Thomas Sampson
@thomsampson.bsky.social
International Trade. Brexit.
Associate Professor, LSE Economics.
Associate Professor, LSE Economics.
Reposted by Thomas Sampson
“Nobody thought a Labour government would have to raise taxes by more than £70bn,” claims one insider in this excellent piece. Shows the problem of the climate of fear in meetings created by some of Starmer’s aides, in that plenty of Labour insiders, did, in fact, think this!
The politics of breaking manifesto promises
The history of politicians who go back on their words has lessons for Rachel Reeves as she mulls raising taxes
www.ft.com
November 8, 2025 at 10:32 AM
“Nobody thought a Labour government would have to raise taxes by more than £70bn,” claims one insider in this excellent piece. Shows the problem of the climate of fear in meetings created by some of Starmer’s aides, in that plenty of Labour insiders, did, in fact, think this!
Reposted by Thomas Sampson
How ever since Labour came to power, the British media has started to notice a whole series of problems they spent the previous 14 years completely ignoring
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-great-...
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-great-...
The 'Great Noticing' Era
Ever since Labour came to power, the British media has started to notice a whole series of problems they spent the previous 14 years completely ignoring
www.adambienkov.co.uk
November 8, 2025 at 12:23 PM
How ever since Labour came to power, the British media has started to notice a whole series of problems they spent the previous 14 years completely ignoring
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-great-...
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-great-...
Reposted by Thomas Sampson
I organized an economist amicus brief in the IEEPA tariffs case the Supreme Court will soon hear.
You can find the full brief here: www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24...
You can find the full brief here: www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24...
October 25, 2025 at 12:27 AM
I organized an economist amicus brief in the IEEPA tariffs case the Supreme Court will soon hear.
You can find the full brief here: www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24...
You can find the full brief here: www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24...
Reposted by Thomas Sampson
Big update to our US Tariffs Paper:
📦 Pass-through ≈20% (using applied tariff rates, accounting for exemptions)
💸 “Cheapflation”: cheaper goods within categories saw 2× higher inflation
📈 Cumulative CPI impact: +0.7 percentage points
More details www.pricinglab.org/files/Track...
📦 Pass-through ≈20% (using applied tariff rates, accounting for exemptions)
💸 “Cheapflation”: cheaper goods within categories saw 2× higher inflation
📈 Cumulative CPI impact: +0.7 percentage points
More details www.pricinglab.org/files/Track...
October 28, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Big update to our US Tariffs Paper:
📦 Pass-through ≈20% (using applied tariff rates, accounting for exemptions)
💸 “Cheapflation”: cheaper goods within categories saw 2× higher inflation
📈 Cumulative CPI impact: +0.7 percentage points
More details www.pricinglab.org/files/Track...
📦 Pass-through ≈20% (using applied tariff rates, accounting for exemptions)
💸 “Cheapflation”: cheaper goods within categories saw 2× higher inflation
📈 Cumulative CPI impact: +0.7 percentage points
More details www.pricinglab.org/files/Track...
Reposted by Thomas Sampson
The cost of international treaties and conventions is curbed national discretion. The benefits are co-operation, often in fields completely separate to the agreement at hand. Only arguing about the costs of the ECHR is like divorcing your wife for not doing the washing up.
October 18, 2025 at 8:12 AM
The cost of international treaties and conventions is curbed national discretion. The benefits are co-operation, often in fields completely separate to the agreement at hand. Only arguing about the costs of the ECHR is like divorcing your wife for not doing the washing up.
Reposted by Thomas Sampson
💭 "A landmark publication”
💭 "The roadmap we need to build more inclusive and resilient economies"
The London Consensus is out now #OpenAccess and is free to read and download from the LSE Press website.
Access here: 🖇️ doi.org/10.31389/lse...
@lsepublicpolicy.bsky.social @gsos-lse.bsky.social
💭 "The roadmap we need to build more inclusive and resilient economies"
The London Consensus is out now #OpenAccess and is free to read and download from the LSE Press website.
Access here: 🖇️ doi.org/10.31389/lse...
@lsepublicpolicy.bsky.social @gsos-lse.bsky.social
October 16, 2025 at 10:57 AM
💭 "A landmark publication”
💭 "The roadmap we need to build more inclusive and resilient economies"
The London Consensus is out now #OpenAccess and is free to read and download from the LSE Press website.
Access here: 🖇️ doi.org/10.31389/lse...
@lsepublicpolicy.bsky.social @gsos-lse.bsky.social
💭 "The roadmap we need to build more inclusive and resilient economies"
The London Consensus is out now #OpenAccess and is free to read and download from the LSE Press website.
Access here: 🖇️ doi.org/10.31389/lse...
@lsepublicpolicy.bsky.social @gsos-lse.bsky.social
Reposted by Thomas Sampson
There is no need for a moral panic about the UK's welfare system.
Far from perfect but recent discourse is nuts
Spending is controlled, not spiralling
Worklessness is near record lows
My column www.ft.com/content/ee67...
Far from perfect but recent discourse is nuts
Spending is controlled, not spiralling
Worklessness is near record lows
My column www.ft.com/content/ee67...
October 15, 2025 at 12:35 PM
There is no need for a moral panic about the UK's welfare system.
Far from perfect but recent discourse is nuts
Spending is controlled, not spiralling
Worklessness is near record lows
My column www.ft.com/content/ee67...
Far from perfect but recent discourse is nuts
Spending is controlled, not spiralling
Worklessness is near record lows
My column www.ft.com/content/ee67...
Reposted by Thomas Sampson
Huge congratulations to Philippe Aghion, Peter Howitt and Joel Mokyr, on being awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences!
www.nobelprize.org
www.nobelprize.org
The official website of the Nobel Prize - NobelPrize.org
The Nobel Prize rewards science, humanism and peace efforts. This is one of the central concepts in the will of Alfred Nobel, and it also permeates the outreach activities that have been developed for...
www.nobelprize.org
October 13, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Huge congratulations to Philippe Aghion, Peter Howitt and Joel Mokyr, on being awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences!
www.nobelprize.org
www.nobelprize.org
Reposted by Thomas Sampson
Has there been a more successful EU policy than enlargement?
🇵🇱 My @thetimes column: Poland’s economic miracle
12 out of 17 Polish regions are now richer than West Wales. It has faster internet, cheaper electricity and more high speed rail than Britain
When it comes to regional development it’s the UK, not Poland, that needs to catch up
1/3
12 out of 17 Polish regions are now richer than West Wales. It has faster internet, cheaper electricity and more high speed rail than Britain
When it comes to regional development it’s the UK, not Poland, that needs to catch up
1/3
October 12, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Has there been a more successful EU policy than enlargement?
Reposted by Thomas Sampson
I am delighted to share that Nobel laureates Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee will join our Department of Economics @econ.uzh.ch at the University of Zurich on July 1, 2026, as Lemann Foundation Professors of Economics.
🧵 1/7
🧵 1/7
October 10, 2025 at 9:01 AM
I am delighted to share that Nobel laureates Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee will join our Department of Economics @econ.uzh.ch at the University of Zurich on July 1, 2026, as Lemann Foundation Professors of Economics.
🧵 1/7
🧵 1/7
Reposted by Thomas Sampson
Wilful ignorance of how trade and migration actually work in a globalised economy.
The idea that the (short and long-term) movement of people -especially between India and the UK - has nothing to do with trade and investment is (obviously) wrong.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The idea that the (short and long-term) movement of people -especially between India and the UK - has nothing to do with trade and investment is (obviously) wrong.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
October 8, 2025 at 6:27 AM
Wilful ignorance of how trade and migration actually work in a globalised economy.
The idea that the (short and long-term) movement of people -especially between India and the UK - has nothing to do with trade and investment is (obviously) wrong.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The idea that the (short and long-term) movement of people -especially between India and the UK - has nothing to do with trade and investment is (obviously) wrong.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Thomas Sampson
Congratulations to CAGE Impact Director @dennisnovy.bsky.social on his appointment to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office as the lead economic adviser to the Foreign Secretary on the UK’s foreign and international development policy.
Dennis Novy becomes lead economic advisor to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Congratulations to CAGE Impact Director, Dennis Novy who has been appointed as Chief Economist and Director of Analysis at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
buff.ly
October 3, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Congratulations to CAGE Impact Director @dennisnovy.bsky.social on his appointment to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office as the lead economic adviser to the Foreign Secretary on the UK’s foreign and international development policy.
Reposted by Thomas Sampson
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), established by US President Clinton in 2000, expired yesterday at midnight. For 32 African countries, (even more) uncertainty now looms over #tariffs, exports, and jobs.
abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory...
abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory...
Thousands of jobs at risk in Africa as US trade deal expires
A major US-Africa trade deal, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), will terminate as scheduled on Tuesday, ending duty-free access to U.S. markets for thousands of African products
abcnews.go.com
October 1, 2025 at 7:57 AM
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), established by US President Clinton in 2000, expired yesterday at midnight. For 32 African countries, (even more) uncertainty now looms over #tariffs, exports, and jobs.
abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory...
abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory...
Well I for one welcome immigration to the UK and am grateful for everything immigrants have contributed to our culture, society and economy. Not a novel thought, but feels like it needs reiterating this morning.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_35...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_35...
The Hamilton Mixtape: Immigrants (We Get The Job Done)
YouTube video by Hamilton
www.youtube.com
September 26, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Well I for one welcome immigration to the UK and am grateful for everything immigrants have contributed to our culture, society and economy. Not a novel thought, but feels like it needs reiterating this morning.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_35...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_35...
Reposted by Thomas Sampson
Legal migration 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬 the UK, ensures we can 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲, 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 properly and strengthen our power overseas.
Feel it is important to reshare my speech on immigration today.
Watch in full here: youtube.com/watch?v=TnEV...
Feel it is important to reshare my speech on immigration today.
Watch in full here: youtube.com/watch?v=TnEV...
September 26, 2025 at 6:51 AM
Legal migration 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬 the UK, ensures we can 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲, 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 properly and strengthen our power overseas.
Feel it is important to reshare my speech on immigration today.
Watch in full here: youtube.com/watch?v=TnEV...
Feel it is important to reshare my speech on immigration today.
Watch in full here: youtube.com/watch?v=TnEV...
Reposted by Thomas Sampson
The most useful UK intervention is to Make X Lawful Again on all fronts.
Both Ofcom (illegal content) and the EHRC (the platform's proactive defence of unlawful abuse & harassment - racism & rape threats - in breach of Equality Act duties) need to intervene on their core responsibilities
Both Ofcom (illegal content) and the EHRC (the platform's proactive defence of unlawful abuse & harassment - racism & rape threats - in breach of Equality Act duties) need to intervene on their core responsibilities
Elon Musk is no friend of our United Kingdom. He should be held to account for allowing truly vile and illegal child abuse content on his platform.
September 21, 2025 at 1:03 PM
The most useful UK intervention is to Make X Lawful Again on all fronts.
Both Ofcom (illegal content) and the EHRC (the platform's proactive defence of unlawful abuse & harassment - racism & rape threats - in breach of Equality Act duties) need to intervene on their core responsibilities
Both Ofcom (illegal content) and the EHRC (the platform's proactive defence of unlawful abuse & harassment - racism & rape threats - in breach of Equality Act duties) need to intervene on their core responsibilities
Reposted by Thomas Sampson
"This impressive and stimulating book features a powerhouse line-up of authors.” — Jeffrey Frankel, Professor, @harvardeducation.bsky.social
The London Consensus is out #OpenAccess 16th October.
🖇️ http://doi.org/10.31389/lsepress.tlc @lsepublicpolicy.bsky.social @lse-sticerd-case.bsky.social
The London Consensus is out #OpenAccess 16th October.
🖇️ http://doi.org/10.31389/lsepress.tlc @lsepublicpolicy.bsky.social @lse-sticerd-case.bsky.social
September 18, 2025 at 12:20 PM
"This impressive and stimulating book features a powerhouse line-up of authors.” — Jeffrey Frankel, Professor, @harvardeducation.bsky.social
The London Consensus is out #OpenAccess 16th October.
🖇️ http://doi.org/10.31389/lsepress.tlc @lsepublicpolicy.bsky.social @lse-sticerd-case.bsky.social
The London Consensus is out #OpenAccess 16th October.
🖇️ http://doi.org/10.31389/lsepress.tlc @lsepublicpolicy.bsky.social @lse-sticerd-case.bsky.social
Reposted by Thomas Sampson
Shame on Downing Street for going along with this. So much for being committed to a free press
September 18, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Shame on Downing Street for going along with this. So much for being committed to a free press
Reposted by Thomas Sampson
Excited to see the new Handbook of Regional and Urban Economics (Volume 6), edited jointly with Dave Donaldson come out: www.sciencedirect.com/handbook/han.... Fantastic set of chapters on recent advances and pointing the way to exciting further research @treballen.bsky.social @siepr.bsky.social
Handbook of Regional and Urban Economics | Volume 6, Issue 1: Handbook of Regional and Urban Economics | ScienceDirect.com by Elsevier
Read the latest chapters of Handbook of Regional and Urban Economics at ScienceDirect.com, Elsevier’s leading platform of peer-reviewed scholarly literature
www.sciencedirect.com
September 17, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Excited to see the new Handbook of Regional and Urban Economics (Volume 6), edited jointly with Dave Donaldson come out: www.sciencedirect.com/handbook/han.... Fantastic set of chapters on recent advances and pointing the way to exciting further research @treballen.bsky.social @siepr.bsky.social
Reposted by Thomas Sampson
Works in Progress is now available as a print magazine. I think it's the most beautiful and readable magazine I've ever seen.
Subscribe today for $100/£75 to receive six beautiful, 120-page issues a year.
worksinprogress.co/print
Subscribe today for $100/£75 to receive six beautiful, 120-page issues a year.
worksinprogress.co/print
Print - Works in Progress Magazine
worksinprogress.co
September 17, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Works in Progress is now available as a print magazine. I think it's the most beautiful and readable magazine I've ever seen.
Subscribe today for $100/£75 to receive six beautiful, 120-page issues a year.
worksinprogress.co/print
Subscribe today for $100/£75 to receive six beautiful, 120-page issues a year.
worksinprogress.co/print
Reposted by Thomas Sampson
*** NEW RESEARCH ALERT ***
How do firms respond in the face of increased restrictions to hiring skilled immigrant workers?
[THREAD]
How do firms respond in the face of increased restrictions to hiring skilled immigrant workers?
[THREAD]
September 15, 2025 at 1:02 PM
*** NEW RESEARCH ALERT ***
How do firms respond in the face of increased restrictions to hiring skilled immigrant workers?
[THREAD]
How do firms respond in the face of increased restrictions to hiring skilled immigrant workers?
[THREAD]
Reposted by Thomas Sampson
Personal note: went to (some) of the countermarch yesterday, and then watched TV coverage of both.
@sundersays.bsky.social is right that the far-right/racists on the main march are a (small) minority whose numbers are not growing.
It's the apparent paralysis of the majority that scares me. [1/n]
@sundersays.bsky.social is right that the far-right/racists on the main march are a (small) minority whose numbers are not growing.
It's the apparent paralysis of the majority that scares me. [1/n]
September 14, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Personal note: went to (some) of the countermarch yesterday, and then watched TV coverage of both.
@sundersays.bsky.social is right that the far-right/racists on the main march are a (small) minority whose numbers are not growing.
It's the apparent paralysis of the majority that scares me. [1/n]
@sundersays.bsky.social is right that the far-right/racists on the main march are a (small) minority whose numbers are not growing.
It's the apparent paralysis of the majority that scares me. [1/n]
Reposted by Thomas Sampson
The problem is that ‘this is not who we are’ is coming to feel a little empirically unconvincing. It might help if the PM actually stood up and made the case for a liberal, tolerant and inclusive country.
It didn't work out for me in the race to be deputy leader, but given events today, am sharing this again.
We in Labour are uniquely placed to bring our diverse country together against the forces of hate. When we stand up for each other, we all win.
labourlist.org/2025/09/alis...
We in Labour are uniquely placed to bring our diverse country together against the forces of hate. When we stand up for each other, we all win.
labourlist.org/2025/09/alis...
'We win when we fight together – that's the story Labour needs to tell' - LabourList
We can never give in to the forces that would divide us and send us backwards. The answer is the Labour winning over a broad coalition for our future.
labourlist.org
September 14, 2025 at 8:42 AM
The problem is that ‘this is not who we are’ is coming to feel a little empirically unconvincing. It might help if the PM actually stood up and made the case for a liberal, tolerant and inclusive country.
That the UK government continues to post on X is not only a moral failure, but strategically incompetent.
As is not blocking foreign funding of UK politics
As is not blocking foreign funding of UK politics
Elon Musk spoke by video to Tommy Robinson's anti-immigrant rally in the UK today.
"You're in a fundamental situation here where, whether you choose violence or not, violence is coming to you," said Musk. "You either fight back or you die."
"You're in a fundamental situation here where, whether you choose violence or not, violence is coming to you," said Musk. "You either fight back or you die."
September 14, 2025 at 8:10 AM
That the UK government continues to post on X is not only a moral failure, but strategically incompetent.
As is not blocking foreign funding of UK politics
As is not blocking foreign funding of UK politics