Good reads from around the Web.
The tensions between inequality, meritocracy, communism and the incentives of capitalism have been endlessly debated over the years.
But for too long capuchin monkeys were denied their say.
This injustice was corrected by research showing that the little fellas react just as angrily to inequality as any Occupy protestor running low on Skinny Chai Lattes from the oppressors at Starbucks.
The following video shares the story:
(The full version of this TED lecture is available on its website [1]).
I am not sure whether this video really does show the monkey is reacting angrily to not getting equal pay – or whether he’d just like some grapes, too, as they’re clearly on offer.
A better approach might be to deliver the same type of “pay”, but to give greater amounts to the monkey who demonstrates superior performance. Would our furry friends be happy to see higher skill rewarded?
I have no idea, but I do feel sorry for the losing monkey. It all seems a bit cruel.
Why not just put cameras in City offices at bonus time for equally mean but more amusing results?
From the blogs
Making good use of the things that we find…
Passive investing
- Blended real returns from 16 countries – Mebane Faber Research [2]
- The price-bubblegum ratio and future returns – Rick Ferri [3]
Active investing
- Return and ridicule – Fred Wilson [4]
- Are BG shares a good investment? – UK Value Investor [5]
- The fine art of being wrong – The Big Picture [6]
- Bunzl: A growth company worth paying for – iii blog [7]
- I survived the flash crash of 2013 – The Reformed Broker [8]
- The activist investor – Wexboy [9]
Other articles
- Understanding what your PAYE tax code means – TaxFix [10]
- An unfriendly savings bond – Dosh & Nosh [11]
- Why should I be frugal, when I’m so rich? – Mr Money Mustache [12]
- Please don’t call me cheap – Len Penzo [13]
- A peek into the workings of capitalism – Simple Living in Suffolk [14]
Product of the week: I long for a big, cheap mortgage [15]. Reader Brendan pointed me to a new 3.99% ten-year deal from Yorkshire [16], which is profiled in The Guardian [15]. Low fees!
Mainstream media money
Note: Some links are to Google search results – these enable you to click through to read the piece without you being a paid subscriber of the site.
Passive investing
- Terry Smith: A reminder to keep a lid on costs [Search result] – FT [17]
- Swedroe: Big stock market drops are frequent occurrences – CBS [18]
- Low volatility ETFs outshining counterparts – Index Universe [19]
- iShares launches cheap active ETFs in the US – Index Universe [20]
Active investing
- Why emerging markets have lagged – The Economist [21]
- Wall Street analysts tell all – Wall Street Journal [22]
- Seth Klarman: Lost lessons from the crisis – Guru Focus [23]
- What Apple can learn from Warren Buffett… – Bloomberg [24]
- …even if its buybacks are a big deal – Fool [25] and Reuters [26] [plus charts [27]]
Other stuff worth reading
- Nicholas “Black Swan” Taleb has a hissy fit on Twitter – B.I. [28]
- FCA bans fund rebates [29] – Telegraph [30] & iii [31] & FT Adviser [32]
- Merryn: Latest ruse of the City fat cats – Moneyweek [33]
Book of the week: I am really enjoying Money Mavericks [34]
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