Blair Fix
@blairfix.bsky.social
Political economist. Blogger. Scientist. Editor of the Review of Capital as Power.
Support my research here: https://economicsfromthetopdown.com/membership/
Support my research here: https://economicsfromthetopdown.com/membership/
2+2=5, says the White House. George Orwell rolls in his grave.
September 7, 2025 at 9:43 PM
2+2=5, says the White House. George Orwell rolls in his grave.
Did the Soviet Union lose the Cold War? In some ways yes, since it ultimately collapsed.
That said, for most of the Cold War, the Soviet regime gained ground relative to the United States. Here's the energy picture.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/05/13/t...
That said, for most of the Cold War, the Soviet regime gained ground relative to the United States. Here's the energy picture.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/05/13/t...
May 28, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Did the Soviet Union lose the Cold War? In some ways yes, since it ultimately collapsed.
That said, for most of the Cold War, the Soviet regime gained ground relative to the United States. Here's the energy picture.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/05/13/t...
That said, for most of the Cold War, the Soviet regime gained ground relative to the United States. Here's the energy picture.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/05/13/t...
In hindsight, the Cold War wasn't a competition between two superpowers. It was a battle between a dominant empire and an emerging competitor.
Here's the energy picture.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/05/13/t...
Here's the energy picture.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/05/13/t...
May 26, 2025 at 5:21 PM
In hindsight, the Cold War wasn't a competition between two superpowers. It was a battle between a dominant empire and an emerging competitor.
Here's the energy picture.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/05/13/t...
Here's the energy picture.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/05/13/t...
Here's the rise and fall of the Soviet Union, measured in terms of its share of world energy use.
It's an interesting example of empire creation/collapse, punctuated on both ends by revolution.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/05/13/t...
It's an interesting example of empire creation/collapse, punctuated on both ends by revolution.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/05/13/t...
May 14, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Here's the rise and fall of the Soviet Union, measured in terms of its share of world energy use.
It's an interesting example of empire creation/collapse, punctuated on both ends by revolution.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/05/13/t...
It's an interesting example of empire creation/collapse, punctuated on both ends by revolution.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/05/13/t...
I see that Trump has utterly capitulated on his China tariffs. Perhaps this pattern has something to do with it.
Trump talks tough, but China has all the cards.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/05/04/t...
Trump talks tough, but China has all the cards.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/05/04/t...
May 12, 2025 at 4:26 PM
I see that Trump has utterly capitulated on his China tariffs. Perhaps this pattern has something to do with it.
Trump talks tough, but China has all the cards.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/05/04/t...
Trump talks tough, but China has all the cards.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/05/04/t...
To what extent do politicians have a say over the rise and fall of empires?
The rhyme between US and British history suggests limits to political agency, at least via liberal democracy. (Revolutions, of course, are a different matter.)
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/05/04/t...
The rhyme between US and British history suggests limits to political agency, at least via liberal democracy. (Revolutions, of course, are a different matter.)
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/05/04/t...
May 9, 2025 at 9:05 PM
To what extent do politicians have a say over the rise and fall of empires?
The rhyme between US and British history suggests limits to political agency, at least via liberal democracy. (Revolutions, of course, are a different matter.)
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/05/04/t...
The rhyme between US and British history suggests limits to political agency, at least via liberal democracy. (Revolutions, of course, are a different matter.)
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/05/04/t...
The rise and fall of the US empire, as written in the US share of world energy consumption.
The empire's 'half life' lasted from 1889 to 2008.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/05/04/t...
The empire's 'half life' lasted from 1889 to 2008.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/05/04/t...
May 8, 2025 at 5:15 PM
The rise and fall of the US empire, as written in the US share of world energy consumption.
The empire's 'half life' lasted from 1889 to 2008.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/05/04/t...
The empire's 'half life' lasted from 1889 to 2008.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/05/04/t...
Some historical context to talk about 'political imprisonment'.
Here's a chart showing the number of *political crime convictions* in the Soviet Union. Dark grey is the number of death sentences, which peaked at 350,000 in 1937!
press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
Here's a chart showing the number of *political crime convictions* in the Soviet Union. Dark grey is the number of death sentences, which peaked at 350,000 in 1937!
press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
May 6, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Some historical context to talk about 'political imprisonment'.
Here's a chart showing the number of *political crime convictions* in the Soviet Union. Dark grey is the number of death sentences, which peaked at 350,000 in 1937!
press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
Here's a chart showing the number of *political crime convictions* in the Soviet Union. Dark grey is the number of death sentences, which peaked at 350,000 in 1937!
press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
The rise and fall of the British Empire, as written in the British share of world energy consumption.
The empire's 'half life' lasted from 1850 to 1952.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/05/04/t...
The empire's 'half life' lasted from 1850 to 1952.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/05/04/t...
May 6, 2025 at 7:22 PM
The rise and fall of the British Empire, as written in the British share of world energy consumption.
The empire's 'half life' lasted from 1850 to 1952.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/05/04/t...
The empire's 'half life' lasted from 1850 to 1952.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/05/04/t...
The frequency of fascist jargon in French books (left) shows a similar pattern as in English (right). But after 2010, anglophone fascism exploded, but francophone fascism collapsed. Why?
My thoughts: economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/04/15/t...
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/04/15/t...
My thoughts: economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/04/15/t...
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/04/15/t...
May 2, 2025 at 5:24 PM
The frequency of fascist jargon in French books (left) shows a similar pattern as in English (right). But after 2010, anglophone fascism exploded, but francophone fascism collapsed. Why?
My thoughts: economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/04/15/t...
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/04/15/t...
My thoughts: economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/04/15/t...
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/04/15/t...
The Spanish-speaking world has had no shortage of would-be fascists (Franco, Pinochet)
But despite their violence, these men had no influence on fascist thought. Looking at Spanish books, fascist jargon declined continuously from the 1600s onward.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/04/15/t...
But despite their violence, these men had no influence on fascist thought. Looking at Spanish books, fascist jargon declined continuously from the 1600s onward.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/04/15/t...
April 29, 2025 at 7:58 PM
The Spanish-speaking world has had no shortage of would-be fascists (Franco, Pinochet)
But despite their violence, these men had no influence on fascist thought. Looking at Spanish books, fascist jargon declined continuously from the 1600s onward.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/04/15/t...
But despite their violence, these men had no influence on fascist thought. Looking at Spanish books, fascist jargon declined continuously from the 1600s onward.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/04/15/t...
Mussolini famously declared that the 20th century would be a 'fascist century'. But linguistic data suggests he was looking in the wrong direction.
To see entrenched fascist thought, look to the 17th century.
#fascism
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/04/15/t...
To see entrenched fascist thought, look to the 17th century.
#fascism
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/04/15/t...
April 25, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Mussolini famously declared that the 20th century would be a 'fascist century'. But linguistic data suggests he was looking in the wrong direction.
To see entrenched fascist thought, look to the 17th century.
#fascism
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/04/15/t...
To see entrenched fascist thought, look to the 17th century.
#fascism
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/04/15/t...
Hitler occupies a huge place in 20th history. And yet his influence on linguistics is muted.
Here's the frequency of 'fascist jargon' over 4 centuries of German writing. The high point was in the *17th century*. Why?
My thoughts here: economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/04/15/t...
Here's the frequency of 'fascist jargon' over 4 centuries of German writing. The high point was in the *17th century*. Why?
My thoughts here: economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/04/15/t...
April 23, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Hitler occupies a huge place in 20th history. And yet his influence on linguistics is muted.
Here's the frequency of 'fascist jargon' over 4 centuries of German writing. The high point was in the *17th century*. Why?
My thoughts here: economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/04/15/t...
Here's the frequency of 'fascist jargon' over 4 centuries of German writing. The high point was in the *17th century*. Why?
My thoughts here: economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/04/15/t...
What exactly is 'fascism'? When was it born?
Tracing the frequency of fascist jargon suggests an intriguing possibility: what we call 'fascism' may be a rebranding of dark ideas from the past.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/04/15/t...
Tracing the frequency of fascist jargon suggests an intriguing possibility: what we call 'fascism' may be a rebranding of dark ideas from the past.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/04/15/t...
April 22, 2025 at 4:05 PM
What exactly is 'fascism'? When was it born?
Tracing the frequency of fascist jargon suggests an intriguing possibility: what we call 'fascism' may be a rebranding of dark ideas from the past.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/04/15/t...
Tracing the frequency of fascist jargon suggests an intriguing possibility: what we call 'fascism' may be a rebranding of dark ideas from the past.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/04/15/t...
Speaking of fascism, I recently took a look at the frequency of fascist jargon in the Google Books corpus. What I found is startling: the rise of neo-fascist thought dates to the 1980s.
#fasicsm
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/04/15/t...
#fasicsm
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/04/15/t...
April 18, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Speaking of fascism, I recently took a look at the frequency of fascist jargon in the Google Books corpus. What I found is startling: the rise of neo-fascist thought dates to the 1980s.
#fasicsm
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/04/15/t...
#fasicsm
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/04/15/t...
Here's one reason why plutocracy may be self reinforcing.
When you make the poor poorer, you send folks into a pit of political ignorance. Meanwhile, the rich use their resources to become information-sucking machines who are rarely fooled.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
When you make the poor poorer, you send folks into a pit of political ignorance. Meanwhile, the rich use their resources to become information-sucking machines who are rarely fooled.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
March 20, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Here's one reason why plutocracy may be self reinforcing.
When you make the poor poorer, you send folks into a pit of political ignorance. Meanwhile, the rich use their resources to become information-sucking machines who are rarely fooled.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
When you make the poor poorer, you send folks into a pit of political ignorance. Meanwhile, the rich use their resources to become information-sucking machines who are rarely fooled.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
A defining feature of Republican rule seems to be an ignorant population. Here, for example, is how the portion of people who *don't follow political news* rises with Republican state control.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
March 19, 2025 at 9:03 PM
A defining feature of Republican rule seems to be an ignorant population. Here, for example, is how the portion of people who *don't follow political news* rises with Republican state control.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
Fun fact: Republican state control is associated with a startling rise in the 'FoxBook' diet — news delivered from Facebook and Fox News.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
March 18, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Fun fact: Republican state control is associated with a startling rise in the 'FoxBook' diet — news delivered from Facebook and Fox News.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
It's worth stressing that modern Republican rule is in large part built on ignorance. Here's how the diversity of people's news sources declines as Republican state control increases.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
March 14, 2025 at 8:21 PM
It's worth stressing that modern Republican rule is in large part built on ignorance. Here's how the diversity of people's news sources declines as Republican state control increases.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
In modern US politics, the geography of partisan support benefits Republicans over Democrats. Here's the gap in public opinion for equivalent partisan control in state legislatures.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
March 13, 2025 at 8:53 PM
In modern US politics, the geography of partisan support benefits Republicans over Democrats. Here's the gap in public opinion for equivalent partisan control in state legislatures.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
A perverse effect of first-past-the-post voting is that it creates a gap between electoral outcomes and public opinion.
Here's the gap between Republican state electoral success and state public opinion.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
Here's the gap between Republican state electoral success and state public opinion.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
March 11, 2025 at 7:00 PM
A perverse effect of first-past-the-post voting is that it creates a gap between electoral outcomes and public opinion.
Here's the gap between Republican state electoral success and state public opinion.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
Here's the gap between Republican state electoral success and state public opinion.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
More grizzly statistics; across US states, homicide rates tend to rise with Republican state control.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
March 10, 2025 at 4:58 PM
More grizzly statistics; across US states, homicide rates tend to rise with Republican state control.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
Across US states, property crime rates tend to increase with Republican legislative control.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
March 7, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Across US states, property crime rates tend to increase with Republican legislative control.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
Across states, incarceration rates rise as a function of Republican legislative control. The cruelty is the point.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
March 6, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Across states, incarceration rates rise as a function of Republican legislative control. The cruelty is the point.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
Across states, Republican control is associated with worsening self-assessed mental health.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
March 4, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Across states, Republican control is associated with worsening self-assessed mental health.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/01/31/p...