“Lizard People” and Other Conspiracies: What’s Social Mood Got to Do with It?

In a word, everything. From political conspiracies to Covid-related ones to the theories so bizarre that they seem too silly to be relevant, we live in the golden age of conspiracy theories. And while it’s easy to blame social media for their spread, we think the roots go deeper. Watch our new Mood Riff episode where the host Greg Eident explains some fascinating socionomic findings on the subject.

Mood & Markets: Barbie vs. Oppenheimer -- The Social Mood Perspective

Here's what no one seems to be asking about the two summer blockbusters: the movies couldn't be more different, yet both are huge hits -- why? Watch the new Mood & Markets episode where hosts Matt and Robert offer some answers rooted in their understanding of social mood trends.

Mood Riffs: Here Flyeth the Rock, or the Dangers of Linear Extrapolations

People -- you, me, and that guy over there too -- are hard-wired to believe that yesterday's trends will continue into tomorrow. "Unless something happens." That's the fallacy of linear extrapolations; investors fall for it all the time. Watch our latest Mood Riffs episode to see some famous examples, plus learn how to avoid make the same mistake.

Fear of Technology: We’ve Seen This Before

The public is both anxious and excited about the latest AI innovations. You may have questions about AI too, so let us assure you: We've been here before. Our new Mood and Markets episode explains.

Mood Riffs: Where did all the Darth Vader types go?

Our Mood Riffs feature goes beyond the markets to examine social and cultural trends. The new episode looks at a trend of the past decade that you may or may not have noticed: Namely, there are no clear-cut bad guys in blockbuster movies any more! Why are the Darth Vader types no longer popular? Sit back and watch as we explain.

How Come Bitcoin is Up Despite the SEC Crackdowns?

The logic of "market fundamentals" suggests that when the government cracks down on a company or sector, the prices should fall. Well, tell that to Bitcoin, which is hovering above $30,000 despite being firmly on the radar of the U.S. regulatory bodies. Watch Global Market Perspective contributor Mark Galasiewski explain.

Mood Riffs: Civil War in Pakistan? Plus, the Art of Vandalism

Our Video Mood Riffs feature goes beyond the markets to examine social and cultural trends. The new episode explains what Pakistan's stock market trend says about the country's civil war prospects, plus brings you a one-of-a-kind take on why we've seen so many cases of art vandalism lately.

PTPC: The Only President to Lose a Re-Election Bid & Return to the White House

Has a president ever won a second term in office after losing their run for re-election? Yes, it happened once. In 1892, Grover Cleveland became the first (and so far only) president to be elected to two non-consecutive terms. See what that election can tell us about the prospects for history to repeat in 2024.

'How people FEEL is how they ACT'

Like all ideas that make you want to slap yourself on the forehead and scream "How didn't I think of that!", the idea behind socionomics is simple: Social mood impels social action. When you know social mood's trend, you can forecast everything from the stock market to culture to politics and more. So, how then do you define the social mood trend? Watch our Head of Global Research touch on that in this video.

PTPC: How to Forecast the Economy Better Than Alan Greenspan (According to Alan Greenspan)

Want to forecast the economy better than the most famous economist of the past half-century? Listen as Matt Lampert and Robert Folsom turn to some wise words from Alan Greenspan himself to address that question.

Mood Riffs: Tuition Prices Slashed & BuzzFeed Buzzes Out

Tuition prices might seem like they only go in one direction: through the roof. But colleges have quietly been rolling out stealth, bargain-basement-style sales to attract students. For some schools, it's turned into a going-out-of-business sale. Speaking of going out of business, can you open a newspaper these days without reading about another "new media" company that has bitten the dust? Get the socionomic scoop on shuttering schools and media outlets in the latest edition of Mood Riffs.

Can You Use Cultural Expressions to Forecast the Stock Market?

It's been more than a year since the Dow Jones Industrial Average registered its all-time high, yet investor enthusiasm remains elevated. Why? And what does it signal about what could be around the corner in the markets? Get the answer in this peek inside the latest issue of EWI's Global Market Perspective.

Mood Riffs: What Do Horror Movies, Stock Prices and Epidemics Have in Common?

Scary movies. Scary markets. Scary viruses, bacteria and fungi. See how you can tell when society's scare-o-meter is likely to reach hair-raising heights.

Why Have Society's Values Shifted Over the Past 25 Years?

When you look at society today, there's no dispute that social values have shifted. But why? Some say demographics. Others blame politics. Yet others say it's the influence of the news and social media. Let's take a look at an indicator that tells a different story about why our values differ starkly from a generation ago.

Will Investment Bankers Ever Remember the Last Crash?

It seems like after every stock market crash, Wall Street firms, regulators and lawmakers proclaim that new regulations will ensure that financial crises never happen again. Yet the crises and crashes keep coming. This video shows you how the collapse of Archegos in 2021 signaled that big banks -- including Credit Suisse -- had once again forgotten the lessons of history.