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The Optimistic Bear talks about the economy, finance, and what it means to our lives. Hear discussions with experts and the broader community. The Optimistic Bear also hosts a weekly radio show (also streamed as a podcast) in which callers share their own ideas.

Michael Surkan


    • Jan 25, 2011 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 64 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from OptimisticBear

    This Week on Bear radio: Cycles and Pre-destination

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2011


    In this episode we discuss the idea that societies, and economies, are governed by both short and very long cycles of social mood and sentiment. If this theory of cycles (like those proposed by Kondratieff) are correct, then there is very little policy makers can do one way or the other to change economic outcomes. The grandiose visions laid out by the US President’s state of the union address are irrelevant to the economic and psychological prosperity of the nation. The ideas offered by the President’s political opponents are likewise irrelevant for improving the economy. These generational cycles also imply that the cause of the recession and “financial crisis” is deeper than a lack of regulations or risky investment behavior. It was the general bullish attitude of society which inevitably led to lax regulation and excessive risk taking. The next time there is broad bullish sentiment throughout society (80 or 90 years hence) then regulation will inevitably become lax and risk taking will again reach excesses. We talk about how NO political leaders are championing the idea of state or municipal bankruptcies as a method to cure long-term budget problems. There are NO political leaders suggesting that the major financial institutions like CityGroup should just go bust and that bond-holders and depositors should lose their money. Instead, policy makers whine about deficits, stimulus, education and social safety nets. Lastly, we explore the fact the Bitcoin is now reaching a new high, in alignment with other markets, with bearish implications.

    This Week on Bear radio: A moment of Minsky

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2011


    In this episode Steve Keen shares his knowledge of economics to not only debunk the reverence paid to economists by policy makers but to explain that the titans of the economic theory are misunderstood. Keynes wasn’t the advocate for stimulus spending as many assume and Karl Marx actually had a lot of great insights that are conveniently swept under the carpet. Steve goes on to provide a tutorial on the life and ideas of his hero Hyman Minsky, explaining how this was one of the few who understood the sheer unpredictability that underlies all economics. We also discuss the how there is nothing special about the Australian, Canadian, or Chinese economies other than the fact that they have been able to breathe new life into their economies by blowing bigger bubbles. The end result is inevitable: global deflation. You can read about Steve’s book “Debunking Economics” here: http://debunkingeconomics.com/ You can read Steve’s blog posts on economics here: http://www.debtdeflation.com/blogs/

    This Week on Bear radio: Iceland as the model for economic recovery

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2011


    In this episode we discuss how Iceland’s decision to simply allow its banks to go bust may have been the wiser choice. Iceland’s economy is now growing again and the economy is re-setting itself. By contrast, nations like Ireland and Greece are taking on even MORE debt (in the form of bail-outs) to prop up their economies yet there is no end in sight to their economic demise. Sometimes it is better to just let the dead wood die and get started with a clean slate. We also discuss how currencies would function in a truly free market and what role, if any, central banks should have in such an environment.

    This Week on Bear radio: Being rich is a state of mind

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2011


    In this episode Robert Gignac offers advice on financial planning. Be careful to choose financial advisors who don’t have an vested interest in selling particular products. It is also important to find advice from people who really explain the various products and options without assuming that consumers understand the different between annuities, dividends or tax-free retirement funds. Robert explores how your goals and state of mind are the key to real happiness. Just having a lot of cash doesn’t inevitably make one happier. We also discuss the differences in health care systems and investment options for Canada and the US, sharing our own experiences with each system.

    This Week on Bear radio: Bearish predictions for 2011

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2010


    In this episode Patrick Killelea joins us to do some crystal ball gazing for 2011. Tune in to hear predictions for rising interest rates, a declining Euro, and crashing stock prices in Asia and America. Patrick predicts that affluent areas will see significant price erosion for 2011 and that the National Association of Realtors will declare that it is a great time to buy. The Optimistic Bear posits that America is embarking on a lengthy odyssey with deflation, much the same as Japan has experienced, and that 2011 will be one of the down years taking asset prices to new lows. Europe will experience a bail-out too far, where the political will to arrange yet a bail-out for another distressed state falters. You can check out Patrick’s economic news site here (as well as his great forums for discussing real-estate and the economy): http://patrick.net If you are interested in deflation, check out the Deflation Study Group on LinkedIn (open to all LinkedIn members): http://linkd.in/deflationsg You can also listen to my in-depth Deflation 101 podcast. http://bit.ly/deflation101

    This Week on Bear radio: Posh neighborhoods beware – the housing bust is heading your way

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2010


    In this episode housing blogger Patrick Killelea explains why real-estate prices still have a long ways to fall in the tonier communities. Prices fell faster in poor areas where people live paycheque to paycheque. The more well heeled home-owner has assets to burn through, and it takes them longer to get desperate enough to take losses. Patrick also talks about how the primary problem is the masses of bad debt, out of relation to incomes, which still hasn’t been written down throughout the economy. In Patrick’s view, the cozy relationships between banks and government have made the financial crisis what it is. The only thing government efforts to subsidize housing (or anything else, like education) accomplish is to drive up prices. You can check out Patrick’s economic news site here (as well as his great forums for discussing real-estate and the economy): http://patrick.net If you are interested in deflation, check out the Deflation Study Group on LinkedIn (open to all LinkedIn members): http://linkd.in/deflationsg You can also listen to my in-depth Deflation 101 podcast. http://bit.ly/deflation101

    This Week on Bear radio: Deflation – You aint seen nothin yet!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2010


    In this episode special guest Jim Mosquera explains how the financial crisis has barely even begun and that massive deflation lies ahead. By explaining how money and credit work Jim outlines what caused the financial crisis and why policy makers are powerless to prevent even greater collapses in asset values. When looking for a bottom in stocks start thinking about returning to 1982.

    This Week on Bear radio: The bubble in student loans

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2010


    In this episode we talk about how government subsidies have created a bubble in education that is eerily similar to what happened with housing. Prices are rising and unscrupulous lenders are pushing government backed loans for dubious educations. We also ask whether the financial statements of CitiGroup can be trusted.

    This Week on Bear radio: The message from Ireland is clear – debt write-downs must be avoid

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2010


    The Irish bailout by European nations and the IMF is following the same pattern we’ve seen throughout the entire financial crisis. In this episode we discuss the fact that whether it is consumer mortgages or sovereign debt issues, the response has been the same over the last few years – do anything and everything to avoid making lenders take a loss. Banks will lower monthly mortgage payments for struggling borrowers for a year but actually tack the difference with what is actually owed to increase the over-all loan balance. Governments will bail-out corporations so that bond-holders don’t have to suffer the indignity of a loss. Who cares if the borrowers will re-default later down the road, just so long as no one has to recognize the loss in the here and now.

    This Week on Bear radio: Investment advice for time travellers – hindsight isn’t everything

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2010


    In this week’s episode we discuss how investing can be difficult even with the benefit of a time machine and perfect hindsight. We also discuss the jitters in the European debt markets, Irish political instability and the recent volatility in municipal bonds. As if any more proof were needed, our commentators point out that the recent run on deposits with Allied Irish Banks despite the fact it had been given a clean bill of health by regulators earlier this year underscores the fact that policy makers lie.

    This Week on Bear radio: Is perception really reality when it comes to economics?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2010


    In this episode we discuss whether market perceptions of weakness in Ireland (or other nations) can force defaults. We also discuss how Quantitative Easing by the Federal Reserve is already backfiring with rising interest rates and a falling dollar. The show closes with a chat about the re-emergence of debtors prison in the United States.

    This Week on Bear radio: The recent Bitcoin bubble and the psychology of jumping back into high risk

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2010


    In this episode of the Optimistic Bear show, marking our first anniversary, we discuss the recent collapse of the Bitcoin bubble, the “prosperity certificates” of Canada’s William Aberhart and the history of failed currencies. We also delve into the psychology of bubble investing, and propose some theories as to why investors seem so willing to get burnt with the same bad investments again and again. Lastly, we explore Harry Brown’s 16 golden rules of financial safety.

    This Week on Bear radio: What does the rise of Republican power in congress mean for the economy?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2010


    With election results coming in from across America today, we discuss what impact change in congressional leadership will have on the economy. We also ponder whether the Republicans will regret their victory if the Great Recession has a double dip. Politicians may have relatively little impact on the economy, one way or the other, but they get the blame when things go wrong as well as acclaim when there is prosperity.

    This Week on Bear radio: The US health-care dog wagging the tale

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2010


    Stories of abuses in the American medical system are egregious, and shockingly easy to find. However, such atrocities of over-billing and fraud are actually a symptom of a deeper problem: the lack of a free market with responsible customers.

    This Week on Bear radio: No investment strategy works 100% of the time

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2010


    In this episode we discuss how even the best investment strategies, founded on the most exhaustive historical data sets, can still go horribly wrong. No trend lasts forever. Even theoretically reliable seasonal cycles can throw investors for a loop.

    This Week on Bear radio: Pick your poison – investing requires taking a stand

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2010


    In this episode we discuss how there is no such thing as a “safe” investment, and that people have to pick which economic scenario they believe in since no asset will perform well in all circumstances. We also talk about the crisis with mortgage processing, with shoddy paperwork and robo-signing. It’s hard to feel sorry for either the lenders or their delinquent borrowers. It’s just unfortunate that we will all pay the price of an exacerbated real-estate downturn as the mess slowly gets cleaned up in the years to come.

    This Week on Bear radio: Currency devaluation as the next magic cure to economic doldrums

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2010


    In this episode we talk about the growing popularity for currency devaluations around the world. Japan is just the most recent nation to get on the bandwagon with threats to intervene in currency markets to keep the yen down. Ironically, we discuss how it is strong currencies which often lead to the best outcomes.

    This Week on Bear radio: Are renters throwing money away?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2010


    In this episode a guest from California asks if renters are just throwing money away. We discuss how bullish sentiment is at extremes by some measures, even though the recent stock rally is anemic and within the same trading range we’ve seen all year. Our conversation also turns to how the very fact the Federal Reserve is considering a SECOND round of quantitative easing demonstrates that it’s power over the economy is limited (i.e. otherwise a second attempt wouldn’t be necessary).

    This Week on Bear radio: No idea is too wacky in the bizarro world of central banking these days

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2010


    In this episode we suggest some more crazy ideas the Federal Reserve can consider to stimulate the economy. Since central bankers seem so willing to consider absurd policy measures these days we thought we’d help by sharing some doozies. We also talk about what impacts a deeper recession might have on the tech industry, hos spending would change and how which companies would win or lose.

    This Week on Bear radio: Deadbeat lending is sweet when someone else guarantees the loan

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2010


    In this episode Doug Eberhardt joins us to talk about the credit bubble of the last decade, and how those who made risky loans (which clearly couldn't be paid back) may not have been so dumb after all. In many cases there were implicit guarantees on bad loans. Why not invest in Greek bonds if you know that Germany would never allow a default for fear of wrecking the Euro? Why not invest in Fannie Mae bonds if you know the Federal Government would never allow such a critical part of the financial system to default? In addition, we discuss how investing in Gold is a good idea for security but not as a path to wealth.

    This Week on Bear radio: Does perception make reality?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2010


    In this episode we ponder whether perception alone drives economic trends. Special guest, fund manager Chaster Johnson, challenges the Optimistic Bear's view that the financial system bail-outs not only worked but have benefited more than the fat-cat executives at banks.

    This Week on Bear radio: What makes a bear market politician?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2010


    In this episode we discuss the attributes of bear market politicians and identify the MOST successful bear market leaders of all times. It takes a different message and personality type to thrive in politics during challenging economic times.

    This Week on Bear radio: Greedy civil servants

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2010


    In this episode the Optimistic Bear rants about how the public sector employees are now paid MORE than private sector counterparts and that there is no way to save the unfunded civil service pensions.

    This Week on Bear radio: 1987 déjà vu and the bubble in Treasuries

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2010


    In this episode we discuss how markets are following an eerily similar path to 1987. In addition, we talk about whether the rally in treasuries is going to crack and the growth in the barter economy.

    This Week on Bear radio: Neither bull nor bear, just trading the trend

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2010


    In this episode Steve tells how his strategy of trading trends allows him to make money in both bull and bear markets. The trick is to have the discipline to stay with a system. Stop listening to the pundits, just follow the trend and adhere to a system.

    This Week on Bear radio: Kit Kitredge shows the way with deflationary frugality

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2010


    In this episode we discuss how changing consumer preferences, and product substitution play a key role in the deflationary process. Already we see people downsizing their expectations, taking in boarders to their homes, and switching to lower priced substitutes for all kinds of things. It’s starting to look at lot like the Kit Kitredge movie, set in the 1930s. We also talk about how surprising it is to see how long the process of de-leveraging and mal-investment purge is taking.

    This Week on Bear radio: Gold as antidote to uncertain times

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2010


    In this episode Doug Eberhardt explains how gold should be a part of every portfolio, providing safety in both inflation and deflation. Additionally, Doug compares the deflationary experience in Japan to what is happening in the US. Our panelists also discuss how there is no economic theory that adequately explains why nations with increasing money supplies (like Japan) can experience deflation.

    This Week on Bear radio: Options expiry shenanigans and summer doldrums

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2010


    In this episode we discuss the strange way stocks behave on options expiry weeks and whether real action in the market will have to wait till the fall and the end of the summer doldrums. For good measure, we also talk about how recent finance reform legislation does nothing to prevent future financial panics.

    This Week on Bear radio: The view from North Carolina

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2010


    In this episode a caller from North Carolina tells us that the economy hasn't hit bottom there, and that from his perspective as a bank loan officer (with national exposure) a double-dip recession is already baked into the cards. We also delve into the profits and pitfalls of tax lien investing.

    This Week on Bear radio: Should congress borrow to fund unemployment insurance?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2010


    In this episode veteran Wall Street Banker Bruce Krasting joins us to talk about how the recent congressional legislation to extend unemployment benefits by borrowing even more money is the final straw. According to Bruce, unemployment insurance is small potatoes compared to the trillions in stimulus an bailouts that have been spent so far, but the insanity has to stop somewhere. Bruce also shares his view on how deflation is likely to win out in the short term, and his views on how emotion can irrationally drive individual stock prices high or low.

    This Week on Bear radio: Can cosmology, technical indicators, or tea leaves tell market future?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2010


    In this episode we discuss which, if any, techniques are useful for predicting market directions. We talk about everything from cosmology and technical analysis to tea leaves. We also talk about growing problems with underfunded private and public pension plans.

    This Week on Bear radio: All about stimulus - can government spending help economies?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2010


    In this episode we discuss stimulus, and whether government spending can jump-start moribund economies. We also explore whether the fact that significant technological advances have resulted from government funding demonstrate a role for the state in economic development.

    This Week on Bear radio: Manias, portfolio diversification, and income inequality

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2010


    In this episode we discuss what role governments play in bubbles and whether diversified investment portfolios make sense when all asset classes rise and fall at the same time. We also investigate what growing disparities between the wealth of the rich and middle classes say about the economy.

    This Week on Bear radio: The bubble in Canada and Isaac Asimov

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2010


    In this episode special guest Matt Stiles fills us in on the asset bubble and bullish fever that is raging in Canada. We also talk how Isaac Asimov's fictional idea of scientifically controlling human behaviour is symptomatic of broader desires to manage the economy.

    This Week on Bear radio: The money supply and trading systems.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2010


    In this episode we talk about the inevitable failure of any trading system and explore the definition of the "money supply". Panelists give their take on why the money supply is shrinking despite massive government printing of cash.

    This Week on Bear radio: Are unions really responsible for government overspending?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2010


    In this episode we talk about unions, and what responsibility they bear for pushing governments into insolvency. There is also in-depth discussion on market technical indicators, and what they portend for trends in the near term.

    This Week on Bear radio: The Euro end-game, and China as leading indicator

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2010


    In this episode we discuss the possible end-game of the Euro, the future of interest rates, and examine how eerily the Shanghai stock exchange has been a leading indicator for the US markets in the last few years.

    This Week on Bear radio: Did the pan-European bail-out news cause the rally?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2010


    The Optimistic Bear, and guests, ask if this week's market rally was caused by the pan-European bail-out announced over the week-end, and whether the markets have turned the corner. The frequent "coincidence" of market news and stock moves is revealed.

    This Week on Bear radio: is the sovereign debt crisis over?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2010


    In this episode, the Optimistic Bear and guests discus sovereign debt. With all the problems in Greece, and Europe, prudent investors are wondering if purchasing bonds of nation states makes sense anymore. Are US T-bills, or German bunds safe?

    This Week on Bear radio: Who needs the ratings agencies anyway?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2010


    In this show, the Optimistic Bear (and friends) discusses the role ratings agencies play in finance, and whether their judgments hold any value for investors.

    This Week on Bear radio: The case against Goldman Sachs

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2010


    The Optimistic Bear and Elliott examine both the moral, and legal, cases against Goldman Sachs. A perusal through Goldman’s past shows that they routinely wind up with egg on their face every time the economy goes south. The Optimistic Bear tells about how this is all reminiscent of the trouble Drexel Burnham Lambert and Michael Milken wound up in when the junk bond market tanked in the early ‘90s.

    This Week on Bear radio: Could anyone have foreseen the financial crisis?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2010


    Elliott, Jeremy and the Optimistic bear wonder if the claims to have been blind-sided by the financial crisis by pillars of the financial community, like Greenspan and ex Washington Mutual executives, can be taken at face value. Frequent caller Ray Pepper updates us on the growing number of defaulting homeowners who stay in their homes when the lenders are unable to produce the note.

    This Week on Bear radio: Impacts of a Chinese currency revaluation, and balance of trade nonsense

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2010


    In this episode Elliott and Jeremy ponder if a floating Chinese currency would really behave as experts expect. We also talk about how misleading the balance of trade statistics really are.

    This Week on Bear radio: The euro has an anniversary and the stock rally has bears in retreat

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2010


    In this episode regular contributor Elliott and the Optimistic Bear celebrate the Euro's 10th anniversary and discuss whether the markets are actually secretly manipulated, and controlled, by mysterious people in smoke filled rooms.

    This Week on Bear radio: A Primer on Inflation and Deflation & Health Care gone Mad

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2010


    In this episode regular contributor Jeremy and the Optimistic Bear demystify what inflation and deflation really are, and reluctantly come to the conclusion that Canada's health care system may actually be better than America's.

    This Week on Bear radio: Will smaller banks make the economy safer?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2010


    In this episode regular contributors Jeremy, Kevan, and Elliott chat with the Optimistic Bear about the futility of proposed financial industry reform. Will legislating large financial institutions out of existence really save us from future economic calamity? Does size really matter? We also talk about whether timing matters with value investing, and whether resource rich nations are really better off.

    Weekly Economics and Finance round-up

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2010


    This week our regular pundit Jeremy discusses the Q ratio and Robert Shiller's bearish economic prognosis. We also chat with Washington state real-estate investor Ray Pepper about his views on the still treacherous property markets, and shares some ideas on how investors can still make a buck.

    Weekly Economics and Finance round-up

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2010


    The Optimistic Bear discusses the week's economic and financial news with his guests. Is deflation or inflation up ahead? Has the economy turned the corner? What is going to happen to real-estate, commodities, stocks, or gold prices? Tune in to hear a deeper understanding of why things happen in the economy, and what it really means to you or your business.

    Weekly Economics and Finance round-up

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2010


    The Optimistic Bear discusses the week's economic and financial news with his guests. Is deflation or inflation up ahead? Has the economy turned the corner? What is going to happen to real-estate, commodities, stocks, or gold prices? Tune in to hear a deeper understanding of why things happen in the economy, and what it really means to you or your business.

    Weekly Economics and Finance round-up

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2010


    The Optimistic Bear discusses the week's economic and financial news with his guests. Is deflation or inflation up ahead? Has the economy turned the corner? What is going to happen to real-estate, commodities, stocks, or gold prices? Tune in to hear a deeper understanding of why things happen in the economy, and what it really means to you or your business.

    Weekly Economics and Finance round-up

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2010


    The Optimistic Bear discusses the week's economic and financial news with his guests. Is deflation or inflation up ahead? Has the economy turned the corner? What is going to happen to real-estate, commodities, stocks, or gold prices? Tune in to hear a deeper understanding of why things happen in the economy, and what it really means to you or your business.

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