(no subject)

Let's say, there are a lot of people in the market who are willing to buy bullshit. Does it produce a negative externality? E.g., does this willingness to buy BS affect prices for the real stuff? Or does it just impose search costs on all consumers, so that brands benefit from perceived quality, i.e. reduced search costs?

Fucking Moron (tm)

Let's say, two parties signed a vague letter of intent. There's no deal yet but they have expressed a certain desire to come up with a deal in the future. Maybe. Later. Nevertheless, one of the parties claims that the deal (remember, there's no deal yet) makes a huge difference for the entire world. The statement is speculative at best, fraud at worst. If it were a business, one could gamble on the news, by buying cheap out of money LEAPS. Instead, half of the country is willing to buy this crappy stock at full price. Amazing.



upd: I think Tillerson got fired in part because as a responsible manager he wouldn't do this kind of PR shit.