Daily Picks

Economics & Policy

Economics & Policy

Macro, jobs, trade, housing, energy and public policy — how a society allocates, and how it is governed

Conversable Economist
US Energy: Source to End-UseDespite rapid growth, solar and wind account for only about 3% of U.S. primary energy; to become the dominant source they would need to expand at least twentyfold, while also overcoming grid losses and build-out challenges.
Conversable Economist
The Conversation
Federal stimulus money bought new technology for Philly students, but many schools lost track of where items wentAfter the pandemic, Philadelphia schools bought equipment with federal stimulus money, but more than 60% of those assets went missing on the books, exposing a systemic failure in tracking public funds.
The Conversation
ACOUP
Collections: Global Trade and United States NavyDespite changing US politics, the US Navy is currently the only force capable of keeping global maritime trade open, and the world is paying the price.
ACOUP
Uncharted Territories
What Is Happening in Ceuta?In July 2026, over 70,000 people surged from Morocco into Spain's enclave Ceuta after a court ruling clarified that swimming across the border wouldn't lead to instant deportation — and Morocco may have been happy to let it happen to pressure Spain.
Uncharted Territories
The Conversation
Making the Fed more accountable to Congress and the public may be just what it needs to fend off Trump’s threats to its independenceThe real threat to the Federal Reserve is Trump-style interference, and greater accountability to Congress might be just what it needs to defend its independence.
The Conversation
Conversable Economist
Secular Stagnation and Wealth Inequality: Antecedents and LessonsThe advice to tax the rich to boost growth and reduce inequality dates back to the 18th century, but it may be a one-size-fits-all cure for every economic ailment.
Conversable Economist
Conversable Economist
Is US Government Debt Getting Riskier?Global investors are treating US Treasury debt as a risky asset, as seen in borrowing costs, market hedging behavior, and who holds the debt.
Conversable Economist
Works in Progress
The everything theory of mass transitPublic transit has been loaded with side missions it was never meant to solve, which weakens its core job of moving people and hurts the poor, who depend on it most.
Works in Progress
The Conversation
Why the US-Canada trade war could change how American farmers grow their crops for yearsIf the US-Canada trade war escalates, American farmers may cut back on fertilizer due to rising potash costs, which won't show immediately but will reduce yields for years, eventually pushing up food prices.
The Conversation
The Conversation
Why Trump’s plan to rescind the Roadless Rule protecting national forests will struggle in courtThe Trump administration's bid to scrap the Roadless Rule protecting national forests will face tough legal battles due to strong precedent and public support for the 2001 policy.
The Conversation
acx
Re: Re: Re: Pritchard On Liberal HappinessEven if income affects happiness, the effect is smaller than intuition suggests, but that doesn't mean income is irrelevant.
acx
Rest of World
America’s immigration policy is driving away future AI leadersBy tightening immigration, the U.S. is pushing top AI talent toward competitors like China, and the resulting brain drain will erode its AI leadership.
Rest of World
ChinaTalk
How AI Becomes a Political CrisisEven a 1% rise in unemployment could trigger a political crisis if it hits a specific region or profession, because AI is breaking the career pipeline for young white-collar workers.
ChinaTalk
Noahpinion
Are we watching the U.S. go bankrupt?The small rise in long-term U.S. Treasury yields is not a sign of a bond market collapse, but the huge national debt and unwise policies still warrant caution.
Noahpinion
Net Interest
Great ScottUS Treasury Secretary Bessent calls himself the nation's top bond salesman, but recent auction yields have surged to multi-year highs, suggesting his sales performance is slipping.
Net Interest

Other topics

TechBusiness & ProductInvestingScience & HealthLife & WorkSociety & Ideas