Alpha Male vs Beta Female

"Would the world be in this financial mess if it had been Lehman Sisters?"

The question was raised at the WEF in Davos and reported in an article titled "Where would we be if women ran Wall Street?" that appears in 2 Feb 2009 edition of International Herald Tribune.

Indeed, if all those alpha-seekers were more wary of the levels of risk undertaken, the state of the finanical system might not have been as bad as it is. So, as we usher in the year of the ox, it is perhaps time to leave behind alpha which, ironically, refers to the bovine species in ancient Greek and embrace its sister, Beta.

Implications of Fannie/Freddie Rescue

The immediate market response was that of relief, and rallies ensued. But what would be the medium and long term implications? I can think of several:

1. Moral Hazard to present and future risk takers;

2. Setting precedent to other struggling companies deemed too large to fail- e.g. motor industry;

3. Increase in money supply and higher long-term interest rates;

4. Delay for the adjustment mechanism to work through both the housing and financial markets.