Jason F. Bell
@jasonfbell.bsky.social
Husband • Father • Plant-Based • Researcher at Gauteng City-Region Observatory • Interested in History, Philosophy, Political Economy, and Geography • Currently studying Urban-Industrial Development Nexuses for PhD
Substack: @jasonfbell
Substack: @jasonfbell
Reposted by Jason F. Bell
🗣️ What does the future hold for small farms in Africa?
🌍 In the latest #DevelopmentDialogues with @voxdev.bsky.social, experts dissect one of Africa’s most persistent development challenges: the low productivity of small farms.
🔊 Listen to the full episode now: egc.yale.edu/news/250618/...
🌍 In the latest #DevelopmentDialogues with @voxdev.bsky.social, experts dissect one of Africa’s most persistent development challenges: the low productivity of small farms.
🔊 Listen to the full episode now: egc.yale.edu/news/250618/...
Development Dialogues: What does the future hold for small farms in Africa?
Gérardine Mukeshimana, Mark Rosenzweig, and Christopher Udry dissect one of Africa’s most persistent development challenges: the low productivity of small farms. Despite decades of investment, innovation, and policy reform, yields on African small farms remain significantly below those in high-income countries—even when similar technologies are used.
egc.yale.edu
July 22, 2025 at 7:06 PM
🗣️ What does the future hold for small farms in Africa?
🌍 In the latest #DevelopmentDialogues with @voxdev.bsky.social, experts dissect one of Africa’s most persistent development challenges: the low productivity of small farms.
🔊 Listen to the full episode now: egc.yale.edu/news/250618/...
🌍 In the latest #DevelopmentDialogues with @voxdev.bsky.social, experts dissect one of Africa’s most persistent development challenges: the low productivity of small farms.
🔊 Listen to the full episode now: egc.yale.edu/news/250618/...
Reposted by Jason F. Bell
For decades, many leftists dropped talk of economic planning due to its association with Soviet bureaucracy.
But both the climate crisis and the reality of massive state intervention in capitalist economies have made democratic planning inescapable.
But both the climate crisis and the reality of massive state intervention in capitalist economies have made democratic planning inescapable.
Economic Planning Shouldn’t Be a Swear Word
For decades, many leftists dropped talk of economic planning due to its association with Soviet bureaucracy. But both the climate crisis and the reality of massive state intervention in capitalist eco...
jacobin.com
July 22, 2025 at 6:19 PM
For decades, many leftists dropped talk of economic planning due to its association with Soviet bureaucracy.
But both the climate crisis and the reality of massive state intervention in capitalist economies have made democratic planning inescapable.
But both the climate crisis and the reality of massive state intervention in capitalist economies have made democratic planning inescapable.
What is this “American” fish saying in response to Trump’s latest unfounded claim?
July 9, 2025 at 2:57 PM
What is this “American” fish saying in response to Trump’s latest unfounded claim?
Okay, then refund gamers at market rates when a game has reached the end of its “lifecycle” (i.e. not profitable) | "It Will Have A Chilling Effect On Game Design" - EU Group Responds To 'Stop Killing Games'
www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/07...
www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/07...
"It Will Have A Chilling Effect On Game Design" - EU Group Responds To 'Stop Killing Games'
Lobbying group includes Nintendo, Sega, and more in its membership
www.nintendolife.com
July 9, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Okay, then refund gamers at market rates when a game has reached the end of its “lifecycle” (i.e. not profitable) | "It Will Have A Chilling Effect On Game Design" - EU Group Responds To 'Stop Killing Games'
www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/07...
www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/07...
Energised by Zohran Mamdani's victory in the New York democratic primary, I have begun digging into these issues in South Africa.
Some readings to follow, but I worry that South Africa's "Left" is non-existent at the moment.
Some readings to follow, but I worry that South Africa's "Left" is non-existent at the moment.
July 7, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Energised by Zohran Mamdani's victory in the New York democratic primary, I have begun digging into these issues in South Africa.
Some readings to follow, but I worry that South Africa's "Left" is non-existent at the moment.
Some readings to follow, but I worry that South Africa's "Left" is non-existent at the moment.
I guess the biggest problem is that like with most things—for example carbon footprints, recycling etc—the onus in the media and other public forums is often pushed to the individual | You’ve been sold a giant myth when it comes to improving your health
www.newscientist.com/article/2485...
www.newscientist.com/article/2485...
You’ve been sold a giant myth when it comes to improving your health
Diet and exercise will only get you so far, but there is a magic bullet that could make us all live longer, says professor of global public health Devi Sridhar
www.newscientist.com
July 3, 2025 at 5:21 AM
I guess the biggest problem is that like with most things—for example carbon footprints, recycling etc—the onus in the media and other public forums is often pushed to the individual | You’ve been sold a giant myth when it comes to improving your health
www.newscientist.com/article/2485...
www.newscientist.com/article/2485...
Harvard hired a researcher to uncover its ties to slavery. He says the results cost him his job: ‘We found too many slaves’
www.theguardian.com/news/2025/ju...
www.theguardian.com/news/2025/ju...
Harvard hired a researcher to uncover its ties to slavery. He says the results cost him his job: ‘We found too many slaves’
When the extent of the university’s involvement with slavery was unearthed, a scholar tracking descendants of enslaved workers was suddenly fired
www.theguardian.com
June 25, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Harvard hired a researcher to uncover its ties to slavery. He says the results cost him his job: ‘We found too many slaves’
www.theguardian.com/news/2025/ju...
www.theguardian.com/news/2025/ju...
The sad thing about the state of American capitalism is that everything can be commodified—even the presidency.
June 19, 2025 at 6:19 AM
The sad thing about the state of American capitalism is that everything can be commodified—even the presidency.
Trump clearly reading the same Despot Textbook—translated into American English obviously—other weak men of history have followed.
June 15, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Trump clearly reading the same Despot Textbook—translated into American English obviously—other weak men of history have followed.
In the age of the Thought Leader, we have to hold each other accountable and interrogate our assertions.
But we also have to know when we should wade into uncharted territory and whether it is folly to think we could offer anything of substance.
But we also have to know when we should wade into uncharted territory and whether it is folly to think we could offer anything of substance.
June 13, 2025 at 6:02 AM
In the age of the Thought Leader, we have to hold each other accountable and interrogate our assertions.
But we also have to know when we should wade into uncharted territory and whether it is folly to think we could offer anything of substance.
But we also have to know when we should wade into uncharted territory and whether it is folly to think we could offer anything of substance.
An interesting method to study a very complex question.
Recently accepted by #QJE, “Manufacturing Revolutions: Industrial Policy and Industrialization in South Korea,” by Nathan Lane (@nathanlane.bsky.social): doi.org/10.1093/qje/...
Manufacturing Revolutions: Industrial Policy and Industrialization in South Korea*
Abstract. I study the impact of industrial policies on industrial development by considering an important episode during the East Asian miracle: South Kore
doi.org
June 13, 2025 at 5:46 AM
An interesting method to study a very complex question.
Reposted by Jason F. Bell
A new AI-driven early warning system uses news data to predict food crises up to 12 months in advance–enabling faster, proactive responses.
Read today's article to learn more:
Read today's article to learn more:
June 12, 2025 at 2:25 PM
A new AI-driven early warning system uses news data to predict food crises up to 12 months in advance–enabling faster, proactive responses.
Read today's article to learn more:
Read today's article to learn more:
Reposted by Jason F. Bell
What are some examples of win-wins in development?
When do businesses and governments directly benefit from improving the welfare of others?
When do businesses and governments directly benefit from improving the welfare of others?
Win-win policies: Examples from economic research
I've highlighted when businesses and governments directly benefit from improving the welfare of others.
Read on @voxdev.bsky.social: voxdev.org/topic/win-wi...
I've highlighted when businesses and governments directly benefit from improving the welfare of others.
Read on @voxdev.bsky.social: voxdev.org/topic/win-wi...
Win-win policies: Examples from economic research
What are some examples of win-wins in development? When do businesses and governments directly benefit from improving the welfare of others?
voxdev.org
June 6, 2025 at 3:40 PM
What are some examples of win-wins in development?
When do businesses and governments directly benefit from improving the welfare of others?
When do businesses and governments directly benefit from improving the welfare of others?
All of Trump’s “economic” plans sure need a lot of trumping up by his minions to make their farcical claims believable.
June 3, 2025 at 7:11 PM
All of Trump’s “economic” plans sure need a lot of trumping up by his minions to make their farcical claims believable.
Reposted by Jason F. Bell
Defenders of capitalism argue that cooperation is undermined by individuals’ tendency to take more from society than they contribute.
The economist Elinor Ostrom refuted this idea, but without identifying capitalism as the real cause of exploitation.
The economist Elinor Ostrom refuted this idea, but without identifying capitalism as the real cause of exploitation.
The Economist Who Solved the Free-Rider Problem
Defenders of capitalism argue that cooperation is undermined by individuals’ tendency to take more from society than they contribute. The economist Elinor Ostrom refuted this idea, but without identifying capitalism as the real cause of exploitation.
jacobin.com
June 3, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Defenders of capitalism argue that cooperation is undermined by individuals’ tendency to take more from society than they contribute.
The economist Elinor Ostrom refuted this idea, but without identifying capitalism as the real cause of exploitation.
The economist Elinor Ostrom refuted this idea, but without identifying capitalism as the real cause of exploitation.
Reposted by Jason F. Bell
"A rich and increasingly powerful Poland, with the best and largest land army in Europe outside Ukraine, will need to assume a leadership role for which its history has not prepared it," writes Eliot A. Cohen:
Strategizing With Ghosts
Memories of the past shape the choices of nations in the present.
bit.ly
June 2, 2025 at 12:30 PM
"A rich and increasingly powerful Poland, with the best and largest land army in Europe outside Ukraine, will need to assume a leadership role for which its history has not prepared it," writes Eliot A. Cohen:
How the little-known ‘dark roof’ lobby may be making US cities hotter
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
How the little-known ‘dark roof’ lobby may be making US cities hotter
As cities heat up, reflective roofs could lower energy bills and help the climate. But dark-roofing manufacturers are waging a quiet campaign to block new rules
www.theguardian.com
June 1, 2025 at 6:16 PM
How the little-known ‘dark roof’ lobby may be making US cities hotter
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Andrew Carnegie is turning over in his grave. The golden age of American Capitalism is collapsing at the helm of Trump and they’re celebrating.
This is globalisation in action and America is just becoming yet another destination of lower node value chain actors.
This is globalisation in action and America is just becoming yet another destination of lower node value chain actors.
June 1, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Andrew Carnegie is turning over in his grave. The golden age of American Capitalism is collapsing at the helm of Trump and they’re celebrating.
This is globalisation in action and America is just becoming yet another destination of lower node value chain actors.
This is globalisation in action and America is just becoming yet another destination of lower node value chain actors.
Rethinking Economic Development from the Household: Property, Resilience, and Institutional Adaptation in Rural China
developingeconomics.org/2025/05/28/r...
developingeconomics.org/2025/05/28/r...
developingeconomics.org
May 28, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Rethinking Economic Development from the Household: Property, Resilience, and Institutional Adaptation in Rural China
developingeconomics.org/2025/05/28/r...
developingeconomics.org/2025/05/28/r...
When Trump and his cronies said they wanted to bring back the good ol’ days we didn’t think he meant the 1800s.
May 28, 2025 at 5:44 PM
When Trump and his cronies said they wanted to bring back the good ol’ days we didn’t think he meant the 1800s.
Trump’s unfounded attack on Cyril Ramaphosa was an insult to all Africans | John Dramani Mahama
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Trump’s unfounded attack on Cyril Ramaphosa was an insult to all Africans | John Dramani Mahama
If we want to solve injustices in Africa today, we cannot forget the injustices that shaped our shared history, says Ghana’s president, John Dramani Mahama
www.theguardian.com
May 28, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Trump’s unfounded attack on Cyril Ramaphosa was an insult to all Africans | John Dramani Mahama
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
I always expected this day to come because well [capitalism], but am stuck in a quandary about what could possibly replace Arc given how well it works with my workflow | Mac browser Arc being discontinued in favor of new Dia app
9to5mac.com/2025/05/27/m...
9to5mac.com/2025/05/27/m...
Mac browser Arc being discontinued in favor of new Dia app - 9to5Mac
The Mac app Arc set out to re-invent the web browser as an “internet computer” app – something which felt...
9to5mac.com
May 27, 2025 at 6:58 PM
I always expected this day to come because well [capitalism], but am stuck in a quandary about what could possibly replace Arc given how well it works with my workflow | Mac browser Arc being discontinued in favor of new Dia app
9to5mac.com/2025/05/27/m...
9to5mac.com/2025/05/27/m...
A great selection of essays here |
What Trump Gets Wrong About South African History
foreignpolicy.com/2025/05/25/t...
What Trump Gets Wrong About South African History
foreignpolicy.com/2025/05/25/t...
What Trump Gets Wrong About South African History
A deep dive into the country’s efforts to address the legacies of apartheid.
foreignpolicy.com
May 25, 2025 at 7:13 PM
A great selection of essays here |
What Trump Gets Wrong About South African History
foreignpolicy.com/2025/05/25/t...
What Trump Gets Wrong About South African History
foreignpolicy.com/2025/05/25/t...
The same “Gold Standards” that denied actual science and thus contributed to the suffering the deaths of many Americans during COVID?
May 24, 2025 at 3:05 PM
The same “Gold Standards” that denied actual science and thus contributed to the suffering the deaths of many Americans during COVID?