David Henig
@davidheniguk.bsky.social
Trade wonk, Brexit bore, globalisation defender, music lover, cricketer, gardener, supporter of mediocre football teams, who knows where the time goes?
Pinned
David Henig
@davidheniguk.bsky.social
· Oct 15
The New World of Trade – How 40 Years of Change Brought Globalisation Without Trust
Making sense of daily trade policy turbulence has become a major challenge. President Trump is just one part of a complex ever-changing picture.Stop the world to catch up is an understandable respons
ecipe.org
"How 40 years of change brought globalisation without trust" - my latest long read (based on a talk given this morning) seems immediately relevant given further US-China tensions over global supply chains.
Global markets are a reality --->
ecipe.org/blog/the-new...
Global markets are a reality --->
ecipe.org/blog/the-new...
Why does nobody point out that the UK has been dealing with the issue of illegal US invasions since at least the 1950s? Offhand I don't recall any were condemned, and some were actively supported.
There’s going to be a motion of censure at the UN and Starmer is going to have a decision to make.
January 3, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Why does nobody point out that the UK has been dealing with the issue of illegal US invasions since at least the 1950s? Offhand I don't recall any were condemned, and some were actively supported.
I seem to have missed the golden age of international law when all countries but particularly the US did everything according to the rules.
I also seem to be missing the ideas for creating another.
I also seem to be missing the ideas for creating another.
January 3, 2026 at 2:43 PM
I seem to have missed the golden age of international law when all countries but particularly the US did everything according to the rules.
I also seem to be missing the ideas for creating another.
I also seem to be missing the ideas for creating another.
Reposted by David Henig
Also if anyone is interested in the history of the United States' attempts to topple leaders in South America and install more friendly dictators then you can - and I'm not joking here - download the files from the CIA website.
January 3, 2026 at 1:56 PM
Also if anyone is interested in the history of the United States' attempts to topple leaders in South America and install more friendly dictators then you can - and I'm not joking here - download the files from the CIA website.
Reposted by David Henig
I think this is probably right
despite how insane this morning's news seemed, we're already in an insane situation
I guess we're rightly incensed, but were also desperate to turn over a new leaf, to see glimpses of a better future
this brought back our unreality with a thud
despite how insane this morning's news seemed, we're already in an insane situation
I guess we're rightly incensed, but were also desperate to turn over a new leaf, to see glimpses of a better future
this brought back our unreality with a thud
Going out on a limb here, I don't think today's US news means anything whatsoever for other global affairs, whether Greenland, Ukraine, or Taiwan. See it as a rare example of continuity in US politics.
January 3, 2026 at 11:44 AM
I think this is probably right
despite how insane this morning's news seemed, we're already in an insane situation
I guess we're rightly incensed, but were also desperate to turn over a new leaf, to see glimpses of a better future
this brought back our unreality with a thud
despite how insane this morning's news seemed, we're already in an insane situation
I guess we're rightly incensed, but were also desperate to turn over a new leaf, to see glimpses of a better future
this brought back our unreality with a thud
Reposted by David Henig
1. Why does Russian regime change against Ukraine fail?
Ukraine's leadership was democratically elected and seen as legitimate by most Ukrainians.
2. Why could the US to seize Maduro in Venezuela?
Maduro falsified elections and was seen as illegitimate by much of Venezuela.
Ukraine's leadership was democratically elected and seen as legitimate by most Ukrainians.
2. Why could the US to seize Maduro in Venezuela?
Maduro falsified elections and was seen as illegitimate by much of Venezuela.
January 3, 2026 at 10:52 AM
1. Why does Russian regime change against Ukraine fail?
Ukraine's leadership was democratically elected and seen as legitimate by most Ukrainians.
2. Why could the US to seize Maduro in Venezuela?
Maduro falsified elections and was seen as illegitimate by much of Venezuela.
Ukraine's leadership was democratically elected and seen as legitimate by most Ukrainians.
2. Why could the US to seize Maduro in Venezuela?
Maduro falsified elections and was seen as illegitimate by much of Venezuela.
Obviously bad. Equally... not unprecedented for the US.
JUST IN: Trump says the U.S. has captured Maduro and his wife and flown them out of the country.
January 3, 2026 at 11:09 AM
Obviously bad. Equally... not unprecedented for the US.
Reposted by David Henig
Excellent post by @pollymackenzie.bsky.social on the trouble with stakeholder statism and all that:
Governing without Giving a F***
The advice Keir Starmer should take from a self-help guru
substack.com
January 2, 2026 at 12:57 PM
Excellent post by @pollymackenzie.bsky.social on the trouble with stakeholder statism and all that:
Reposted by David Henig
Genuinely interesting article that correctly isolates the affordability problem as largely one about Baumol cost disease and the issue of positional goods generating zero sum battles in a world of higher wealth inequality. Great stuff
"Maddeningly, voters want contradictory things: low prices when they shop, high wages for themselves; not many immigrants but lots of cheap labour; rising house prices when they own and lower ones when their children want to buy"
www.economist.com/leaders/2025...
From The Economist
www.economist.com/leaders/2025...
From The Economist
The truth about affordability
Voters in rich countries are angry about prices. Politicians could make things worse
www.economist.com
January 2, 2026 at 11:30 AM
Genuinely interesting article that correctly isolates the affordability problem as largely one about Baumol cost disease and the issue of positional goods generating zero sum battles in a world of higher wealth inequality. Great stuff
Just this. Governments have to choose and an ever increasing clamour from everyone. Rather than hoping to find the magic button marked "all problems solved".
And that's the fundamental problem for this UK government. No basis for priority, lots of hope of finding the magic levers.
And that's the fundamental problem for this UK government. No basis for priority, lots of hope of finding the magic levers.
Well, this explains a lot about Labour's travails if little else.
Verging on conspiracism.
Hate to break it to politicians of this and all future generations, you will be governing in a complex society. You need to factor that into your operating model.
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Verging on conspiracism.
Hate to break it to politicians of this and all future generations, you will be governing in a complex society. You need to factor that into your operating model.
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Alaa Abd el-Fattah has shown supremacy of the Stakeholder State
My time working in No 10 showed me how much time and energy is sapped by people obsessed with fringe issues. It doesn’t have to be this way
www.thetimes.com
January 2, 2026 at 8:21 AM
Just this. Governments have to choose and an ever increasing clamour from everyone. Rather than hoping to find the magic button marked "all problems solved".
And that's the fundamental problem for this UK government. No basis for priority, lots of hope of finding the magic levers.
And that's the fundamental problem for this UK government. No basis for priority, lots of hope of finding the magic levers.
Well then, happy new year and all that, and er who fancies a drink, we'll need it if 2026 continues last year's trends...
January 1, 2026 at 9:18 AM
Well then, happy new year and all that, and er who fancies a drink, we'll need it if 2026 continues last year's trends...
Just started reading Breakneck by Dan Wang about the differences and similarities between US and China (I know how to have fun on New Year's Eve) and it is simply essential reading - for these countries and understanding more broadly why the west slowed (lawyers, basically).
December 31, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Just started reading Breakneck by Dan Wang about the differences and similarities between US and China (I know how to have fun on New Year's Eve) and it is simply essential reading - for these countries and understanding more broadly why the west slowed (lawyers, basically).
Reposted by David Henig
"Voters want contradictory things: low #prices when they shop, high #wages for themselves; not many immigrants but lots of cheap labour; rising house prices when they own and lower ones when their children want to buy." www.economist.com/leaders/2025...
December 31, 2025 at 12:17 PM
"Voters want contradictory things: low #prices when they shop, high #wages for themselves; not many immigrants but lots of cheap labour; rising house prices when they own and lower ones when their children want to buy." www.economist.com/leaders/2025...
Everyone having their say on this, so mine fwiw is that it was the freebies and the lack of any feel for real life rather than any particular policies or lack of plan though the latter hardly helps. Just feels therefore like another out of touch government.
Glad the FT is asking the question. Even if I’m not convinced they found a compelling answer.
I get that Starmer & Reeves are unpopular, I really don’t understand the extent of the dislike.
www.ft.com/content/1995... ‘There’s a real dislike, even loathing’: why voters hate Starmer and Reeves
I get that Starmer & Reeves are unpopular, I really don’t understand the extent of the dislike.
www.ft.com/content/1995... ‘There’s a real dislike, even loathing’: why voters hate Starmer and Reeves
‘There’s a real dislike, even loathing’: why voters hate Starmer and Reeves
Allies concede the prime minister and chancellor have made mistakes yet the level of disdain towards them is still striking
www.ft.com
December 31, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Everyone having their say on this, so mine fwiw is that it was the freebies and the lack of any feel for real life rather than any particular policies or lack of plan though the latter hardly helps. Just feels therefore like another out of touch government.
Everyone having their say on this, so mine fwiw is that it was the freebies and the lack of any feel for real life rather than any particular policies or lack of plan though the latter hardly helps. Just feels therefore like another out of touch government.
Glad the FT is asking the question. Even if I’m not convinced they found a compelling answer.
I get that Starmer & Reeves are unpopular, I really don’t understand the extent of the dislike.
www.ft.com/content/1995... ‘There’s a real dislike, even loathing’: why voters hate Starmer and Reeves
I get that Starmer & Reeves are unpopular, I really don’t understand the extent of the dislike.
www.ft.com/content/1995... ‘There’s a real dislike, even loathing’: why voters hate Starmer and Reeves
‘There’s a real dislike, even loathing’: why voters hate Starmer and Reeves
Allies concede the prime minister and chancellor have made mistakes yet the level of disdain towards them is still striking
www.ft.com
December 31, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Everyone having their say on this, so mine fwiw is that it was the freebies and the lack of any feel for real life rather than any particular policies or lack of plan though the latter hardly helps. Just feels therefore like another out of touch government.
Lexit lives! morningstaronline.co.uk/article/labo...
Labour must not reverse Brexit
A DANGEROUS tendency is emerging in the labour movement to reopen the Brexit question. Several government figures have started to criticise the impact on the economy of Britain leaving the Europe...
morningstaronline.co.uk
December 31, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Lexit lives! morningstaronline.co.uk/article/labo...
Wondering about the corporate risk planning for those doing business now with Trump and acolytes given the near certainty of years of corruption and bribery cases to follow the end of his time in office.
December 30, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Wondering about the corporate risk planning for those doing business now with Trump and acolytes given the near certainty of years of corruption and bribery cases to follow the end of his time in office.
Reposted by David Henig
Host students visiting London, some years later get invited to full on Indian wedding...
December 29, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Host students visiting London, some years later get invited to full on Indian wedding...
The rise of the side hustle, and why that might just be another contributor to distorted economic numbers. Super piece. The rise of the side hustle - www.ft.com/content/799f...
The rise of the side hustle
Economists and tax collectors might be underestimating its impact
www.ft.com
December 29, 2025 at 6:52 AM
The rise of the side hustle, and why that might just be another contributor to distorted economic numbers. Super piece. The rise of the side hustle - www.ft.com/content/799f...
Spending time at wedding events talking de minimis is peak trade geek
December 28, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Spending time at wedding events talking de minimis is peak trade geek
Reposted by David Henig
👇 This sums up underlying problem with actually existing Brexit. The ways you actually maximise the benefits of Brexit run against the electoral coalition for Brexit, are not popular enough with Remainers, just end up with 'you're divorced, but you refuse to join Tinder or move out of your home'.
The Telegraph pushing liberal brexiteers and then hating every possible implementation of a liberal Brexit has been amusing over the years
December 27, 2025 at 2:52 PM
👇 This sums up underlying problem with actually existing Brexit. The ways you actually maximise the benefits of Brexit run against the electoral coalition for Brexit, are not popular enough with Remainers, just end up with 'you're divorced, but you refuse to join Tinder or move out of your home'.
Reposted by David Henig
A quick google informs me that after this surge, Australia provides about 4% of our beef imports, and our beef imports are about 25% of our consumption. So this headline is basically saying “anger as 0.6% becomes 1% of total” and I’m not sure that’s particularly justifiable
December 27, 2025 at 12:31 PM
A quick google informs me that after this surge, Australia provides about 4% of our beef imports, and our beef imports are about 25% of our consumption. So this headline is basically saying “anger as 0.6% becomes 1% of total” and I’m not sure that’s particularly justifiable
Royal visits to the US are probably less to revitalise trade talks, more to try to distract the US from asks the UK doesn't want to deliver.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
King Charles and Prince William expected to visit US in 2026 to revitalise trade deal
Royals are reported to plan separate trips, after Donald Trump paused implementation of agreement
www.theguardian.com
December 27, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Royal visits to the US are probably less to revitalise trade talks, more to try to distract the US from asks the UK doesn't want to deliver.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Classic England, come good when the series is lost... perhaps
December 27, 2025 at 5:04 AM
Classic England, come good when the series is lost... perhaps
Making myself available for the Final Test. I won't score any runs but by this point that shouldn't count against my chances.
December 26, 2025 at 6:35 AM
Making myself available for the Final Test. I won't score any runs but by this point that shouldn't count against my chances.