Bailout

A Carney-Ritholtz CRA debate?

By Felix Salmon

Has John Carney found a backer for a public debate with Barry Ritholtz over whether the Community Reinvestment Act was significantly to blame for the credit crisis? Barry wants the loser to pay the winner “any dollar amount between $10,000 up to $100,000″, which could make it very interesting. (And I think it’s only fair to ask that Carney put up at least some of his own money.)

The tough thing, of course, will be finding “a fair jury”, but I don’t think that will be insurmountable. I will be happy to help out in any way I can, although of course I make no claims to impartiality.

Update: Carney’s serious about taking Ritholtz’s bet, and is asking for backers.

Update 2: Barry has updated his post to say that Carney’s plea for backers isn’t kosher, but he’s leaving the door open if Carney can come up with “something of comparable (non-monetary) value”.

Full post as published by Macroprudential on June 29, 2009 (boomark / email).