Join Us at the 2023 World Economic Conference in Orlando, Florida!

? Dates: November 17, 18, and 19 ? Location: Orlando, Florida, USA (or tune in from home with our virtual ticket options)

Are you ready to unlock the future of economics and finance? Prepare for an unforgettable World Economic Conference experience in sunny Orlando, Florida! This premier event is your gateway to insights, networking, and valuable resources that will supercharge your understanding of the global economy.

?️ What’s Included for In-Person Attendees:

1. Event Admission: Enjoy reserved seating assigned based on the order of ticket sales, ensuring you have a prime view of every presentation.
2. Presentation Slides: Gain access to the presentation slides from all speakers, allowing you to delve deeper into the topics discussed.
3. Video Recording: Can’t make it to a session? No worries! You’ll receive access to video recordings of all conference presentations, so you can catch up at your convenience.
4. WEC Event App: Connect with the conference on a whole new level. Access presentation slides, bonus reports, recordings, and more via the official WEC Event App.
5. Bonus Conference Materials: Get a package of bonus conference-related materials, including exclusive bonus reports and videos (as provided by Martin Armstrong).
6. Morning Information Sessions: Don’t miss out on important morning information sessions, screened on-site in the meeting room on Saturday and Sunday.
7. Networking Opportunities: Exclusive access to the Event App Networking Feature allows you to connect with fellow attendees, both in-person and virtual, fostering valuable professional relationships.
8. Culinary Delights: Savor delicious breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday, prepared to keep you energized throughout the day.
9. Cocktail Reception: Kick off the conference in style at our Friday evening cocktail reception. Meet and mingle with fellow attendees while enjoying refreshing drinks.
10. Swag Bag: As a token of our appreciation, each in-person attendee will receive a swag bag filled with goodies, including an Armstrong Economics notebook, pen, and an event collector’s mug!

Unable to travel? We also have two different ticket options for those wishing to attend virtually! 

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a global gathering of economic and financial minds. Secure your spot at the World Economic Conference in Orlando, Florida, and gain the knowledge, connections, and resources you need to thrive in the world of finance and economics.

Space is limited, so act now and reserve your seat! Visit our Events page to register and join us in sunny Orlando this November.

Now available at all major retailers!

The eBook will be available shortly.

The second edition of “The Plot to Seize Russia – The Untold History” is now available for purchase in paperback and hardcover on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. The ebook will be available shortly.

Book description:

“Take care of Russia,” Boris Yeltsin said as he departed his presidency in August 1999. These words were directed at current Russian president, Vladimir Putin. Yeltsin specifically picked Putin as his predecessor to prevent the takeover of Russia.

So, who was Yeltsin warning against? Newly declassified documents from the Clinton Administration prove that there was a plot to rig the Russian election of 2000. These never-before-seen documents confirm numerous attempts to implement pro-Western policies using the Russian oligarchy headed by Boris Berezovsky.

On the other side were the communists who desired a return to the glory days of the Soviet Union. As one of the largest international hedge fund managers, author Martin Armstrong found himself in the middle of perhaps the greatest espionage, or attempt at a regime change for Russia, in modern history.

The Plot to Seize Russia pulls back the curtain to expose the most extraordinary attempt to seize power in modern history, but with the pen rather than armies. These declassified documents reveal a plot that has altered our thinking about the relations between the United States and Russia. The thirst for power comes seething through every line of these papers that alter our perception of reality, change the course of history, and now threaten us with World War III.

The city of Los Angeles declared a state of fiscal emergency amid a $1 billion deficit. The council approved of the emergency declaration unanimously in a 14-0 vote. This comes after Mayor Karen Bass approved a $14 billion budget for the fiscal year that began on July 1. The city is a prime example of what happens when socialist policies are allowed to run rampant at the expense of the people.

Bass approved of raising the budget from $12.9 billion in FY2024-25 to $14 billion in 2025-26 despite the looming $1 billion deficit. Unsurprisingly, overspending is the main culprit for the deficit, and yet, lawmakers have every intention of spending more. Over 600 public sector workers will be let go as a result of fiscal mismanagement, and although small government is usually applaudable, the city plans to fire 248 LAPD employees, 44 sanitation workers, and 41 firefighters. LA is experiencing a significant uptick in crime, but plans to defund the police to appease the mobs.

California Governor Gavin Newsom boasts of California’s robust economy but fails to acknowledge that it’s a state basically living “paycheck-to-paycheck,” with the payee being the taxpayer. Read the state’s plan to cover its budget deficits – endless taxes. Spending growth from 2025-26 to 2028-29 is 5.8%, above the average of 3.5%. Growth over the same period is just above 4%, “lower than its historical average, largely due to policy choices that end during the forecast window. Taken together, we view it as unlikely that revenue growth will be fast enough to catch up to ongoing spending.” Even residents who choose or are forced to leave the state will incur taxes to cover government thievery. Los Angeles is one of countless examples of how the public sector will virtue signal to rob Peter, not to pay Paul, but to pay themselves, as they are not hiding the corruption.

Liability costs totaled $546 million in the past years, as there have been numerous lawsuits, mainly involving the Los Angeles Police Department, which is forbidden by law to enforce order. The city refused to budget for these growing legal battles. Not only does the city plan to fire officers, but they also reduced hiring by 50% last year, recruiting 240 new officers instead of the 480 needed to patrol the city.

I’ve reported numerous times how California uses the homeless epidemic to fund NGOs that merely steal from the taxpayers. Mayor Bass stated she plans to cut 10% of funding to the “Inside Safe” program. The city has spent millions on combating homelessness, and the numbers continue to rise.

Crime is more expensive than funding the LAPD. Criminals have cost the city of Los Angeles an estimated $7.6 billion annually. Gang violence alone costs the city around $1 billion per year, according to the Vera Institute of Justice, which is half of the annual budget of the LAPD. The California Department of Justice has acknowledged that property crime has risen in recent years and accounts for  60–70% of total losses. Yet, violent demonstrations are permitted to occur whenever Washington enacts a policy that displeases the Democrats.

Blue policies such as the net-zero climate initiative have caused businesses to flee Los Angeles and California as a whole. From 2020 to the present day, over 164 companies have left California. In the last year, 12 major companies like SpaceX, Chevron, X, and KFC have fled CA for TX. Los Angeles shed 106 corporate headquarters between 2018 and 2024, the second-highest number of losses in US metros behind San Francisco/San Jose.

Taxpayers are fleeing the state en masse. State and local taxes are among the highest in the nation and disproportionately harm the middle and upper classes to fund the growing public sector. Energy costs have skyrocketed, with major refiners abandoning California. Gas is expected to rise 75% by 2026, and residents are already paying the highest price for gas in the nation. The cost of living is exorbitant. Those who can have already fled as the government must continue to leech of the taxpayers to fund their failures.

There should be checks and balances against these elected officials who recklessly spend with no end in sight. Downsizing the police force is a political move that will only cause crime and the costs associated with crime to rise. Los Angeles is becoming a failed city as a direct result of socialist policies that have historically NEVER worked.

The PYMNTS Intelligence report “Financial Lifestyles Shape Credit Reliance” revealed that American consumers are struggling to afford the basic essentials. Prices have been elevated since the worldwide pandemic shutdown the global economy and have not gone down in a meaningful way. The study found that 43% of American households who are a paycheck away from poverty cannot afford the essentials without using credit.

The report surveyed 2,298 consumers and categorized them into three financial brackets: those who do not live paycheck to paycheck, those who live paycheck to paycheck comfortably, and those who live paycheck to paycheck and struggle to pay bills.

The 43% of households living paycheck to paycheck with difficulties are eight times more likely to depend on credit cards for the essentials. This group was also six times as likely to rely on credit cards for non-essential purchases. Consumers in this category are placing 41% of all essential purchases on credit and sinking deeper into debt. Around 56% of Americans who do not live paycheck to paycheck are also purchasing essentials with credit, albeit many are using credit cards for points and incentives offered through their credit agencies. Struggling households are far more likely to rely on personal or payday loans, with 31% reporting taking out a loan for the essentials.

“While financially stable individuals may use credit extensively to maximize benefits like rewards, those facing financial strain often depend on it simply to cover essential costs. Understanding the distinct behaviors and needs of the struggling paycheck-to-paycheck consumer is crucial for financial institutions,” the study notes

Those who are not living paycheck to paycheck use credit strategically to maximize incentives and credit scores. Those living comfortably paycheck to paycheck do not face significant financial stress and use credit as a financial mitigation tool. Then there is a segment of the population that needs credit as their lifeline.

Groceries are the top item that Americans are pulling out their cards to buy, with 44.1% reportingly needing to use credit to buy food. Approximately 27.5% reported relying on credit for clothing and accessories, 27% stated they needed credit for monthly bills, 18.6% for vehicle maintenance, and 15.3% for healthcare-related expenses.

America’s middle class has been shrinking for decades. According to Pew Research Center, 61% of adults were considered “middle class” in 1971, but that figure sank to around 51% by 2025. The issue here is that there is an increasing number of households falling into poverty who must rely on the government for essentials. This is what the globalists and Marxists want to see—You Will Own Nothing and Be Happy. Consumer behavior is a telling sign and credit can only be stretched so far until one can no longer borrow. The fact that most are reportingly needing to use credit to afford food indicates that the welfare state is likely to increase, and those costs are passed on to the taxpayers, who then may go from “comfortable” to “struggling.”

The United States has officially lifted sanctions on Syria via an executive order signed by Donald Trump. This historic achievement marks the end of a 45-year sanction period enacted back in December 1979 when Syria was declared a state sponsor of terrorism.

“The sanctions were brutal and crippling and served as an important — really an important function — nevertheless, at the time. But now it’s their time to shine … So, I say, ‘Good luck, Syria.’ Show us something very special,” Trump stated on May 13 when he first announced plans to remove sanctions. Trump further stated that he hopes the new Syrian government “will hopefully succeed in stabilizing the country in keeping peace,” which should not be a problem considering the United States installed the current government.

Investments are pouring into Syria, and the nation is officially debt-free. Syria is still in dire condition after its 14-year conflict and is fighting to rebuild its basic infrastructure. The people of Syria are living in atrocious conditions. Over half the nation is food insecure, half cannot access water, and the majority barely have access to electricity. An estimated 90% of the public lives well below the poverty line. GDP plummeted by two-thirds since 2011, and the Syrian pound also fell by two-thirds in 2023 alone.

Before the world cut off Syria through sanctions in 2011, Syria’s GDP was around $61 billion USD. The sanctions coincided with the outbreak of civil war. War produces absolutely nothing and only detracts from an economy. Syria’s economy shrank by 85% in the past 14 years, with GDP reaching a mere $9 billion in 2024.

Lifting sanctions is a massive step toward rebuilding Syria. Nations are eager to pour investments into the nation and begin profiting. All of this is dependent on peace. The US has the right to reimplement sanctions at any time if the current regime loses control.

QUESTION: Marty, your model on volcanoes had correctly forecast this surge in activity in the Ring of Fire for 2025. Do you view this as part of the warning that we are headed into global cooling, rather than warming? Why does the media refuse to highlight all the correct events your computer has been able to forecast when nobody else comes close?

AP

ANSWER: This has been my concern. Climate News just reported: “The Pacific Ring of Fire has witnessed an alarming surge in seismic activity throughout 2024 and early 2025.” I have tried to help society, but those who opposed me cannot even now admit that what they were doing was taking control of the computer by sheer force. I reported back in 2022 that the low would be in 2019, which was the point from which the activity would begin to rise. As you see, we have a string of Directional Changes into 2030. However, take a close look and you will see a Panic Cycle in 2031.

I’m sorry, these climate experts offer personal opinions. It takes an objective viewpoint to see what honestly lies ahead in this journey we call life. The media will never report on what Socrates has done. It would discredit everything they have been saying for years.

Market Talk will momentarily pause until July 8, 2025.

Anti-government protests swept throughout Serbia over the weekend, with tens of thousands taking to the streets to demand change. The student-led protests began eight months ago after the government covered up a railway station canopy collapse that claimed the lives of 16 people, but the discontent with government began many years ago. The Serbian people are now demanding early parliamentary elections and the resignation of President Aleksandar Vučić.

Tens of thousands of protestors took to the streets in the capital of Belgrade on Sunday and Monday, blocking a main bridge over the Sava River. In Novi Saf, protestors surrounded the office of the ruling populist Serbian Progressive Party and pelted it with eggs. Vucic deemed these acts domestic terrorism. “Serbia won. You cannot destroy Serbia with violence,” said Vucic. “They consciously wanted to spur bloodshed. The time of accountability is coming.” Yet, protestors believe the current administration is “illegitimate,” and the anger intensified after Vucic announced that the next national vote would not take place before the end of 2026.

Serbia no longer has the freedom of the press as entities closely linked to Vucic and his administration own the majority of Serbian media outlets. Opposition parties do not have access to state television and are silenced. Independent journalists have been murdered in suspicious cases.

Vucic has rotated between prime minister and president roles to retain control for over 12 years. The people believe that the elections are rigged with reports of NGOs participating in voter intimidation and vote-buying. Instances of third-party illegal polling stations were common. Since the ruling party controls all state media, it controls the narrative.

The European Parliament called for an international investigation into voting irregularities after the 2023 election, threatening to withhold funds if it found evidence of voter fraud. Yet, voting was repeated at 43 separate polling stations due to irregularities. Every independent assessment found that while the elections were technically held in a democratic manner, the ruling party has extreme systemic advantages that slanted the election in their favor.

Serbia, a non-NATO member that has refused to impose sanctions on Russia, remains in a unique position that could cause external forces to intervene under the guise of supporting democracy. Aligning with the models, Serbia experienced significant unrest in 2023-2024 over election fraud allegations with tensions coming to a head in March 2025. The Balkans have been a historic battleground for the beginning of global conflict. Based on the model, the unrest will not quell and Serbia, as others, will continue to destabilize into 2027.

They say it takes a generation to reshape the way a nation views its military allegiance. Germany dwindled its military capacity significantly after its defeat in the last world war, wearing their loss as a badge of shame. Neither the people nor the government wanted to reinvigorate Germany’s military power after the destructive nation building and expansion under the Third Reich. The times have changed, as they always do, and Germany is now on the defensive. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz envisions forming the largest army in Europe.

“Building up our military is our top priority,” said Merz. “From now on, the federal government will provide the military with as much money as it needs to ensure it becomes Europe’s strongest armed force. We are Europe’s most populous country and Europe’s biggest economy, and nothing less should be expected from us. Our partners not only expect this — they demand it.”

Merz stated that Germany will spend 3.5% of its GDP on military defense over the next decade, placing spending as a percentage on par with the United States. Germany already found a loophole to spend on defense indefinitely after declaring an emergency and deciding to ignore prior military spending limits. The Germany government now plans to spend $400 billion on defense alone through 2029. Simultaneously, the nation will not cut social programs or readjust its overall budget as a constitutional amendment now permits lawmakers to bypass the debt brake and borrow in perpetuity without calculating that spending in the federal budget.

Germany believes it is on the right side of history due to its backing of Ukraine, the world’s favorite underdog. A refugee favorite, the nation has allowed 1.2 million Ukrainians into its borders since the war began. The nation hit a record-high for population growth in 2022 due to the number of migrants it has accepted.

Now, Germany provides more funding to Ukraine than any other European nation, and is third globally behind the US and UK. Merz has been an outspoken critic of the United States under Donald Trump due to his reluctance to support Ukraine, and he believes he build an iron-clad military so powerful that the entirety of Europe will no longer need to depend on America for defense.

The Bundeswehr, Germany’s military, currently has around 262,000 troops, but it would like to boldly increase its size with 200,000 additional troops and will spend €100 billion in a special fund to modernize its military. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said in May 2024 that he was “convinced” that Germany “needs a form of military conscription.” While there is no conscription, Germans are required to register for a potential draft before they turn 18. By June of 2024, I was informed by multiple personal sources that this registration had been extended to include women. One reliable source informed me that her female family friend was sent a notice to register at 59 years old.

Germany is the core foundation of the entire European economy. As they used to say about America, if it catches a cold, the rest of the world suffers pneumonia. Germany’s trajectory toward war is not driven by a public desire for conflict, but by economic, political, and geopolitical pressures—and especially by its entanglement with the European Union, its energy crisis and the collapse of fiscal discipline across Europe. Net Zero initiatives and cutting off cheap Russian gas drastically hurt the German economy by raising energy costs and stifling its auto market. The entire European Union is collapsing, with Germany at the center as the bloc’s primary financier. The EU needs war to maintain the illusion of control, and Germany must be at the frontlines as the bloc’s richest nation.

New York City’s far-left mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is the human embodiment of the WOKE Socialist agenda. His “progressive” views are based on policies that have failed countless times. Mamdani’s most recent proposal has sparked controversy as he believes that predominantly white neighborhoods should pay higher taxes.

Socialists feed on increased taxation to support the welfare state, which comprises their voter base. They need people who are utterly dependent on big government to gain and maintain control. Equality to a Socialist means that everyone is equal in poverty. Not only does he want to raise property taxes, but he stated that “wealthier and predominantly white neighborhoods” in New York City should disproportionately shoulder the majority of the tax burden.

That’s right—he wants to raise taxes on people based on skin color. Naturally, he would have been banished from politics and forced to step down if he spewed this rhetoric at any other demographic. “That is just a description of what we see right now. It’s not driven by race. It’s more of an assessment of what neighborhoods are being under-taxed versus over-taxed,” the mayoral candidate confessed.

Unfortunately, our models indicate that NYC will decline sharply in 2026. I warned in 2021 that the city was heading into a crash mode. It is fascinating how the 309.6-year cycle, marked by the time when NYC was on the brink of bankruptcy in 1975, aligns precisely with the year NYC was founded in 1665. It is striking how closely New York has followed the ECM model, which does not bode well for what is to come.

? https://t.co/NCOKUQXDOx

— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) April 16, 2025

His proposed policy, “Stop the Squeeze on NYC Homeowners,” is based on the belief that less affluent neighborhoods are overtaxed. The plan would redistribute the tax burden from outer boroughs like Brownsville and Jamaica to more affluent neighborhoods where the demographic is predominantly white. In his words, he wants to target “predominantly white” neighborhoods specifically. The additional tax revenue will first fund the coffers of big government, which will multiply in size, and then seek to provide social programs to the “undertaxed,” such as universal childcare, free public transportation, rent freezes, and city-run grocery stores. Astonishing that a candidate could propose price controls and receive support.

Taxing white neighborhoods is one of many methods Mamdani plans to use to squeeze out every last penny from NYC residents. He said he approved of raising corporate taxes, income taxes, property taxes, and sales taxes, among others. The rich may be the first target, but his voter base does not realize that these taxes will eventually be passed on to absolutely everyone. The city could never profit enough in taxes to fund these social programs, and instead of shrinking government or admitting to failed policies, they will continue to raise the cost of living to fund those who completely rely on big government.

My name is Zohran Kwame Mamdani and I approve this message. https://t.co/m7S9uXVRr7

— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) March 10, 2025

There is no quantifiable plan to fund these programs that sound nice on the campaign trail. It is not economically feasible. NYC residents already pay some of the highest taxes in the nation. Those in affluent neighborhoods pay far more into state and local taxes through income, property, sales—the list goes on, as there is nothing that the city will not slap a tax on and continue to raise year after year.

Cities begin to fall into ruin when high-net-worth individuals flee, and the government no longer has access to pockets to dip into. No one would have imagined something of this nature could happen in New York City, but realtors have begun reporting a surge in new home listings as higher-net-worth individuals want to get out before it’s too late. This is merely one of countless disastrous policies Mamdani is proposing.

The only people who succeed in such a system are the ruling elite who enjoy power and wealth created by corruption. The more the government tries to control the economy, the more freedom it must take away to enforce its policies. This is why every socialist system ultimately descends into authoritarianism. History proves this time and time again, yet people continue to believe that “this time will be different.”

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