Niko Jaakkola
@nikoecon.bsky.social
Associate Prof, Uni Bologna, Economics of climate & natural resources. Tweeting also as citizen, 🇫🇮/🇪🇺 and as resident 🇮🇹. Views are mine, most likely borrowed from somewhere.
Suomeksi @nikoekon.bsky.social
https://sites.google.com/view/jaakkola
Suomeksi @nikoekon.bsky.social
https://sites.google.com/view/jaakkola
Pinned
Niko Jaakkola
@nikoecon.bsky.social
· Nov 23
“Big Push” Green Industrial Policy
Carbon pricing is a central part of climate policy, but is politically difficult while the economy is still reliant on fossil fuels
The long-lived green investments required to break the carbon lock-...
www.cesifo.org
I wrote a policy piece for the EconPol Forum, together with Rick van der Ploeg and Tony Venables. We argue that decisive 'big push' green industrial policy is needed to convince firms & households that, without a doubt, the green transition is going to happen. 1/N
Reposted by Niko Jaakkola
Always been the major flaw in this theory. "Anywheres" might be more "cosmpolitan" but they still have a community orienation. I live in a very "anywhere-y" place but there's plenty of school fetes and local book groups.
A thought: what's happening in the US shows that the somewheres/anywheres thing is bollocks. Most of the people mobilising, Goodhart would call Anywheres. And they're mobilising specifically to protect their neighbours and their neighbourhoods.
January 27, 2026 at 4:14 PM
Always been the major flaw in this theory. "Anywheres" might be more "cosmpolitan" but they still have a community orienation. I live in a very "anywhere-y" place but there's plenty of school fetes and local book groups.
Reposted by Niko Jaakkola
This actually has less to do with the current administration but more to do with crumbling defense and maritime industrial bases. The US couldn’t surge support a world war even if it wanted to. Even if it could, it couldn’t get that stuff to Europe at the necessary scale.
January 27, 2026 at 1:02 PM
This actually has less to do with the current administration but more to do with crumbling defense and maritime industrial bases. The US couldn’t surge support a world war even if it wanted to. Even if it could, it couldn’t get that stuff to Europe at the necessary scale.
Reposted by Niko Jaakkola
Saying that Europe cannot defend itself is not only wrong -- of course Europe has the capacity to hold off a Russian invasion -- it is also strategically dumb as it undermines _beliefs_ in our capacity thus increasing the risk of an attack.
Rutte is starting to be a real liability.
Rutte is starting to be a real liability.
NATO Secretary General Rutte:
If anyone thinks that the European Union, or Europe as a whole, can defend itself without the US, keep on dreaming. You can't. We can't.
We need each other
If anyone thinks that the European Union, or Europe as a whole, can defend itself without the US, keep on dreaming. You can't. We can't.
We need each other
January 27, 2026 at 7:41 AM
Saying that Europe cannot defend itself is not only wrong -- of course Europe has the capacity to hold off a Russian invasion -- it is also strategically dumb as it undermines _beliefs_ in our capacity thus increasing the risk of an attack.
Rutte is starting to be a real liability.
Rutte is starting to be a real liability.
Reposted by Niko Jaakkola
🚨🚨 #NATO SG Mark #Rutte is to my mind massively undermining European #unity and efforts to build up their #defence and #security in what I see as a statement which only plays in the hands of #Putin and #Trump. 🧵https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-defense-nato-mark-rutte-us-politics-threats-gdp/
Europe can’t defend itself without the US, NATO’s Rutte warns
The EU should stop dreaming of creating a European pillar for NATO and continue to build ties with the U.S. despite Trump, the alliance secretary-general said.
www.politico.eu
January 27, 2026 at 7:43 AM
Reposted by Niko Jaakkola
UK cinemas being paid to play Amazon's pro-Trump propaganda film to near empty rooms
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
January 27, 2026 at 6:59 AM
UK cinemas being paid to play Amazon's pro-Trump propaganda film to near empty rooms
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Reposted by Niko Jaakkola
What!? A very counterproductive argument by Mark Rutte. Yes, let's hope we have the backing of the US & access to their fancy capabilities in a future security contingency. But it was -- what, ten days ago? -- that we were flying Danish troops to Greenland to act as a tripwire -- to deter the US! 1/
“If anyone thinks here… that the European Union or Europe as a whole can defend itself without the US, keep on dreaming,” Nato SecGen Mark Rutte told the European Parliament. “You can’t.”
“It will make things more complicated. I think Putin will love it. So think again.”
as.ft.com/r/25718b02-2...
“It will make things more complicated. I think Putin will love it. So think again.”
as.ft.com/r/25718b02-2...
Europe must stop ‘dreaming’ about defence without US, Rutte warns
[FREE TO READ] Nato chief says continent cannot afford to replace American security umbrella
as.ft.com
January 26, 2026 at 7:37 PM
What!? A very counterproductive argument by Mark Rutte. Yes, let's hope we have the backing of the US & access to their fancy capabilities in a future security contingency. But it was -- what, ten days ago? -- that we were flying Danish troops to Greenland to act as a tripwire -- to deter the US! 1/
Reposted by Niko Jaakkola
Okay, so this is an authoritarian playbook trick, once the evidence is overwhelming say everyone needs to wait for the official investigation then either fix it or attack it when its completed. Same shit Russian pulled with MH17 and chemical attacks in Syria, very predictable.
Reporter: Will Stephen Miller be apologizing to the family of Alex Pretti for calling him an assassin?
Leavitt: This incident remains under investigation.
Leavitt: This incident remains under investigation.
January 26, 2026 at 8:26 PM
Okay, so this is an authoritarian playbook trick, once the evidence is overwhelming say everyone needs to wait for the official investigation then either fix it or attack it when its completed. Same shit Russian pulled with MH17 and chemical attacks in Syria, very predictable.
Reposted by Niko Jaakkola
The public pressure on the Trump regime is working. Here he is trying to say he's working with Tim Walz
They must have private polling that is absolutely horrible.
The people of Minnesota are doing this. Thank you for your courage!
They must have private polling that is absolutely horrible.
The people of Minnesota are doing this. Thank you for your courage!
January 26, 2026 at 7:36 PM
The public pressure on the Trump regime is working. Here he is trying to say he's working with Tim Walz
They must have private polling that is absolutely horrible.
The people of Minnesota are doing this. Thank you for your courage!
They must have private polling that is absolutely horrible.
The people of Minnesota are doing this. Thank you for your courage!
Reposted by Niko Jaakkola
Long live India.
Long live the friendship between Europe and India.
🇪🇺🇮🇳
Long live the friendship between Europe and India.
🇪🇺🇮🇳
January 26, 2026 at 5:19 PM
Long live India.
Long live the friendship between Europe and India.
🇪🇺🇮🇳
Long live the friendship between Europe and India.
🇪🇺🇮🇳
Reposted by Niko Jaakkola
Please. This is absurd. Europe can certainly deter Russia and defend itself if its focused and determined. Perpetuating a sense of European helplessness may help Rutte bureaucratically but its 1. wrong 2. prevents action. 3. willfully blind: the US ain't coming to defend Europe.
“If anyone thinks here… that the European Union or Europe as a whole can defend itself without the US, keep on dreaming,” Nato SecGen Mark Rutte told the European Parliament. “You can’t.”
“It will make things more complicated. I think Putin will love it. So think again.”
as.ft.com/r/25718b02-2...
“It will make things more complicated. I think Putin will love it. So think again.”
as.ft.com/r/25718b02-2...
Europe must stop ‘dreaming’ about defence without US, Rutte warns
[FREE TO READ] Nato chief says continent cannot afford to replace American security umbrella
as.ft.com
January 26, 2026 at 7:49 PM
Please. This is absurd. Europe can certainly deter Russia and defend itself if its focused and determined. Perpetuating a sense of European helplessness may help Rutte bureaucratically but its 1. wrong 2. prevents action. 3. willfully blind: the US ain't coming to defend Europe.
Reposted by Niko Jaakkola
minneapolis is a warning sign.
how the system responds now
will say a lot about the future of us democracy.
@gzeromedia.com
how the system responds now
will say a lot about the future of us democracy.
@gzeromedia.com
ICE in Minneapolis | Ian Bremmer's Quick Take
YouTube video by GZERO Media
youtube.com
January 26, 2026 at 8:46 PM
minneapolis is a warning sign.
how the system responds now
will say a lot about the future of us democracy.
@gzeromedia.com
how the system responds now
will say a lot about the future of us democracy.
@gzeromedia.com
Wake up babe, new mondegreen just dropped
Now I want to know which CNN reporter or producer doesn't know the word "sycophant."
January 26, 2026 at 8:46 PM
Wake up babe, new mondegreen just dropped
Reposted by Niko Jaakkola
Yeah I mean the sound advice for Tokyo remains to commit yourselves in earnest, but it's still crazy that the allies are doing all this heavy lifting when basically every strategic action and statement since last year has pointed to a massive US selling-out at the first opportunity
Alliance with US would 'collapse' if Japan fled a Taiwan crisis: Takaichi
https://asia.nikkei.com/politics/international-relations/taiwan-tensions/alliance-with-us-would-collapse-if-japan-fled-a-taiwan-crisis-takaichi
https://asia.nikkei.com/politics/international-relations/taiwan-tensions/alliance-with-us-would-collapse-if-japan-fled-a-taiwan-crisis-takaichi
Alliance with US would 'collapse' if Japan fled a Taiwan crisis: Takaichi
Japanese PM refers to possibility of joint operation to evacuate citizens
asia.nikkei.com
January 26, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Yeah I mean the sound advice for Tokyo remains to commit yourselves in earnest, but it's still crazy that the allies are doing all this heavy lifting when basically every strategic action and statement since last year has pointed to a massive US selling-out at the first opportunity
👀
Sympa la version londonienne des p'tits poèmes du métro
January 26, 2026 at 7:44 PM
👀
I didn't realise "Democracy dies in darkness" was the strategy.
Why is the Washington Post in trouble?
Because its megabillionaire owner intervened to make its editorial stance regime-compliant. Readers lost trust. They canceled subscriptions.
The megabillionaire owner's response is not to correct this, but to gut its true strength, its reporting staff.
Because its megabillionaire owner intervened to make its editorial stance regime-compliant. Readers lost trust. They canceled subscriptions.
The megabillionaire owner's response is not to correct this, but to gut its true strength, its reporting staff.
January 26, 2026 at 7:42 PM
I didn't realise "Democracy dies in darkness" was the strategy.
What!? A very counterproductive argument by Mark Rutte. Yes, let's hope we have the backing of the US & access to their fancy capabilities in a future security contingency. But it was -- what, ten days ago? -- that we were flying Danish troops to Greenland to act as a tripwire -- to deter the US! 1/
“If anyone thinks here… that the European Union or Europe as a whole can defend itself without the US, keep on dreaming,” Nato SecGen Mark Rutte told the European Parliament. “You can’t.”
“It will make things more complicated. I think Putin will love it. So think again.”
as.ft.com/r/25718b02-2...
“It will make things more complicated. I think Putin will love it. So think again.”
as.ft.com/r/25718b02-2...
Europe must stop ‘dreaming’ about defence without US, Rutte warns
[FREE TO READ] Nato chief says continent cannot afford to replace American security umbrella
as.ft.com
January 26, 2026 at 7:37 PM
What!? A very counterproductive argument by Mark Rutte. Yes, let's hope we have the backing of the US & access to their fancy capabilities in a future security contingency. But it was -- what, ten days ago? -- that we were flying Danish troops to Greenland to act as a tripwire -- to deter the US! 1/
Reposted by Niko Jaakkola
Farage claims Trump never meant to insult British troops, and ICE victim in Minneapolis shouldn't have been there with gun - www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
January 26, 2026 at 4:17 PM
Farage claims Trump never meant to insult British troops, and ICE victim in Minneapolis shouldn't have been there with gun - www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
Reposted by Niko Jaakkola
This is a good headline
January 26, 2026 at 11:24 AM
This is a good headline
Reposted by Niko Jaakkola
"People in Tehran, including officials, say the real death toll may approach 20,000. In 1989 China’s leaders survived mass protests by killing thousands near Tiananmen Square. Iran appears to have followed that script." www.economist.com/middle-east-...
After Iran’s massacres, tensions grow inside the regime
Even as dissidents rally, rivalries may stymie their efforts
www.economist.com
January 26, 2026 at 11:32 AM
"People in Tehran, including officials, say the real death toll may approach 20,000. In 1989 China’s leaders survived mass protests by killing thousands near Tiananmen Square. Iran appears to have followed that script." www.economist.com/middle-east-...
Reposted by Niko Jaakkola
»...any illusions about an eternal American willingness to sacrifice itself for Europe are gone forever ... Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden ought to consider how to provide for their own nuclear protection.«
Is it Time for a Nordic Nuke?
Moscow’s “Oreshnik” strike on January 9, 2026 is best understood as strategic signaling designed to shape what NATO will and will not do. Russia’s use of
warontherocks.com
January 26, 2026 at 8:38 AM
»...any illusions about an eternal American willingness to sacrifice itself for Europe are gone forever ... Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden ought to consider how to provide for their own nuclear protection.«
Reposted by Niko Jaakkola
Two images taken 85 years apart on different continents, but the similarities are unmistakable.
BTW: The murderer in the picture on the right was eventually identified in 2025. Let's hope it does not take 84 years to identify the fascist on the left.
BTW: The murderer in the picture on the right was eventually identified in 2025. Let's hope it does not take 84 years to identify the fascist on the left.
January 26, 2026 at 6:26 AM
Two images taken 85 years apart on different continents, but the similarities are unmistakable.
BTW: The murderer in the picture on the right was eventually identified in 2025. Let's hope it does not take 84 years to identify the fascist on the left.
BTW: The murderer in the picture on the right was eventually identified in 2025. Let's hope it does not take 84 years to identify the fascist on the left.
@martinsandbu.ft.com is correct: for middle powers to cooperate vis-a-vis the superpowers, institutions and shared values are required -- and the EU is the only large enough actor around which such an alliance can coalesce. But this means the EU itself needs to get behind a fair rules-based order.
Middle powers may miss the global order more than they think
Even if you are not interested in the superpowers, they will sooner or later be interested in you
www.ft.com
January 26, 2026 at 6:35 AM
@martinsandbu.ft.com is correct: for middle powers to cooperate vis-a-vis the superpowers, institutions and shared values are required -- and the EU is the only large enough actor around which such an alliance can coalesce. But this means the EU itself needs to get behind a fair rules-based order.
Reposted by Niko Jaakkola
Foege and others devised the strategy that ended smallpox.
Smallpox is no longer a disease that people get.
We were close to that condition with polio. Global unrest and the powerful ignorance of the US government will change that.
Smallpox is no longer a disease that people get.
We were close to that condition with polio. Global unrest and the powerful ignorance of the US government will change that.
William Herbert Foege .... you should know him: one of the foremost persons responsible for eradicating smallpox. He died yesterday, January 24, 2026 ..... the day the USA pulled out of the WHO. It is all so terrible sad and stupid.
www.nytimes.com/2026...
1/3
www.nytimes.com/2026...
1/3
William H. Foege, Key Figure in the Eradication of Smallpox, Dies at 89
His containment strategy helped wipe out the disease in the 1970s, one of the world’s greatest public health triumphs. He also led the C.D.C. and promoted childhood vaccination worldwide.
www.nytimes.com
January 25, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Foege and others devised the strategy that ended smallpox.
Smallpox is no longer a disease that people get.
We were close to that condition with polio. Global unrest and the powerful ignorance of the US government will change that.
Smallpox is no longer a disease that people get.
We were close to that condition with polio. Global unrest and the powerful ignorance of the US government will change that.
Reposted by Niko Jaakkola
“Wearing helmets, gas masks and camouflage fatigues, the federal agents took aim and prepared to open fire. “It’s like Call of Duty,” one could be heard saying via a TV mic, referring to a first-person shooter military video game. “So cool, huh?””
‘This is what fascism looks like’: terror in Minneapolis reminiscent of civil war
‘This is what fascism looks like’: terror in Minneapolis reminiscent of civil war
Alex Pretti’s death could be a moment of reckoning for Democrats to call time on Trump waging war on his people
www.theguardian.com
January 25, 2026 at 11:53 AM
“Wearing helmets, gas masks and camouflage fatigues, the federal agents took aim and prepared to open fire. “It’s like Call of Duty,” one could be heard saying via a TV mic, referring to a first-person shooter military video game. “So cool, huh?””