May 24, 2013

Is Ms. Gillian Tett now, at long last, beginning to understand what is happening?

Sir, Gillian Tett, writes about “how inefficient central banks’ pump priming has been when it comes to delivering capital to the parts of the economy which need it badly – and which are essential to long term growth”, “US venture capital falls short on love in buying frenzy” May 24. 

Since I am not a PhD, a bank-president or a famed bureaucrat, Gillian Tett might not be reading my letters, but that is precisely what I have been telling her and some of her colleagues for years, namely that capital requirements for banks based on perceived risk hinders banks to deliver credit to the parts of the economy which most needs it and which are essential to long term growth.

Perhaps this might be a reminder for her that, now and again, it is convenient for everyone, including anthropologists, to walk the streets of the real economy, and not only those of Davos and alike.