All Epsilon Theory Content

All Epsilon Theory Content

 

Everything we have published at Epsilon Theory since 2013, an archive of more than 1,000 evergreen notes.

Cards of Control and a Brave Little Toaster

By Neville Crawley | November 17, 2018 | 0 Comments

All the tech links you need for a great weekend read.

You Had A Stamp Collection?

By Ben Hunt | November 16, 2018 | 3 Comments

A quick note on no-coiners, people (like me) who have never owned Bitcoin, but have just watched from afar. We’re being played. Not to buy Bitcoin, but to obey the logic of the flock.

When That Fire Hits

By Rusty Guinn | November 15, 2018 | 1 Comment

Our brains’ responses to memes are mostly existential – fight or flight. We can’t turn off these responses. But we can train our behavior to question them.

The Sicilian Offense

By Rusty Guinn | November 14, 2018 | 4 Comments

I don’t know that any investor’s mean expectation for Amazon ought to have moved an inch. But should a poorly played metagame change investors’ probabilistic outlook? I think so.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Speaks

By Ben Hunt | November 14, 2018 | 9 Comments

In the construction of Fiat News, it’s the choice of facts and the choice of words that preserve the power to make us feel. Because that’s the only thing that really matters – how do the words make you FEEL?

Working to Protect the World from Bananas

By Neville Crawley | November 12, 2018 | 11 Comments

With technology, even totalitarian surveillance technology, there typically is no ‘big bang’, just a bunch of independent systems coming on line, getting networked together, and then a tipping point. We’re there with China.

Foundation and Empire

By Ben Hunt | November 12, 2018 | 6 Comments

How can US household net worth continue to outpace US economic growth if the Fed won’t play ball with easy monetary policy? History shows another way to keep the party going

The Fiat News Index

By Rusty Guinn | November 11, 2018 | 14 Comments

Common criticisms of the news media tend to focus on bias. But when it comes to learning to resist the unavoidable influence of Narrative and Meme on our brains, our focus should be on how much we allow others to explain things to us. We’re working on tools to allow citizens to do exactly that.

Notes from the Diamond #4: Less Is More

By David Salem | November 10, 2018 | 2 Comments

Peer group comparisons are the primary measuring stick of both baseball GMs and investment PMs. Here’s how they are used and (more often) abused.

Infrastructure Week!

By Ben Hunt | November 9, 2018 | 8 Comments

There’s a dog that didn’t bark in the midterm campaign. And its silence tells me a lot about where this country is going.

Hey, Maybe It’s the Needle

By Rusty Guinn | November 9, 2018 | 5 Comments

A good model isn’t just right. A good model has to be relevant. And in a world of abstraction and narrative, engaging in relevant ways demands much more of us.

Control Point

By Neville Crawley | November 7, 2018 | 7 Comments

Neville Crawley, CEO of Kiva, returns to Epsilon Theory with “Rabbit Hole”, a regular series of notes on the nexus of government, society and technology.

Draft Day

By Rusty Guinn | November 7, 2018 | 9 Comments

We are wired to associate outcomes with the biggest single visible variance. This is a process-breaking flaw for general managers and portfolio managers alike.

ET In the News: Midterm Election Edition

By Rusty Guinn | November 5, 2018 | 0 Comments

A round-up of the most representative stories about the midterm elections between 9/30/2018 and 11/5/2018.

The Madame Bovary Effect

By Ben Hunt | November 4, 2018 | 4 Comments

One way or another, boredom must be eliminated. It’s as much an iron law of markets as the impact of greed and fear. And it’s just as powerful.

You Are What Your Record Says You Are

By Ben Hunt | November 3, 2018 | 11 Comments

It’s the defining quote for any performance-based social system, whether it’s football, politics, or markets. So let me ask you this: who owns your record?

Kings Unwilling

By Rusty Guinn | November 2, 2018 | 3 Comments

Humility is in short supply on Wall Street. But the humility! meme is not. Developing a process to understand the difference is important for any asset allocator.

Announcing Epsilon Theory Live

By Rusty Guinn | November 2, 2018 | Comments Off on Announcing Epsilon Theory Live

Ben and I are pleased to announce the launch of Epsilon Theory Live – our audio/visual supplement to the existing written Epsilon Theory content! Epsilon…

Insert XS Pun Here

By Rusty Guinn | November 1, 2018 | 3 Comments

The iPhone XS launch is attached to the strongest pre- and post-launch narrative of any September launch since the iPhone 6. Does that tell you how to trade it? No. Can it help you think about how different outcomes might shape your thesis – and the thesis you believe other investors are following? Yes.

Why Hope?

By Rusty Guinn | October 31, 2018 | 10 Comments

It’s easy to feel like we need more than hope to pass through troubling times, and it’s usually true. But sometimes hope is exactly what we need.