonne nouvelle pour les amoureux de la lecture à Niankorodougou
- Bibliothèque communautaire de Zimtenga ! Les livres attendent patiemment le retour des communautés
- Bilan des activités du mois d’août de la bibliothèque de Bougounam
- Bilan des premières journées du café littéraire
- Nyariga community library, daytime activities
Author Archives: mkevane
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
Posted in Teaching macroeconomics
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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
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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
Posted in Teaching macroeconomics
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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
Posted in Development thinking
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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
Posted in Teaching macroeconomics
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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
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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
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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
Posted in Politics
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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
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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
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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
Posted in Politics
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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
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Reform the the RSP in Burkina Faso! Or, maybe not.
Finally got a chance to read the report by General Diendéré on the RSP. Not sure if lefaso.net has a leaked copy or if it was officially released. The pdf file is missing page 13, but nevertheless the key takeaway … Continue reading
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Amanda Craig on the golden ages of children’s literature
Amanda Craig on the three Golden Ages of Children’s Literature Great article by Amanda Craig in the Independent today. I have never seen such an interesting and comprehensive summary of the history (and present) of children’s literature. Highly recommended. via … Continue reading
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Why are Burkinabè not democrats? Because of the IMF and World Bank, of course!
Vincent Bonnecase at CNRS reflects on the upcoming elections and transition to democracy in Burkina Faso. Lots of interesting thoughts, but at the end I find a kind of reflexive “blame it all on structural adjustment” at the heart of … Continue reading
Burkina Faso and Civilian Control of the Presidential Guard (RSP)
In The Dilemma of Getting to Civilian Control, Dart-Throwing Chimp comments on a post by Alex Thurston at Sahel Blog, summarizing: In a recent briefing, the International Crisis Group (ICG) surveyed that landscape and argued in favor of deferring any … Continue reading
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I hate the phrase “saving lives” and unfortunately this otherwise excellent Boston Review debate is replete with that usage
If you can get past the deadline induced sloppy writing, there is a lot worth reading. It is almost criminal to have this as a topic. A great example of the difference between writing technically (where author and reader share … Continue reading
Posted in Development thinking
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