As the US remains “grossly unprepared” to meet the exponential increase in demand for lithium, it stakes a claim to Argentina’s massive deposits of “white gold.” All for Argentina’s benefit, of course. More
China Just Gave a Foretaste of One of the Biggest Dangers of Biometric Surveillance Systems
Like just about anything on the Internet, biometric surveillance systems are eminently hackable as well as prone to human error.More
Europe’s Energy Crisis is Tipping Legions of Small Businesses Over the Edge
After reeling from one crisis to another, Europe’s heavily indebted and deeply debilitated small businesses — the backbone of the economy — face the ultimate threat from energy shortages and soaring prices. More
Mexican Drug Cartel Imposes Price Controls on Corn Tortillas, As Inflation Surges to 21-Year High
In Mexico, it is not just the government and the central bank that are trying to keep a lid on rising food inflation. So, too, is a drug cartel in the Pacific state of Guerrero. More
Are “Payment Strikes” About to Become a Regular Feature of the Economic Landscape?
The reemergence of “payment strikes” is perhaps a sign that as economic conditions deteriorate, people will begin to leverage the only real power they have left in today’s hyper-consumerist societies — i.e., as consumers. More
Latin America Is Back on the Grand Chessboard, as Race for Resources and Strategic Influence Intensifies in New Cold War
Latin America is once again in the cross-hairs of the world’s great (but in some cases, declining) powers as the new Cold War heats up.More
Is Cold, Hard Cash Making a Comeback?
While the use of physical money has been declining in many places for years, the trend may have reached its apogee. In some countries, including the UK and Spain, it even appears to be staging a fragile comeback. More
Is Germany About to Take A Leaf Out of China’s COVID-19 Digital Playbook?
Germany’s health minister unveils plans to launch a color-coded digital app to confirm citizens’ COVID-19 vaccination status. Different colors will confer different rights.More
Costa Rica’s New Government Overturns Covid-19 Vaccine Mandate, Launches Investigation Into Pfizer Contract
“We could end up in jail” if we disclose details of the former government’s contract with Pfizer, says the country’s Health Minister. More
The Dystopian Dream of Global Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) Hits Another Snag: The Japanese People’s Love of Cash
Japan is not the only G7 economy where cash is still King, and that could complicate the roll out of CBDCs in so-called “advanced” economies.More
Nick Corbishley 