Paul Wilmott’s claim to fame is that numerous students have used his books to study derivatives and quantitative finance.
He’s written a thoughtful op-ed in the Times today about high-speed algorithmic trading; in it he critiques some of the cavalier supporting arguments its proponents have advanced.
Month: July 2009
NY Times: Files Vanished, Young Chinese Lose the Future
An article in the NY Times focuses on the theft of identity and transcripts by unscrupulous local Chinese officials. Corrupt local officials have routinely seized land from farmers without compensation only to turn around and sell it to developers for favors or bribes. This is a new variation where a person’s identity and academic record is sold to someone else. For those still under the misconception that the average Chinese citizen lives in a functioning meritocracy with an equal application of justice, this article will be a rude awakening.
NY Times – Bear-Proof Can Is Pop-Top Picnic for a Crafty Thief
The NY Times has an article about a bear in the Adirondacks High Peaks region who has figured out a way to open a widely-used “bear-proof” canister. I’ve hiked in the area, and own the canister this article is about, so it felt very personal.
NY Times – Challenge to Health Bill: Selling Reform
The NYT tries to explain how health-care reform might affect Americans and how the administration has presented the effort thus far.