ECONOMY

The Best Alternative Financial Blogs

So what are the best alternative finance and economic websites out there? To assemble our list, we polled our friends, our sources and our followers on Twitter. We excluded many of the sites we really enjoy because they are associated with major media organizations. So no Felix Salmon, FT Alphaville or DealBook. These are the sites that have struck out on their own, untethered to the “mainstream media.” Some of them — like Business Insider or Minyanville — have become so successful that we almos

So what are the best alternative finance and economic blogs out there?

To assemble our list, we polled our friends, our sources, and our followers on Twitter. We excluded many of the sites we really enjoy because they are associated with major media organizations. So no Felix Salmon, FT Alphaville, or DealBook.

These are the sites that have struck out on their own, untethered to the “mainstream media.” Some of them — like Business Insider or Minyanville — have become so successful that we almost disqualified them as being too mainstream.

On our list you’ll find some representatives of the old school, some of the new school, and hopefully a few that are new to you. There are liberal fraud-busters, Austrian economics free-marketeers, and jaded market cynics on our list.

And now, here’s the best of the web for 2012.

By John Carney
Posted 27 January 2012

DealBreaker

We still can’t let a day go by without checking what new way has discovered to hurl hilarious bile at the news. She’s what Jon Stewart would be if Jon Stewart were a dirty-talking Wall Street tabloid reporter. Plus, she’s got the best hedge-fund sources in the business.
We still can’t let a day go by without checking what new way has discovered to hurl hilarious bile at the news. She’s what Jon Stewart would be if Jon Stewart were a dirty-talking Wall Street tabloid reporter. Plus, she’s got the best hedge-fund sources in the business.
Photo: dealbreaker.com

We still can’t let a day go by without checking on the new ways Bess Levinhas discovered to hurl hilarious bile at the news. She’s what Jon Stewart would be if Jon Stewart were a dirty-talking Wall Street tabloid reporter. Plus, she’s got the best hedge-fund sources in the business.

Business Insider

They’ve grown a lot since the days when they were just a finance and tech site. But still central to success is the tireless warp-speed blogging of Joe Weisenthal.
They’ve grown a lot since the days when they were just a finance and tech site. But still central to success is the tireless warp-speed blogging of Joe Weisenthal.
Photo: businessinsider.com

It has grown a lot since the days when it was just a finance and technology site. Still central to success is the tireless warp-speed blogging of Joe Weisenthal.

Zero Hedge

When I first started blogging about Wall Street, a wise sage once said that you would have to be a paranoid Russian poet to understand global finance. proves the truth of this every day. It’s the first and last stop of the day for many traders.
When I first started blogging about Wall Street, a wise sage once said that you would have to be a paranoid Russian poet to understand global finance. proves the truth of this every day. It’s the first and last stop of the day for many traders.
Photo: zerohedge.com

When I first started blogging about Wall Street, a wise sage once said that you would have to be a paranoid Russian poet to understand global finance. ZeroHedgeproves the truth of this every day. It’s the first and last stop of the day for many traders.

The Money Illusion

Economics professor Scott Sumner claims he’s “not a natural blogger,” almost single-handedly pushed the idea of basing monetary policy around nominal group domestic product — that is, economic growth without stripping out inflation — right into the center of the economic debate. Even Fed governors are talking about the idea these days.
Economics professor Scott Sumner claims he’s “not a natural blogger,” almost single-handedly pushed the idea of basing monetary policy around nominal group domestic product — that is, economic growth without stripping out inflation — right into the center of the economic debate. Even Fed governors are talking about the idea these days.
Photo: themoneyillusion.com

Economics professor Scott Sumner claims he’s “not a natural blogger,” yet his blogalmost single-handedly pushed the idea of basing monetary policy around nominal gross domestic product — that is, economic growth without stripping out inflation — right to the center of the economic debate. Even U.S. Federal Reserve governors are talking about the idea these days.

Mish’s Global Economic Trend Analysis

For as long as anyone can remember, has been a must-read. When many people were predicting runaway inflation and a declining dollar, “Mish” correctly saw deflation and the end to the long “flight from the dollar.”
For as long as anyone can remember, has been a must-read. When many people were predicting runaway inflation and a declining dollar, “Mish” correctly saw deflation and the end to the long “flight from the dollar.”
Photo: globaleconomicanalysis.com

For as long as anyone can remember, Michael Shedlock’s websitehas been a must-read. When many people were predicting runaway inflation and a declining dollar, “Mish” correctly called deflation and the end to the long “flight from the dollar.”

Credit Writedowns

Edward Harrison’s boasts one of the best stables of columnists around. Harrison’s unconventional approach to economics — one part Austrian, one part Modern Monetary Theory and four parts original Harrisonism — makes it a real standout. I won’t bother trying to explain it all right here. Just go check out the site.
Edward Harrison’s boasts one of the best stables of columnists around. Harrison’s unconventional approach to economics — one part Austrian, one part Modern Monetary Theory and four parts original Harrisonism — makes it a real standout. I won’t bother trying to explain it all right here. Just go check out the site.
Photo: creditwritedowns.com

Edward Harrison’s “Credit Writedowns”boasts one of the best stables of columnists around. Harrison’s unconventional approach to economics — one part Austrian, one part Modern Monetary Theory, and four parts original Harrisonism — makes it a real standout. I won’t bother trying to explain it all right here. Just go check out the site.

Of Two Minds

Charles Hugh Smith isn’t a household name — yet. Even a lot of avid blog readers I talk to haven’t heard of him. I suspect that’s about the change. Smith says the “end game” of “extend-and-pretend” will play out in 2012 and 2013.
Charles Hugh Smith isn’t a household name — yet. Even a lot of avid blog readers I talk to haven’t heard of him. I suspect that’s about the change. Smith says the “end game” of “extend-and-pretend” will play out in 2012 and 2013.
Photo: charleshughsmith.blogspot.com

Charles Hugh Smith isn’t a household name…yet. Even a lot of avid blog readers I talk to haven’t heard of him. I suspect that’s about the change. Smith says the “end game” of “extend-and-pretend” will play out in 2012 and 2013. Watch out!

Naked Capitalism

Yves Smith is another of the old stalwarts of financial blogging. A harsh critic of Wall Street who believes that fraud was at the center of the financial crisis, Smith is always a
Yves Smith is another of the old stalwarts of financial blogging. A harsh critic of Wall Street who believes that fraud was at the center of the financial crisis, Smith is always a
Photo: nakedcapitalism.com

Yves Smith is another of the old stalwarts of financial blogging. A harsh critic of Wall Street who believes that fraud was at the center of the financial crisis, Smith is always a provocative read.

The Big Picture

Barry Ritholtz is another “old school” financial blogger. Often cranky, often funny, and always informative. for the 10 a.m. read.
Barry Ritholtz is another “old school” financial blogger. Often cranky, often funny, and always informative. for the 10 a.m. read.
Photo: ritholtz.com

Barry Ritholtz is another “old school” financial blogger. Often cranky, often funny, and always informative. Stop by dailyfor the 10 a.m. ET read.

Calculated Risk

The best place to go for the particularly in the mortgage and real estate market. Another of the O.G. blogs, and one that warned early and often how badly mortgage standards had become.
The best place to go for the particularly in the mortgage and real estate market. Another of the O.G. blogs, and one that warned early and often how badly mortgage standards had become.
Photo: calculatedriskblog.com

The best place to go for the latest U.S. economic developments,particularly in the mortgage and real-estate market. It warned early and often how badly mortgage standards had become.

The Reformed Broker

Josh Brown has taken the Internet by storm with his take on markets and the people who make them.
Josh Brown has taken the Internet by storm with his take on markets and the people who make them.
Photo: thereformedbroker.com

Josh Brown has taken the Internet by storm with his take on markets and the people who make them.

The Epicurean Dealmaker

Do you want your global finance commentary mixed in with deep philosophical reflection?
Do you want your global finance commentary mixed in with deep philosophical reflection?
Photo:epicureandealmaker.blogspot.com

Do you want your global finance commentary mixed in with deep philosophical reflection? This is your spot.

Pragmatic Capitalism

Cullen Roche has done more than anyone to inform the Internet about Modern Monetary Theory. But he’s much more than a publicist for MMT.on the markets is highly informative and infused with a burning enthusiasm for figuring out that all-important question:What’s next?

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