The simplest explanation is that Western banks, hedge funds and others hit by higher volatility, liquidity concerns or redemption calls sold whatever they could.

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Some say the simplest explanation is also the right one.

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The simplest explanation seems to be that Goldman paid interest for 2005 to 2011 and, in common with everyone else using the scheme, did not pay it for 1997-2005.

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The simplest explanation for the new holiday is that Russians expect a day off in November to spend chatting around the kitchen table and drinking even more heavily than usual.

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But the simplest explanation is usually right.

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The third explanation is the simplest: that the use of computers in teaching is no better (and perhaps worse) than other teaching methods.

ECONOMIST: Not helpful