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← States were born in the richest and easiest country, not in hard marginal land.
14 connected korrents · 13 moments from 16 Sept 2001 to 14 Oct 2026.
Everything filed under government
government
Everything filed under politics
politics
Everything filed under public debt
public debt
Everything filed under democracy
democracy
Everything filed under war
war
Everything filed under energy
energy Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Read this korrent: States were born in the richest and easiest country, not in hard marginal land. States were born in the richest and easiest country, not in hard marginal land. Last stated 7 years ago
17 Jan 2020
BD
Bret Devereaux — holds since 2020-01-17 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Africa before colonisation was not stagnant for lacking states: states formed where they paid, and other arrangements suited other places. — tap to centre the map on it Africa before colonisation was not stagnant for lacking states: states formed where they paid, and other arrangements suited other places. Last stated 2 years ago
21 Jan 2025
OK
Oliver Kim — holds since 2025-01-21 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Hard peoples from harsh places are not better at war: at the dawn of civilisation it was the softest and richest societies that won most often. — tap to centre the map on it Hard peoples from harsh places are not better at war: at the dawn of civilisation it was the softest and richest societies that won most often. Last stated 7 years ago
17 Jan 2020
BD
Bret Devereaux — holds since 2020-01-17 — tap for who they are
Same subject: An economy running on muscle power has a hard and low ceiling on total production, because its only real input is land and the returns to more of it fall away fast. — tap to centre the map on it An economy running on muscle power has a hard and low ceiling on total production, because its only real input is land and the returns to more of it fall away fast. Last stated 4 years ago
26 Aug 2022
BD
Bret Devereaux — holds since 2022-08-26 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A pre-modern countryside produces an enormous amount of food and almost no extractable surplus, which is the hard limit on everything the state above it can do. — tap to centre the map on it A pre-modern countryside produces an enormous amount of food and almost no extractable surplus, which is the hard limit on everything the state above it can do. Last stated 6 years ago
24 Jul 2020
BD
Bret Devereaux — holds since 2020-07-24 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Comparative policy analysis should be done at the level of sovereign countries, not provinces or regions within them. — tap to centre the map on it Comparative policy analysis should be done at the level of sovereign countries, not provinces or regions within them. Last stated 2 months ago
1 Sept 2026
AL
Alon Levy — holds since 2026-09-01 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A central bank can eliminate a self-fulfilling ('sunspot') debt crisis simply by credibly committing to buy as many bonds as needed at the low interest rate. — tap to centre the map on it A central bank can eliminate a self-fulfilling ('sunspot') debt crisis simply by credibly committing to buy as many bonds as needed at the low interest rate. Last stated 4 years ago
1 Jun 2022
OB
Olivier Blanchard — holds since 2022-06-01 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Cutting off trade with tariffs would force a huge interest-rate spike and probably a debt crisis, because the budget deficit would have to be financed at home. — tap to centre the map on it Cutting off trade with tariffs would force a huge interest-rate spike and probably a debt crisis, because the budget deficit would have to be financed at home. Last stated 2 years ago
14 Apr 2025
JC
John H. Cochrane — holds since 2025-04-14 — tap for who they are
Same subject: During post-2008 fiscal consolidation, the costs of high public debt were overestimated and fiscal multipliers were underestimated, understating the output costs of austerity. — tap to centre the map on it During post-2008 fiscal consolidation, the costs of high public debt were overestimated and fiscal multipliers were underestimated, understating the output costs of austerity. Last stated 4 years ago
1 Jun 2022
OB
Olivier Blanchard — holds since 2022-06-01 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A company can run on truth only if its leader deeply desires it and rules with a firm hand rather than by democracy. — tap to centre the map on it A company can run on truth only if its leader deeply desires it and rules with a firm hand rather than by democracy. Last stated 2 years ago
6 Mar 2025
KG
Kapil Gupta — holds since 2025-03-06 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A company is not a democracy: every voice should be heard and then one person decides, and the decision should not be the popular one. — tap to centre the map on it A company is not a democracy: every voice should be heard and then one person decides, and the decision should not be the popular one. Last stated 5 months ago
2 Jun 2026
MP
Mark Pincus — holds since 2026-06-02 — tap for who they are
Same subject: After September 11, the politics of democracy was replaced by grief management; people may grieve together but should not be stupid together — tap to centre the map on it After September 11, the politics of democracy was replaced by grief management; people may grieve together but should not be stupid together Last stated 25 years ago
16 Sept 2001
SS
Susan Sontag — holds since 2001-09-16 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A backlash against women's economic rise is not automatic; it happens only where politicians choose to mobilise it. — tap to centre the map on it A backlash against women's economic rise is not automatic; it happens only where politicians choose to mobilise it. Last stated 2 years ago
1 Dec 2024
AE
Alice Evans — holds since 2024-12-01 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A corrupt, partisan majority on the Supreme Court has given Trump a huge amount of untrammeled power. — tap to centre the map on it A corrupt, partisan majority on the Supreme Court has given Trump a huge amount of untrammeled power. Last stated a week ago
14 Oct 2026
PK
Paul Krugman — holds since 2026-10-14 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A country without cultural unity struggles to provide public goods, because its politics turns into an ethnic spoils system. — tap to centre the map on it A country without cultural unity struggles to provide public goods, because its politics turns into an ethnic spoils system. Last stated 6 months ago
9 Apr 2026
NS
Noah Smith — holds since 2026-04-09 — tap for who they are
At the centre
States were born in the richest and easiest country, not in hard marginal land.
Holds Read this korrent →
Africa before colonisation was not stagnant for lacking states: states formed where they paid, and other arrangements suited other places.
Holds
Hard peoples from harsh places are not better at war: at the dawn of civilisation it was the softest and richest societies that won most often.
Holds
An economy running on muscle power has a hard and low ceiling on total production, because its only real input is land and the returns to more of it fall away fast.
Holds
A pre-modern countryside produces an enormous amount of food and almost no extractable surplus, which is the hard limit on everything the state above it can do.
Holds
Comparative policy analysis should be done at the level of sovereign countries, not provinces or regions within them.
Holds
A central bank can eliminate a self-fulfilling ('sunspot') debt crisis simply by credibly committing to buy as many bonds as needed at the low interest rate.
Holds
Cutting off trade with tariffs would force a huge interest-rate spike and probably a debt crisis, because the budget deficit would have to be financed at home.
Holds
During post-2008 fiscal consolidation, the costs of high public debt were overestimated and fiscal multipliers were underestimated, understating the output costs of austerity.
Holds
A company can run on truth only if its leader deeply desires it and rules with a firm hand rather than by democracy.
Holds
A company is not a democracy: every voice should be heard and then one person decides, and the decision should not be the popular one.
Holds
After September 11, the politics of democracy was replaced by grief management; people may grieve together but should not be stupid together
Holds
A backlash against women's economic rise is not automatic; it happens only where politicians choose to mobilise it.
Holds
A corrupt, partisan majority on the Supreme Court has given Trump a huge amount of untrammeled power.
Holds
A country without cultural unity struggles to provide public goods, because its politics turns into an ethnic spoils system.
Holds