A Scaled Down Look at Spending, Revenue, and What's Being Cut
(debtinperspective.com)
The national debt is being used to justify spending cuts - but do these cuts actually reduce it?
The national debt is being used to justify spending cuts - but do these cuts actually reduce it?
Congressional Republicans Might Set Off the Debt Bomb
(theatlantic.com)
Their new budget framework is the most irresponsible in modern history—and will put the American economy on a very dangerous trajectory.
Their new budget framework is the most irresponsible in modern history—and will put the American economy on a very dangerous trajectory.
Hitler's Terrible Tariffs
(theatlantic.com)
From almost the moment Adolf Hitler took office as chancellor of Germany, tariffs were at the top of his government’s economic agenda.
From almost the moment Adolf Hitler took office as chancellor of Germany, tariffs were at the top of his government’s economic agenda.
Buffett now owns 5% of all US Treasury bills, a larger holding than Fed itself
(economictimes.com)
Billionaire investor Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has amassed $300.87 billion in U.S. Treasury bills, accounting for nearly 5% of the entire market for short-term government debt, according to the company’s latest financial disclosure.
Billionaire investor Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has amassed $300.87 billion in U.S. Treasury bills, accounting for nearly 5% of the entire market for short-term government debt, according to the company’s latest financial disclosure.
How DigiKey is dealing with tariff chaos
(text.npr.org)
Thief River Falls is in northwestern Minnesota, and along with having a really cool name is really small. But it grew a very big company that is now riding out an unprecedented and unpredictable storm - tariffs.
Thief River Falls is in northwestern Minnesota, and along with having a really cool name is really small. But it grew a very big company that is now riding out an unprecedented and unpredictable storm - tariffs.
The Prophet's Paradox
(marginalrevolution.com)
The political problem of disaster preparedness is especially acute for the most useful form, disaster avoidance.
The political problem of disaster preparedness is especially acute for the most useful form, disaster avoidance.
Asymmetric Content Moderation in Search Markets: The Case of Adult Websites
(ssrn.com)
We study the competitive impact of content moderation by a dominant online platform.
We study the competitive impact of content moderation by a dominant online platform.
Kakistocracy: Rule by the Worst
(econlib.org)
Every year in December, The Economist finds a “word of the year” that summarizes a major event or trend and has gained popularity in its wake.
Every year in December, The Economist finds a “word of the year” that summarizes a major event or trend and has gained popularity in its wake.
How Severe Are China's Food Security Challenges?
(csis.org)
Food security is critical to the well-being and stability of all countries. Decades of economic growth have enabled considerable strides in increasing access to food across China, but this growth has also generated new demographic demands and environmental strains. Global shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic, war in Ukraine, U.S.-China tensions, and the effects of climate change have left Chinese policymakers anxious about China’s food security issues.
Food security is critical to the well-being and stability of all countries. Decades of economic growth have enabled considerable strides in increasing access to food across China, but this growth has also generated new demographic demands and environmental strains. Global shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic, war in Ukraine, U.S.-China tensions, and the effects of climate change have left Chinese policymakers anxious about China’s food security issues.
Trump says China tariffs will drop 'substantially – but it won't be zero'
(theguardian.com)
US president says tariffs on imported goods will come down from 145% rate but insists ‘we’re doing fine with China’
US president says tariffs on imported goods will come down from 145% rate but insists ‘we’re doing fine with China’
Drum Machine Price Before Tariffs: $399, After Tariffs: $977
(synthtopia.com)
Music gear prices are skyrocketing as a result of the Trump administration’s new tariffs, and this is going to significantly impact US musicians’ instrument purchase plans for the foreseeable future.
Music gear prices are skyrocketing as a result of the Trump administration’s new tariffs, and this is going to significantly impact US musicians’ instrument purchase plans for the foreseeable future.
The many ways tarrifs will hit electronics
(ieee.org)
Like the industry he covers, Shawn DuBravac had already had quite a week by the time IEEE Spectrum spoke to him early last Thursday, 10 April 2025. As chief economist at IPC, the 3,000-member industry association for electronics manufacturers, he’s tasked with figuring out the impact of the tsunami of tariffs the U.S. government has planned, paused, or enacted. Earlier that morning he’d recalculated price changes for electronics in the U.S.
Like the industry he covers, Shawn DuBravac had already had quite a week by the time IEEE Spectrum spoke to him early last Thursday, 10 April 2025. As chief economist at IPC, the 3,000-member industry association for electronics manufacturers, he’s tasked with figuring out the impact of the tsunami of tariffs the U.S. government has planned, paused, or enacted. Earlier that morning he’d recalculated price changes for electronics in the U.S.
US sets tariffs of up to 3,521% on South East Asia solar panels
(bbc.com)
The US Commerce Department has announced plans to impose tariffs of up to 3,521% on imports of solar panels from four South East Asian countries.
The US Commerce Department has announced plans to impose tariffs of up to 3,521% on imports of solar panels from four South East Asian countries.
DOJ's sweeping remedies would harm American economy and technological leadership
(google)
The US Department of Justice’s 2020 search distribution lawsuit is a backwards-looking case at a time of intense competition and unprecedented innovation.
The US Department of Justice’s 2020 search distribution lawsuit is a backwards-looking case at a time of intense competition and unprecedented innovation.
Trump's FTC opens the floodgates for tariff profiteering
(pluralistic.net)
Trump's FTC opens the floodgates for tariff profiteering: PROS Holdings and co will make billions telling companies how to rip you off.
Trump's FTC opens the floodgates for tariff profiteering: PROS Holdings and co will make billions telling companies how to rip you off.
What should third world dev do in this economy?
(ycombinator.com)
I'm from Bangladesh. If you know, the political situation here is pretty unstable. And everything feels even worse with the trade war, AI taking over, and all that.
I'm from Bangladesh. If you know, the political situation here is pretty unstable. And everything feels even worse with the trade war, AI taking over, and all that.
Japan is starting to charge tourists more to visit
(cbc.ca)
Japan surpassed 10 million visitors at the fastest pace ever this year, reaching that mark already in March, official data showed on Wednesday, as a weak yen propels an unprecedented tourism boom.
Japan surpassed 10 million visitors at the fastest pace ever this year, reaching that mark already in March, official data showed on Wednesday, as a weak yen propels an unprecedented tourism boom.
China is in third phase of its development
(tphuang.substack.com)
Recently, I happened to land on this amazing chart and something dawned on me; we are in a new phase of China’s economical development.
Recently, I happened to land on this amazing chart and something dawned on me; we are in a new phase of China’s economical development.
What We Lose When We're Priced Out of Our Hobbies
(theatlantic.com)
For a lot of people, it’s getting too expensive to knit or fish.
For a lot of people, it’s getting too expensive to knit or fish.
Trump's Tariffs Are Starting to Kill Jobs
(reason.com)
The Trump administration believes that high tariffs will boost the prospects of American manufacturing, but one iconic truck company is now preparing to lay off hundreds of workers—because of the tariffs.
The Trump administration believes that high tariffs will boost the prospects of American manufacturing, but one iconic truck company is now preparing to lay off hundreds of workers—because of the tariffs.
Electric Propulsion's Dirty Secret: Why Lithium Can't Fly (Or Float) Profitably
(kumarletter.com)
Lithium propulsion for aircraft and boats is fundamentally unprofitable across the entire U.S. grid. The numbers don't lie: 60× worse energy density than jet fuel, 3.3× higher operating costs, 22% reduced asset utilization, and payback periods that consume 2/3 of the asset's lifespan. Anyone claiming otherwise is ignoring basic physics or hiding most of the energy and economic costs.
Lithium propulsion for aircraft and boats is fundamentally unprofitable across the entire U.S. grid. The numbers don't lie: 60× worse energy density than jet fuel, 3.3× higher operating costs, 22% reduced asset utilization, and payback periods that consume 2/3 of the asset's lifespan. Anyone claiming otherwise is ignoring basic physics or hiding most of the energy and economic costs.
Make no mistake, employees will always be just a line item
(brilliantcrank.com)
As the world turns and countries and companies are still swirling in the latest round of primordial goo, it’s a good time to remind those who are employed and seeking employment that at the end of the day, you are nothing but a line item.
As the world turns and countries and companies are still swirling in the latest round of primordial goo, it’s a good time to remind those who are employed and seeking employment that at the end of the day, you are nothing but a line item.
Attacks on the Fed threaten its independence − and sound economic stewardship
(theconversation.com)
Nearly every country in the world has a central bank – a public institution that manages a country’s currency and its monetary policy. And these banks have an extraordinary amount of power. By controlling the flow of money and credit in a country, they can affect economic growth, inflation, employment and financial stability.
Nearly every country in the world has a central bank – a public institution that manages a country’s currency and its monetary policy. And these banks have an extraordinary amount of power. By controlling the flow of money and credit in a country, they can affect economic growth, inflation, employment and financial stability.
Tariffs Are About to Hit Lifesaving Medical Equipment
(motherjones.com)
For millions of disabled people, essential health devices known as durable medical equipment, or DME—think of CPAP machines or in-home dialysis equipment—help them both remain at home and stay alive.
For millions of disabled people, essential health devices known as durable medical equipment, or DME—think of CPAP machines or in-home dialysis equipment—help them both remain at home and stay alive.