Insights

What We’re Reading – Week of 09/05/2014

Below you will find the articles on economics, investing, and finance that we found most interesting for the week.

NB: ($) denotes subscription site.

 

Water scarcity: “The only thing that can stop the China story.”

Article via Financial Times ($)

 

More water scarcity: it poses a serious challenge to shale oil & gas plays.

Article via Financial Times ($)

 

The Federal Reserve concludes that the decline in labor force participation is structural.

Article via Wall Street Journal ($)

 

The Fed also says that median wages for the bottom 90% of wage-earning families didn’t grow from 2010-2013.  The consumer can’t spend more if he doesn’t have more!

Survey of Consumer Finances via the Federal Reserve

 

Google wants to keep you healthy and be your chauffeur (with its self-driving cars) in old age.  It is pursuing a new partnership with AbbVie to find cures for diseases of aging.

Article via Reuters

 

Howard Marks spills a lot of ink on risk in his latest memo.  Spoiler:  He is shifting his focus to preserving capital as he sees risks building in most markets.

Memo via Oaktree Capital

 

This is an interesting look at how Monsanto is trying to change the conversation around GMOs.

Article via Wall Street Journal ($)