China's Bad, No Good Trillion-Dollar Trade Surplus
(paulkrugman.substack.com)
Last year China ran history’s first trillion-dollar trade surplus.
Last year China ran history’s first trillion-dollar trade surplus.
NYC Congestion Pricing: Early Days
(thezvi.substack.com)
People have to pay $9 to enter Manhattan below 60th Street. What happened so far?
People have to pay $9 to enter Manhattan below 60th Street. What happened so far?
WTF Happened in 1971? (2019)
(wtfhappenedin1971.com)
“I don’t believe we shall ever have a good money again before we take the thing out of the hands of government, that is, we can’t take it violently out of the hands of government, all we can do is by some sly roundabout way introduce something that they can’t stop.” – F.A. Hayek 1984
“I don’t believe we shall ever have a good money again before we take the thing out of the hands of government, that is, we can’t take it violently out of the hands of government, all we can do is by some sly roundabout way introduce something that they can’t stop.” – F.A. Hayek 1984
Tokyo drift: what happens when a city stops being the future?
(theguardian.com)
Tokyo remains, in the world’s imagination, a place of sophistication and wealth. But with economic revival forever distant, ‘tourism pollution’ seems the only viable plan
Tokyo remains, in the world’s imagination, a place of sophistication and wealth. But with economic revival forever distant, ‘tourism pollution’ seems the only viable plan
Bank of Mum and Dad: why we all now live in an 'inheritocracy' (2024)
(theguardian.com)
Family wealth dictates our life choices. So is the Bank of Mum and Dad now behind so many of society’s growing inequalities?
Family wealth dictates our life choices. So is the Bank of Mum and Dad now behind so many of society’s growing inequalities?
Ask HN: Would you make every country have a wealth tax like Sweden used to
(ycombinator.com)
I know that Sweden abolished it in 2007 because so many companies / individuals left Sweden, however, if there was a button that reinstated it for EVERY country in the world, would you press it and why/why not?
I know that Sweden abolished it in 2007 because so many companies / individuals left Sweden, however, if there was a button that reinstated it for EVERY country in the world, would you press it and why/why not?
16 years ago, the EU and US economies were neck and neck. Now the US one is 50%>
(threadreaderapp.com)
I'm German. 16 years ago, the EU and US economies were neck and neck. Today, the US economy is 50% larger than the entire EU combined. Here's the devastating truth behind Europe's ongoing economic suicide 🧵:
I'm German. 16 years ago, the EU and US economies were neck and neck. Today, the US economy is 50% larger than the entire EU combined. Here's the devastating truth behind Europe's ongoing economic suicide 🧵:
Grocery Prices Set to Rise as Soil Becomes 'Unproductive' – Newsweek
(newsweek.com)
Experts are warning of a looming increase in grocery prices as agricultural soil becomes increasingly unproductive.
Experts are warning of a looming increase in grocery prices as agricultural soil becomes increasingly unproductive.
China's Trade Surplus Reaches a Record of Nearly $1T (largest in past century)
(nytimes.com)
China announced on Monday that its trade surplus reached almost $1 trillion last year as its exports swamped the globe, while the country’s own businesses and households spent cautiously on imports.
China announced on Monday that its trade surplus reached almost $1 trillion last year as its exports swamped the globe, while the country’s own businesses and households spent cautiously on imports.
PM plans to 'unleash AI' across UK to boost growth
(bbc.co.uk)
The government is to set out plans to use artificial intelligence (AI) across the UK to boost growth and deliver public services more efficiently.
The government is to set out plans to use artificial intelligence (AI) across the UK to boost growth and deliver public services more efficiently.
The damning statistics that reveal the true cost of Brexit, five years on
(independent.co.uk)
It has been five years since Brexit “got done” – and voters and politicians alike are still counting the cost.
It has been five years since Brexit “got done” – and voters and politicians alike are still counting the cost.
Russia's Hidden War Debt
(navigatingrussia.substack.com)
Moscow has been stealthily pursuing a dual-track strategy to fund its mounting war costs. One track consists of the highly scrutinized defense budget, which analysts have routinely deemed “surprisingly resilient.” The second track—largely overlooked until now—consists of a low-profile, off-budget financing scheme that appears equal in size to the defense budget.
Moscow has been stealthily pursuing a dual-track strategy to fund its mounting war costs. One track consists of the highly scrutinized defense budget, which analysts have routinely deemed “surprisingly resilient.” The second track—largely overlooked until now—consists of a low-profile, off-budget financing scheme that appears equal in size to the defense budget.
The cod-Marxism of personalized pricing
(pluralistic.net)
The social function of the economics profession is to explain, over and over again, that your boss is actually right and that you don't really want the things you want, and you're secretly happy to be abused by the system. If that wasn't true, why would your "choose" commercial surveillance, abusive workplaces and other depredations?
The social function of the economics profession is to explain, over and over again, that your boss is actually right and that you don't really want the things you want, and you're secretly happy to be abused by the system. If that wasn't true, why would your "choose" commercial surveillance, abusive workplaces and other depredations?
Why Greenland is of growing strategic significance
(twz.com)
Donald Trump wouldn’t categorically rule out using the U.S. military to take control of Greenland, saying that America needs it — as well as the Panama Canal — for “economic security.”
Donald Trump wouldn’t categorically rule out using the U.S. military to take control of Greenland, saying that America needs it — as well as the Panama Canal — for “economic security.”
Who would have won the Simon-Ehrlich bet over different decades?
(ourworldindata.org)
In 1980, the biologist Paul Ehrlich agreed to a bet with the economist Julian Simon on how the prices of five materials would change over the next decade.
In 1980, the biologist Paul Ehrlich agreed to a bet with the economist Julian Simon on how the prices of five materials would change over the next decade.
Now Trump's import tariffs could raise the cost of a laptop for Americans by 68%
(theregister.com)
The Consumer Technology Association has issued some fresh predictions of how much more Americans may have to pay for their hardware if Donald Trump's hard-line import tariffs are enacted.
The Consumer Technology Association has issued some fresh predictions of how much more Americans may have to pay for their hardware if Donald Trump's hard-line import tariffs are enacted.
Now Trump's import tariffs could raise the cost of a laptop for Americans by 68%
(theregister.com)
The Consumer Technology Association has issued some fresh predictions of how much more Americans may have to pay for their hardware if Donald Trump's hard-line import tariffs are enacted.
The Consumer Technology Association has issued some fresh predictions of how much more Americans may have to pay for their hardware if Donald Trump's hard-line import tariffs are enacted.
Expat: I don't recommend anyone not working in tech sector relocating to Estonia
(news.err.ee)
The cost of living in Estonia is so high now that it is not worth moving here from another country unless you work in the tech sector, which traditionally wages well above average, or have some other source of income and ideally from another country, one long-term expat in Estonia has said, as reported by Postimees.
The cost of living in Estonia is so high now that it is not worth moving here from another country unless you work in the tech sector, which traditionally wages well above average, or have some other source of income and ideally from another country, one long-term expat in Estonia has said, as reported by Postimees.
The Rise of the French Fry Cartel
(jacobin.com)
After decades of consolidation, just four firms now control at least 97 percent of the $68 billion frozen potato market, the antitrust cases reveal. These four companies participate in the same trade associations and use a third-party data analytics platform — PotatoTrac — to share confidential business information. The lawsuits allege the firms’ collusion has driven french fries and hash browns to record-high prices.
After decades of consolidation, just four firms now control at least 97 percent of the $68 billion frozen potato market, the antitrust cases reveal. These four companies participate in the same trade associations and use a third-party data analytics platform — PotatoTrac — to share confidential business information. The lawsuits allege the firms’ collusion has driven french fries and hash browns to record-high prices.
Dutch Households with solar panels face significant revenue loss
(nltimes.nl)
Households in the Netherlands with solar panels are seeing their annual returns shrink by 300 euros to nearly 500 euros due to rising feed-in charges and lower solar yields in 2024.
Households in the Netherlands with solar panels are seeing their annual returns shrink by 300 euros to nearly 500 euros due to rising feed-in charges and lower solar yields in 2024.
NYC Congestion Pricing Set to Take Effect After Years of Delays
(bloomberg.com)
Congestion pricing will finally take effect on Sunday in New York City, though its long-term future still remains uncertain.
Congestion pricing will finally take effect on Sunday in New York City, though its long-term future still remains uncertain.
Richest People Surpassed $10T in Wealth This Year
(bloomberg.com)
The world’s 500 richest people got vastly richer in 2024, with Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Jensen Huang leading the group of billionaires to a new milestone: A combined $10 trillion net worth.
The world’s 500 richest people got vastly richer in 2024, with Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Jensen Huang leading the group of billionaires to a new milestone: A combined $10 trillion net worth.
TB rates plunge when families living in poverty get a monthly cash payout
(npr.org)
What if the best medicine isn't a pill or vaccine — but it's cold cash?
What if the best medicine isn't a pill or vaccine — but it's cold cash?
The Golden Opportunity for American AI
(microsoft.com)
As we usher in a New Year, we will welcome a new president into the White House as well as a golden opportunity for American technology and economic competitiveness.
As we usher in a New Year, we will welcome a new president into the White House as well as a golden opportunity for American technology and economic competitiveness.
China is the manufacturing superpower
(cepr.org)
The US is the world’s sole military superpower. It spends more on its military than the ten next highest spending countries combined. China is now the world’s sole manufacturing superpower. Its production exceeds that of the nine next largest manufacturers combined.
The US is the world’s sole military superpower. It spends more on its military than the ten next highest spending countries combined. China is now the world’s sole manufacturing superpower. Its production exceeds that of the nine next largest manufacturers combined.
Counterintuitive Effects of Minimum Prices
(dynomight.net)
The Attorney General of Massachusetts recently announced that drivers for ride-sharing companies must be paid at least $32.50 per hour.
The Attorney General of Massachusetts recently announced that drivers for ride-sharing companies must be paid at least $32.50 per hour.
Why Canada should join the EU
(economist.com)
As international conflicts go, none did so little to disrupt the global order as the “whisky wars” that pitted Canada against Denmark for four decades.
As international conflicts go, none did so little to disrupt the global order as the “whisky wars” that pitted Canada against Denmark for four decades.
iPhone sales in China fell for the 4th month in a row
(9to5mac.com)
iPhone sales in China fell for the fourth successive month, amidst a sharp decline across all non-Chinese brands.
iPhone sales in China fell for the fourth successive month, amidst a sharp decline across all non-Chinese brands.