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Abu Yahya's definitions

liquidity preference

*noun*; the tendency for the public to want to hold income in cash relative to its willingness to hold it as interest-bearing savings (bonds).

The liquidity preference is analogous to a supply curve for lendable funds. If the price for lendable funds--that is to say, the interest rate--is high, then the amount be be large. If the interest rate is low, then the public will be more inclined to hoard income as cash.

Income held as cash is not spent on goods and services, so if the amount increases abruptly then there will be a recession. If it is held in some interest-bearing form, then it can be spent on fixed capital, thereby increasing output and employment.

During a recession, if the liquidity preference is high, a lot of money is going to be held as cash. One could free up some cash for job-creating investment by raising interest rates, but that would eradicate a lot of business opportunities. So monetary authorities monetize debt instead, creating a new supply of credit to replace the savings lost by falling interest rates.
...An individual’s liquidity preference is given by a schedule of the amounts of his resources, valued in terms of money or of wage-units, which he will wish to retain in the form of money....

John M. Keynes, *General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money* (1936), Ch.13
by Abu Yahya March 3, 2009
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closed triangle

A sexual relationship involving three partners, all of whom have sexual contacts with each other. C.f. an open triangle, in which two of the members do NOT have sexual relations with each other.

An obvious attribute of a closed triangle is that at least two of the members must be bisexual or homosexual.
A common sexual fantasy for both men and women is the "closed triangle"; it's appeared as a theme in several novels, including Ernest Hemingway's _The Garden of Eden_. As a literary theme, however, it nearly always ends sadly, perhaps because even in their fantasies writers are bound by plausible expectations.
by Abu Yahya March 21, 2010
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comprador

(SOCIOLOGY) merchant class in a colony; usually dependent on exports of raw material from the colony (or former colony) in exchange for overpriced imports from the former colonial power.

As a class, the compradors are usually nationalistic--they usually want the trappings of independence. However, they are totally dependent on the global economy and its structure of hegemony. The rich nations benefit from excellent terms of trade, specialization in manufactured goods or intellectual property, etc.

After nominal independence, the comprador class usually become very powerful in the former colony; major powers like the USA or the EU ensure the comprador remain the de facto leaders of the colony. Anti-US rhetoric is usually just political theater or may reflect petty rivalry on the part of the compradors with their foreign masters.
Eventually, the terms of trade become so bad that the relationship breaks down and the country suffers a sovereign debt default, revolution, or permanent FUBAR status. At this point the comprador class has to share power with the local Junker class.
by Abu Yahya May 18, 2010
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curmudgeon's fallacy

The belief efforts to protect people from calamity will only lead to them being more careless, and bringing on more calamity.

This is a fallacy because it (a) assumes people can adjust personal risk to replicate an incomparable situation, and (b) it confusing risk-taking and risky behavior. "Risk-taking" is a neutral term that includes anything that increases risk in some way, such as operating a machine at a higher speed. This usually is done to get some other benefit. "Risky behavior" is foolish, feckless, or sloppy behavior that has no intrinsic utility to the person engaging in it.
An example of the curmudgeon's fallacy is the erroneous claim that safer cars make for careless drivers.
by Abu Yahya October 19, 2008
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Supply Side Economics

*noun*; a subdivision of economics that focuses on addressing recessions by stimulating supply, rather than demand. During a recession, supply siders recommend cutting taxes rather than increasing government spending.


"Supply side" is in contrast to traditional practitioners of Keynesianism, "demand siders" who believe the main fiscal policy tool for recessions should be increased government spending.

Both supply siders and demand siders believe the government is responsible for formulating effective fiscal policy during recessions.

The most famous advocate of supply side economics was Arthur Laffer.
When Ronald Reagan ...promised to cut taxes ...he claimed tax revenue would go up, not down... as the economy boomed in response to lower rates. Since then, supply side economics ... has become a central tenet of Republican political and economic thinking in the country.

"McCain sticks to Supply Side Economics..." *International Herald Tribune* (24 March 2008)
by Abu Yahya March 5, 2009
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beat sweetener

(JOURNALISM) using flattery to gain access to sources. The phrase is usually used in the context of White House or Congressional press corps, who use fulsome praise of high-ranking officials whose favor they need. Usually, officials like to be publicly represented as magnificent, selfless, tireless public servants; in exchange for such blurbs, they may invite specific reporters to exclusive events, thereby boosting the reporter's status.

It's actually been a feature of the business press for ages.
Since the financial crisis of 2008, business reporters have tended to write dismissively of bank executives. Six years ago they were likely to have written a beat sweetener about some CEO who was now shithead-of-the week.
by Abu Yahya April 9, 2010
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green mind

Philippine slang for someone who thinks compulsively erotic thoughts; dirty minded; the tendency to give innocent phrases a sexual connotation.

Occasionally the use of the term "green minded" by Usonian English speakers (to mean "environmentally conscious") causes Pinoys great amusement.
WILLIAM: How long have you lived here?

ALFREDO: Ever since I came in the USA

WILLIAM: Dude, you had sex with the USA? Did she get pregnant?

ALFREDO: Aw, man, you have a green mind!
by Abu Yahya February 22, 2010
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