Alasdair Smith
@alasdairmsmith.bsky.social
Trade economist at Sussex (UKTPO and CITP); ex-VC University of Sussex; member of Competition Appeal Tribunal. So I have views on trade, and higher education (also fiscal sustainability, and pensions), but no views on anything to do with competition.
US exited the network infrastructure market many years ago because of European development of GSM which became the global standard.
November 13, 2025 at 10:25 PM
US exited the network infrastructure market many years ago because of European development of GSM which became the global standard.
Suggestion: we made a mistake, we apologise most sincerely, we are willing to donate £100,000 to a US charity in recognition of any damage to the reputation of President Trump, and we will show his entire unedited Jan 6 speech in a special programme.
November 11, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Suggestion: we made a mistake, we apologise most sincerely, we are willing to donate £100,000 to a US charity in recognition of any damage to the reputation of President Trump, and we will show his entire unedited Jan 6 speech in a special programme.
I think many students paying £9k fees know how much they are subsidising something other than teaching.
November 11, 2025 at 6:00 PM
I think many students paying £9k fees know how much they are subsidising something other than teaching.
Sunak’s suit looks like it got soaked in the rain sometime.
November 9, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Sunak’s suit looks like it got soaked in the rain sometime.
By-to-let landlords withdraw after a change in tax treatment of interest, giving Lloyds a significant commercial advantage.
November 9, 2025 at 11:50 AM
By-to-let landlords withdraw after a change in tax treatment of interest, giving Lloyds a significant commercial advantage.
There’s a current in libertarian thinking that says voting is irrational. Heritage thinks extra half vote is an incentive to have children?
November 7, 2025 at 7:15 AM
There’s a current in libertarian thinking that says voting is irrational. Heritage thinks extra half vote is an incentive to have children?
and surely worth seeing Cromwell (T) and More together?
November 6, 2025 at 9:51 PM
and surely worth seeing Cromwell (T) and More together?
Also a compare and contrast with Kamala Harris - father a Marxian economist mother a bio-medical scientist from different ex-colonies; who didn’t campaign on the cost of living.
November 5, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Also a compare and contrast with Kamala Harris - father a Marxian economist mother a bio-medical scientist from different ex-colonies; who didn’t campaign on the cost of living.
But still outclassed by Ernie Bevin: if you open that Pandora’s box you don’t know what Trojan horses will jump out.
November 5, 2025 at 8:47 AM
But still outclassed by Ernie Bevin: if you open that Pandora’s box you don’t know what Trojan horses will jump out.
Interesting conversation when the consultants submit their bill?
October 19, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Interesting conversation when the consultants submit their bill?
Especially because Mises was in favour of open borders.
October 18, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Especially because Mises was in favour of open borders.
The racism casts doubt on whether the “libertarianism” is genuine.
October 18, 2025 at 11:04 AM
The racism casts doubt on whether the “libertarianism” is genuine.
My understanding is that most of the macro forecasting expertise remains in the Treasury.
October 18, 2025 at 10:03 AM
My understanding is that most of the macro forecasting expertise remains in the Treasury.
Best wishes for a less dramatic scenario than last time.
October 14, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Best wishes for a less dramatic scenario than last time.
(Apols for late response) To the NHS burden add the psychic cost to the infected individuals of having an infection severe enough to cause hospitalisation. (In principle, could be charged to individuals; but has to be in the cost-benefit calculation. Doubles the severe infection cost?)
October 9, 2025 at 7:40 PM
(Apols for late response) To the NHS burden add the psychic cost to the infected individuals of having an infection severe enough to cause hospitalisation. (In principle, could be charged to individuals; but has to be in the cost-benefit calculation. Doubles the severe infection cost?)
Was indeed an excellent lecture and discussion; also good to talk to you afterwards about the admirable Past, Present, Future podcast and its astonishing host.
October 8, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Was indeed an excellent lecture and discussion; also good to talk to you afterwards about the admirable Past, Present, Future podcast and its astonishing host.
And that favouring “research-intensive” universities encourages the cross-subsidy from student fees to research.
October 8, 2025 at 9:30 AM
And that favouring “research-intensive” universities encourages the cross-subsidy from student fees to research.
These were caps on numbers at institution level. New proposal seems more micro-managerial: course-level caps , from the party that used to trust the market.
October 8, 2025 at 7:37 AM
These were caps on numbers at institution level. New proposal seems more micro-managerial: course-level caps , from the party that used to trust the market.
We’re all looking forward to you meeting Trump in Stockholm.
October 6, 2025 at 8:26 PM
We’re all looking forward to you meeting Trump in Stockholm.
Resignation would mean she’d keep her title.
October 2, 2025 at 5:46 AM
Resignation would mean she’d keep her title.
Goes back to David Ricardo’s analysis of rent. (Same issue arises when individual developers want relaxation of conditions to make their development economic. If they knew relaxation was impossible, they’d have paid less for the site.)
September 29, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Goes back to David Ricardo’s analysis of rent. (Same issue arises when individual developers want relaxation of conditions to make their development economic. If they knew relaxation was impossible, they’d have paid less for the site.)
This will raise the price of development land and lead to no increase in housebuilding.
September 29, 2025 at 11:56 AM
This will raise the price of development land and lead to no increase in housebuilding.
Worth noting that Govia Thameslink is not a franchise. It manages a publicly owned service. So the ‘nationalisation’ is a modest change in service delivery.
September 27, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Worth noting that Govia Thameslink is not a franchise. It manages a publicly owned service. So the ‘nationalisation’ is a modest change in service delivery.