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← The fall of the Western Roman Empire was a real loss of state…
17 connected korrents · 14 moments from 16 Sept 2001 to 14 Oct 2026.
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metascience 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 Same subject Same subject Same subject Read this korrent: The fall of the Western Roman Empire was a real loss of state capacity, not merely a change of management, and the evidence for that loss is ample. The fall of the Western Roman Empire was a real loss of state capacity, not merely a change of management, and the evidence for that loss is ample. Last stated 5 years ago
28 Jan 2022
BD
Bret Devereaux — holds since 2022-01-28 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A heavily centralised state is the most fragile kind: when Rome’s centre failed, its successors were left without the resources or administration to do what it had done. — tap to centre the map on it A heavily centralised state is the most fragile kind: when Rome’s centre failed, its successors were left without the resources or administration to do what it had done. Last stated 5 years ago
28 Jan 2022
BD
Bret Devereaux — holds since 2022-01-28 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Urban life in the West did not merely change after Rome, it practically vanished, and had to be built again from scratch centuries later. — tap to centre the map on it Urban life in the West did not merely change after Rome, it practically vanished, and had to be built again from scratch centuries later. Last stated 5 years ago
28 Jan 2022
BD
Bret Devereaux — holds since 2022-01-28 — tap for who they are
Same subject: There is no counsel in the continental world on when to stop taking territory, which is why Chinese and Russian empires keep overextending and imploding. — tap to centre the map on it There is no counsel in the continental world on when to stop taking territory, which is why Chinese and Russian empires keep overextending and imploding. Last stated 4 months ago
9 Jun 2026
SP
Sarah Paine — holds since 2026-06-09 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A mass death does not by itself produce a boom afterwards: expecting a pandemic to renew an economy on its own misreads what followed the Black Death. — tap to centre the map on it A mass death does not by itself produce a boom afterwards: expecting a pandemic to renew an economy on its own misreads what followed the Black Death. Last stated 6 years ago
4 Jun 2020
AP
Ada Palmer — holds since 2020-06-04 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Post-unification Germany has made many policy mistakes and lost much former leadership, and much pessimism about it seems justified. — tap to centre the map on it Post-unification Germany has made many policy mistakes and lost much former leadership, and much pessimism about it seems justified. Last stated 4 weeks ago
28 Sept 2026
TC
Tyler Cowen — holds since 2026-09-28 — tap for who they are
Same subject: An institution can outlive the state that built it: the Church survived the collapse of Roman political authority when Rome’s other institutions did not. — tap to centre the map on it An institution can outlive the state that built it: the Church survived the collapse of Roman political authority when Rome’s other institutions did not. Last stated 5 years ago
28 Jan 2022
BD
Bret Devereaux — holds since 2022-01-28 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A government only has legitimacy through long continuity, and once that thread is cut one regime change reliably becomes five. — tap to centre the map on it A government only has legitimacy through long continuity, and once that thread is cut one regime change reliably becomes five. Last stated 4 months ago
16 Jun 2026
AP
Ada Palmer — holds since 2026-06-16 — tap for who they are
Same subject: The test of a scientific model is not whether supporting evidence can be found for it, but whether it fits the totality of the evidence. — tap to centre the map on it The test of a scientific model is not whether supporting evidence can be found for it, but whether it fits the totality of the evidence. Last stated 8 years ago
3 Jul 2018
SG
Stephan Guyenet — holds since 2018-07-03 — 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
The fall of the Western Roman Empire was a real loss of state capacity, not merely a change of management, and the evidence for that loss is ample.
Holds Read this korrent →
A heavily centralised state is the most fragile kind: when Rome’s centre failed, its successors were left without the resources or administration to do what it had done.
Holds
Urban life in the West did not merely change after Rome, it practically vanished, and had to be built again from scratch centuries later.
Holds
There is no counsel in the continental world on when to stop taking territory, which is why Chinese and Russian empires keep overextending and imploding.
Holds
A mass death does not by itself produce a boom afterwards: expecting a pandemic to renew an economy on its own misreads what followed the Black Death.
Holds
Post-unification Germany has made many policy mistakes and lost much former leadership, and much pessimism about it seems justified.
Holds
An institution can outlive the state that built it: the Church survived the collapse of Roman political authority when Rome’s other institutions did not.
Holds
A government only has legitimacy through long continuity, and once that thread is cut one regime change reliably becomes five.
Holds
The test of a scientific model is not whether supporting evidence can be found for it, but whether it fits the totality of the evidence.
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