# \#economics **URL:** https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/tag/economics/748.md [Latest](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/latest.md) · [Categories](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/categories.md) · [Tags](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/tags.md) --- ## [Job-Less Utopia Macroeconomics in the Age of AGI by Marcus Hutter](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/job-less-utopia-macroeconomics-in-the-age-of-agi-by-marcus-hutter/6412)
**Author:** [@jabowery](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/jabowery)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [4 August 2026 14:25 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/job-less-utopia-macroeconomics-in-the-age-of-agi-by-marcus-hutter/6412 "2026-08-04T14:25:35Z")
Marcus Hutter is now weighing into the AGI political economy fray with his first book in 25 years: PS: I have never discussed macrosocial issues with Marcus and I only mentioned macrosocial dynamics model selection … --- ## [How Not to Build a Country: Canada’s Late Soviet Pessimism](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/how-not-to-build-a-country-canada-s-late-soviet-pessimism/4655)
**Author:** [@jdougan](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/jdougan)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [30 July 2026 07:11 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/how-not-to-build-a-country-canada-s-late-soviet-pessimism/4655 "2026-07-30T07:11:59Z")
A few years old, but still relevant: --- ## [The Case Against Free Trade](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/the-case-against-free-trade/6388)
**Author:** [@Gavin](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/Gavin)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [29 June 2026 19:22 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/the-case-against-free-trade/6388 "2026-06-29T19:22:26Z")
An excellent article by Martin Hutchinson on the failure of “Free Trade”. The world has been here before. In the mid-1800s, Great Britain adopted the Free Trade mantra – and declined from the Workshop of the World to t… --- ## [Run up to the new Opium Wars?](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/run-up-to-the-new-opium-wars/6288)
**Author:** [@Gavin](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/Gavin)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [27 February 2026 20:02 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/run-up-to-the-new-opium-wars/6288 "2026-02-27T20:02:09Z")
Beijing! We have a problem! Very interesting article about the problems of success facing China now that it has established itself as the Workshop of the World and is setting the pace in many key areas of technological… --- ## [Venezuela - the background](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/venezuela-the-background/6230)
**Author:** [@Gavin](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/Gavin)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [4 January 2026 16:20 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/venezuela-the-background/6230 "2026-01-04T16:20:53Z")
An interesting article about the background to current events in Venezuela: Anatomy of an economic suicide: Venezuela under Maduro - Asia Times Most “democratic” governments today are failing (see, e.g. Europe), but Ve… --- ## [An article worth reading](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/an-article-worth-reading/6214)
**Author:** [@Gavin](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/Gavin)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [21 December 2025 16:51 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/an-article-worth-reading/6214 "2025-12-21T16:51:14Z")
How US manufacturing was gutted with a smile - Asia Times I had never heard the “Smile” theory articulated, but have certainly seen its effects. Essentially, it is the theory that manufacturing is low value-add and eas… --- ## [The Shape of Things to Come](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/the-shape-of-things-to-come/5977)
**Author:** [@Gavin](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/Gavin)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [21 June 2025 14:26 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/the-shape-of-things-to-come/5977 "2025-06-21T14:26:08Z")
Absolutely fascinating article from a self-admitted Leftie about industrial policy in China. The author dances around the implication that this will stimulate major changes elsewhere in the world. The situation in a wo… --- ## [I’ve never known anyone this shallow.](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/i-ve-never-known-anyone-this-shallow/5948)
**Author:** [@drlorentz](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/drlorentz)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [4 June 2025 00:03 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/i-ve-never-known-anyone-this-shallow/5948 "2025-06-04T00:03:50Z")
The other day, I was involved in a discussion that touched on the motivations of public figures, specifically Mr Musk. The idea was put forward that Mr Musk is principally motivated by his financial interests in supporti… --- ## [US Reindustrialization and Immigration](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/us-reindustrialization-and-immigration/4777)
**Author:** [@Mettelus](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/Mettelus)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [17 April 2025 21:57 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/us-reindustrialization-and-immigration/4777 "2025-04-17T21:57:37Z")
I started going off topic in another post and decided it is better to start a new post for the discussion on the topic of US reindustrialization. Below are a couple links to my replies that are pertinent. To summar… --- ## [China Buying Gold, UBS Trading Gold by Smartphone](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/china-buying-gold-ubs-trading-gold-by-smartphone/613)
**Author:** [@johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/johnwalker)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [17 April 2025 21:29 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/china-buying-gold-ubs-trading-gold-by-smartphone/613 "2025-04-17T21:29:26Z")
Just as “transitory” inflation kicked in in mid-2021: China, whose gold reserves had been relatively constant over recent months, began substantial net purchases, as reflected in imports: To express this in funny m… --- ## [“The Effects of Immigration in Denmark”](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/the-effects-of-immigration-in-denmark/2768)
**Author:** [@johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/johnwalker)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [1 October 2024 12:42 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/the-effects-of-immigration-in-denmark/2768 "2024-10-01T12:42:59Z")
The effects of large-scale immigration on developed societies has been a matter of heated debate for more than a century. Advocates of immigration cite the benefits of “new blood”, cultural diversity, mitigating the imp… --- ## [Why Trump should End the Fed on Day One](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/why-trump-should-end-the-fed-on-day-one/4899)
**Author:** [@ra\_montesano](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/ra_montesano)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [26 September 2024 01:00 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/why-trump-should-end-the-fed-on-day-one/4899 "2024-09-26T01:00:46Z")
By printing too much money, the federal reserve has created a highly inflationary environment, devaluing the labor wages of all worldwide. The fed could be replace with a simple rule: $1 = \_\_\_\_ oz. gold or \_\_\_\_\_\_ … --- ## [World GDP in One Chart](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/world-gdp-in-one-chart/736)
**Author:** [@johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/johnwalker)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [4 September 2024 13:17 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/world-gdp-in-one-chart/736 "2024-09-04T13:17:43Z")
Visual Capitalist has published their 2021 world GDP update, “Visualizing the $94 Trillion World Economy in One Chart”, along with an expanded version of the chart that lists all of the countries that fell into the “R… --- ## [Economic Warfare](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/economic-warfare/4842)
**Author:** [@eggspurt](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/eggspurt)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [16 August 2024 16:48 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/economic-warfare/4842 "2024-08-16T16:48:35Z")
Its biggest application today is as a flame retardant, which accounted for around half of global usage in 2023, according to brokerage CICC. At the same time, about a fifth of antimony was used to make photovoltaic g… --- ## [Has Nial Ferguson Left the Reservation?](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/has-nial-ferguson-left-the-reservation/4720)
**Author:** [@Gavin](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/Gavin)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [29 July 2024 22:26 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/has-nial-ferguson-left-the-reservation/4720 "2024-07-29T22:26:20Z")
I admit it – I was never much impressed with Nial Ferguson. He reminded me too much of the smooth operators who clamber up the greasy pole in large businesses, saying the (perceived) right things at the right time to th… --- ## [In Stunning Speech, Peter Thiel Blasts Buffett, Dimon, & Fink As "Finance Gerontocracy"; Sees Bitcoin Rising 100-Fold](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/in-stunning-speech-peter-thiel-blasts-buffett-dimon-fink-as-finance-gerontocracy-sees-bitcoin-rising-100-fold/1164)
**Author:** [@ra\_montesano](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/ra_montesano)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [9 May 2024 04:36 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/in-stunning-speech-peter-thiel-blasts-buffett-dimon-fink-as-finance-gerontocracy-sees-bitcoin-rising-100-fold/1164 "2024-05-09T04:36:22Z")
So it appears the East, is unifying around Russia, China, Iran, India, etc. and the West is dividing along Globalist / Libertarian lines. Therefore, in 2022 we are Truly living in the Wild, Wild West. First Cowboy up … --- ## [An Intravenous Injection of Gloom & Doom](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/an-intravenous-injection-of-gloom-doom/4460)
**Author:** [@Gavin](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/Gavin)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [14 March 2024 21:05 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/an-intravenous-injection-of-gloom-doom/4460 "2024-03-14T21:05:21Z")
A deeply pessimistic view on the future of Europe, penned by “Gaius Baltar” on the Sonar21 blog. It is worth reading the whole thing: WHY IS THE EUROPEAN UNION DESTROYING ITS OWN ECONOMY? (sonar21.com) Europe is alrea… --- ## [Other People Are Noticing ...](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/other-people-are-noticing/4203)
**Author:** [@Gavin](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/Gavin)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [10 January 2024 16:09 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/other-people-are-noticing/4203 "2024-01-10T16:09:51Z")
US government debt biggest threat to global economy – Russian NGO — RT Business News US government debt and Washington’s budget deficit present the biggest threats to the global economy this year, Russian government age… --- ## [When the Soviet Union Tried to Abolish Money](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/when-the-soviet-union-tried-to-abolish-money/3339)
**Author:** [@johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/johnwalker)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [20 June 2023 14:30 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/when-the-soviet-union-tried-to-abolish-money/3339 "2023-06-20T14:30:41Z")
“Let’s abolish money—by printing quadrillions of paper rubles!” Here is more about the great Soviet hyperinflation of 1917–1924. Transcaucasian Soviet Republic 250 million ruble banknote from 1924. --- ## [Pollution Reveals What Russian Statistics Obscure](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/pollution-reveals-what-russian-statistics-obscure/3182)
**Author:** [@eggspurt](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/eggspurt)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [16 May 2023 13:19 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/pollution-reveals-what-russian-statistics-obscure/3182 "2023-05-16T13:19:21Z")
Rather than showing an economy that suffered an initial shock and has since stabilized, this data reveals an industrial sector that, for the most part, has declined even further as the war has continued. This unusual… --- ## [The Hydraulic Economy Divides by Zero](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/the-hydraulic-economy-divides-by-zero/2694)
**Author:** [@johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/johnwalker)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [2 February 2023 13:03 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/the-hydraulic-economy-divides-by-zero/2694 "2023-02-02T13:03:31Z")
In 1949, economist Bill Phillips created MONIAC, a hydraulic analogue computer model of the British economy. He found that by tuning the machine, its accuracy could be adjusted to within 2% of the real eco… --- ## [Fed's Forever Blowing Bubbles](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/feds-forever-blowing-bubbles/565)
**Author:** [@johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/johnwalker)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [14 December 2021 14:35 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/feds-forever-blowing-bubbles/565 "2021-12-14T14:35:46Z")
https://twitter.com/TaviCosta/status/1470200283687006211 Of course, it’s wise to remember these observations. Markets can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent. — John Maynard Keynes A bubble is …