Yes, Virginia, there is a Conspiracy

[egbert]

Michael Hudson (economist)

His forthcoming book, The Fictitious Economy, is among the first to explain to general readers how a corrosive bubble economy is replacing industrial capitalism via debt-financed, asset price inflation with the main purpose of increasing balance-sheet net worth, benefiting a select few[13] while spreading risk among the general population.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Hu ... onomist%29

http://michael-hudson.com/

[Gawdzilla Sama]

[.Morticia.]

that's what a mature capitalist economy is

:shrug:

[JOZeldenrust]

that's what a mature capitalist economy is

:shrug:

Not entirely, but it is what you get when the people who decide corporate policy are given incentive to crank up share prices, either because they're working on behalf of hedge funds or because they're rewarded for short term high risk gains through a perverted bonus structure.

Inflate and liquidate.