Thursday, October 8

Capitalism

As we look at capitalism and its various forms, we discover that an evolution that’s changed the values of a free market as the Nobel-prize winning economist Milton Friedman once championed.

The goal is an inclusive capitalism that empowers individuals and societies, strengthening both. The result, however, is far from the ideal. We can approach new concepts such as state capitalism, cronyism, corruption, and oligarchy. What’s more, we can pay attention to the money flows to see how decisions about capital investments are made, and more importantly, who benefits?

Meanwhile, just as theorists have done throughout the century, we strive to look at the economic system as a whole, asking how is it impacting workers, consumers, and citizens?

Trump Administration Moves to Establish Federal Rules for Crypto Markets
6Oct By Patti MohrNo Comments
Capitalism, Finance, Currency, Debt, National Budgets & Interest Rates, Types of News: Brief

Trump Administration Moves to Establish Federal Rules for Crypto Markets

Following Trump's Directive, the CFTC and SEC Request Public Feedback on Proposed Rulemaking The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has begun the process of establishing a federal regulatory framework for cryptocurrency markets. It follows a similar draft proposal by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Both proposed rules are now available for public review and comment. The crypto industry is one of the most active in Washington, DC, not only in terms of financing campaign activity in the run-up to the midterm elections, but also in shaping policy. President Trump is actively engaged in promoting the cryptocurrency industry. He hosted crypto and stock trading executives at the White House ahead of the CFTC meeting in August. Attendees included Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, R...
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Progressives Take Economic Agenda Global as Spain Tests the Model
6Oct By Patti MohrNo Comments
Capitalism, Democracy, Europe, EU, Eurozone, and United Kingdom, Types of News: Brief

Progressives Take Economic Agenda Global as Spain Tests the Model

Spanish PM Calls for Snap Elections in November Amid Housing Crisis October 6, 2026—On the sidelines of the United Nations general debate in September, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was the featured guest at a breakfast hosted by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The two politicians, along with other progressives, put forward an economic agenda focused on larbor rights, a higher minimum wage, housing regulations and rent control, and social protections across borders. https://youtu.be/JWbihVjDirM While he is celebrated among progressive circles overseas, back home Sánchez faces a crucial test. On Monday, he called for snap elections on November 29. It comes at a time of political crisis in Spain and neighboring France over affordability. The impact of the November 29 el...
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MONEY FLOWS The World’s 10 Largest Investment Firms
13Sep By Patti MohrNo Comments
Capitalism, Finance, Banks, Cryptocurrency, Metals, Global Economics, Types of News: Infographic

MONEY FLOWS The World’s 10 Largest Investment Firms

Who's Managing the World's Money, and Why It Matters September 13, 2026—Here is a look at the world's largest investment firms and a review of why their decisions matter to populations everywhere. As citizens in the United States and around the world look for ways to regain and assert economic power, one way is to understand who makes decisions about capital flows. A Trillion Dollar Industry Defined Private asset management (AUM) is a multi-trillion dollar industry. It impacts decisions on investments and money flows. Asset management (AUM) includes mutual funds, ETFs, hedge funds and other structured funds managed by investment firms. Two of the largest firms, BlackRock and Vanguard, account for a combined $25 trillion. Here’s the top ten. The World's largest investment firms...
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A Guide to Economic Empowerment: Policy, Anti-Corruption, and Inclusive Capitalism
24Apr By Patti MohrNo Comments
Capitalism, Finance, Banks, Cryptocurrency, Metals, Global Economics, Human rights

A Guide to Economic Empowerment: Policy, Anti-Corruption, and Inclusive Capitalism

How Consumers, Savers, and Citizens Have the Power to Transform Society for the Better Economic power of the consumer. Economic empowerment is the idea that individuals are free to make decisions over their own lives and equipped to influence the world around them through everyday decisions. Everyone engages in the economy. Citizens with economic power assert influence through spending, savings, and charitable decisions. Every act itself is a means of asserting individual impact—or at least it has the potential to do so. This recognizes that democracy is not only about elections and governance. It is built on a foundation of empowering society. An empowered citizenry is better able to hold government accountable and serve the interests of the population. Economics factors into...
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In the U.S., One Strike Ends As Another Grows Bigger
25Sep By Patti MohrNo Comments
Capitalism, Types of News: Analysis, United States

In the U.S., One Strike Ends As Another Grows Bigger

Auto Strike Has Political And Economic Consequences Auto workers strike outside Ford plant in Michigan. EDITORS NOTE: Workers' rights is part of an analysis of economic empowerment. Update: Both strikes ended up in deals with management. Automakers Ford, Stellantis, and GM provided up to 25 percent pay raises over four and a half years, reinstatement of cost-of-living adjustments, and elimination of some tiered wage. The Writers Guild of America secured historic protections from AI including protections against the use of AI in scriptwriting. September 25, 2023—As one major labor union strike in the United States ends, another one is getting bigger. U.S. politicians gearing up for the 2024 election are taking notice. Both strikes are taking place as industries undergo technolog...
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Ukraine to Sell 800 State-Owned Enterprises
21Oct By Patti MohrNo Comments
Capitalism, Eastern Europe, Types of News: Brief

Ukraine to Sell 800 State-Owned Enterprises

October 21, 2019- Privatization is seen as a key to addressing widespread corruption in Ukraine, where the state is the largest asset owner. The government is preparing a list of 800 state-owned assets for sale, a top Ukrainian official told a gathering of business and government leaders in Washington, DC last week. "There are 61 central authorities running state-owned companies with no accountability whatsoever, and these guys are messing up the competition in every market you can think of," Tymofiy Mylovanov, Ukraine's Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture, told members of the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council in Washington, DC last week. "We have to get them under control." Mylovanov announced plans to list up to 800 of the 10,000 state-owned enterprises (SOEs) for ...
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