Flavien
@flavienm.bsky.social
“The rest of the nobility found a cheerful acceptance of slavery the smoothest road to wealth and office”. Tacitus, The Annals. Reposts are not endorsements. Opinions my own.
Reposted by Flavien
There is no possible justification for limiting e-bikes to 15mph but not cars.
New York Has a New E-Bike Speed Limit—and No Way to Enforce It
New York Has a New E-Bike Speed Limit—and No Way to Enforce It
When the city announced a speed limit in June, haters rejoiced. But the plan had some holes.
www.wsj.com
August 9, 2025 at 3:46 PM
There is no possible justification for limiting e-bikes to 15mph but not cars.
Reposted by Flavien
Love to see more economists doing systematic reviews! New from @manimetrix + Theiss in JAE #econtwitter #econsky: preprimary education programs in sub-Saharan Africa have small but positive effects on both cognitive and socioemotional development (0.1 standard deviations)
December 19, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Love to see more economists doing systematic reviews! New from @manimetrix + Theiss in JAE #econtwitter #econsky: preprimary education programs in sub-Saharan Africa have small but positive effects on both cognitive and socioemotional development (0.1 standard deviations)
Reposted by Flavien
“Re-inventing the wheel” should mean exactly the opposite of what it means, given that there is a decent chance that the wheel for transportation was invented just once, in the Carpathian Mountains around 3900 BC & apparently was never independently re-invented by other societies afterwards.
December 18, 2025 at 10:53 PM
“Re-inventing the wheel” should mean exactly the opposite of what it means, given that there is a decent chance that the wheel for transportation was invented just once, in the Carpathian Mountains around 3900 BC & apparently was never independently re-invented by other societies afterwards.
Reposted by Flavien
Martin's analysis implies that DSAs going forward will need to pay special attention to ratio of disbursements to commitments as a hint of problems.
findevlab.org/what-we-lear...
findevlab.org/what-we-lear...
What we learn from the new International Debt Statistics on the hidden debt of Senegal
Last month, the IMF announced that it estimated public debt in Senegal at 132% of GDP in end-2024, or more than $43 billion, compared to an estimate 80%
findevlab.org
December 13, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Martin's analysis implies that DSAs going forward will need to pay special attention to ratio of disbursements to commitments as a hint of problems.
findevlab.org/what-we-lear...
findevlab.org/what-we-lear...
Reposted by Flavien
‘about 1/3 of AI-related capital expenditure is being sunk into shortlived assets such as graphics processing units. But GPUs [have] a useful life for frontier applications of about 3 years. That implies that AI companies’ investments must generate a return within a few years…’
on.ft.com/43cu0z6
on.ft.com/43cu0z6
AI’s double bubble trouble
There is a distinction between good investment and bad speculation — the likelihood is we are experiencing both
on.ft.com
October 17, 2025 at 6:50 AM
‘about 1/3 of AI-related capital expenditure is being sunk into shortlived assets such as graphics processing units. But GPUs [have] a useful life for frontier applications of about 3 years. That implies that AI companies’ investments must generate a return within a few years…’
on.ft.com/43cu0z6
on.ft.com/43cu0z6
Reposted by Flavien
"Shell is responsible for 2% of historical global greenhouse gases.... The company has "materially contributed" to human driven climate change, the letter says, that made the Typhoon more likely and more severe."
Shell facing first UK legal claim over climate impact of fossil fuels
Survivors of a deadly typhoon in the Philippines have filed a claim against the UK's largest oil company.
buff.ly
December 11, 2025 at 9:05 AM
"Shell is responsible for 2% of historical global greenhouse gases.... The company has "materially contributed" to human driven climate change, the letter says, that made the Typhoon more likely and more severe."
Reposted by Flavien
I was disappointed with several elements of The @economist.com recent articles on minimum wages. To their credit, they've published my response.
Here are some links to the research I reference and to some other research which had to be cut from the published letter
1/N
Here are some links to the research I reference and to some other research which had to be cut from the published letter
1/N
December 4, 2025 at 6:48 PM
I was disappointed with several elements of The @economist.com recent articles on minimum wages. To their credit, they've published my response.
Here are some links to the research I reference and to some other research which had to be cut from the published letter
1/N
Here are some links to the research I reference and to some other research which had to be cut from the published letter
1/N
Reposted by Flavien
China’s open-source AI is a national advantage on.ft.com/48XybSx | opinion
China’s open-source AI is a national advantage
The models are akin to studying together to ace a test instead of relying on individual knowledge
on.ft.com
December 9, 2025 at 1:32 AM
China’s open-source AI is a national advantage on.ft.com/48XybSx | opinion
Reposted by Flavien
One year after al-Assad’s fall, nearly 1.8 million displaced Syrians and 780,000 refugees have returned home.
How many Syrians have returned home one year since the fall of al-Assad?
One year after al-Assad’s fall, nearly 1.8 million displaced Syrians and 780,000 refugees have returned home.
bit.ly
December 8, 2025 at 7:30 AM
One year after al-Assad’s fall, nearly 1.8 million displaced Syrians and 780,000 refugees have returned home.
Reposted by Flavien
December 8, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Reposted by Flavien
Buying Time Warner is now an official point in every bubble
Oh well, what could go wrong. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com
December 5, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Buying Time Warner is now an official point in every bubble
“A new European law known as the Digital Services Act forces tech companies to quickly remove posts considered illegal in the countries where the content appears. It also requires that tech companies provide users with information about how their algorithms work” www.npr.org/2022/10/31/1...
Top European official: if Twitter ignores the law, penalties will 'haunt' Elon Musk
In her first interview since Musk took the reins of Twitter, Margrethe Vestager said there will be serious penalties against Twitter if the platform ignores new European speech laws.
www.npr.org
December 4, 2025 at 10:51 PM
“A new European law known as the Digital Services Act forces tech companies to quickly remove posts considered illegal in the countries where the content appears. It also requires that tech companies provide users with information about how their algorithms work” www.npr.org/2022/10/31/1...
Reposted by Flavien
[1/8] Pierre Breteau montre pourquoi le train reste structurellement + cher que l’avion. L’article compare coûts, fiscalité et infrastructures. Il explique que l’aérien bénéficie de prix artificiellement bas grâce à des exonérations fiscales qui faussent la concurrence. #geography #transport #train
Pourquoi le train est toujours plus cher que l’avion
Si voyager sur rails se révèle être structurellement plus cher que par les airs, c’est notamment parce que l’aérien bénéficie d’un coût artificiellement bas grâce à des exonérations fiscales.
www.lemonde.fr
December 2, 2025 at 8:20 AM
[1/8] Pierre Breteau montre pourquoi le train reste structurellement + cher que l’avion. L’article compare coûts, fiscalité et infrastructures. Il explique que l’aérien bénéficie de prix artificiellement bas grâce à des exonérations fiscales qui faussent la concurrence. #geography #transport #train
Reposted by Flavien
RIP to one of the all-time greats... Jack DeJohnette has passed away at age 83. The legendary drummer is pictured here at the September 24, 1965 recording session for Jackie McLean's "Jacknife," which marked his first appearance on a Blue Note record.
October 27, 2025 at 2:44 PM
RIP to one of the all-time greats... Jack DeJohnette has passed away at age 83. The legendary drummer is pictured here at the September 24, 1965 recording session for Jackie McLean's "Jacknife," which marked his first appearance on a Blue Note record.
Reposted by Flavien
Great interview with New Zealand anthropologist and @britishacademy.bsky.social Fellow Anne Salmond including this on life as a female academic
www.nowtolove.co.nz/celebrity/da...
www.nowtolove.co.nz/celebrity/da...
December 1, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Great interview with New Zealand anthropologist and @britishacademy.bsky.social Fellow Anne Salmond including this on life as a female academic
www.nowtolove.co.nz/celebrity/da...
www.nowtolove.co.nz/celebrity/da...
Reposted by Flavien
Bitcoin champion Strategy launches ‘dollar reserve’ amid crypto sell-off on.ft.com/3Y16mm6
Bitcoin champion Strategy launches ‘dollar reserve’ amid crypto sell-off
Shares tumble as group warns of loss of up to $5.5bn if digital asset prices do not rebound
on.ft.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Bitcoin champion Strategy launches ‘dollar reserve’ amid crypto sell-off on.ft.com/3Y16mm6
Reposted by Flavien
Repeated increases in the real minimum wage in early-2000s Argentina – implemented amid moderate inflation and an economic recovery – did not lead to higher job destruction.
Firms were able to absorb higher costs without resorting to terminations.
Firms were able to absorb higher costs without resorting to terminations.
November 28, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Repeated increases in the real minimum wage in early-2000s Argentina – implemented amid moderate inflation and an economic recovery – did not lead to higher job destruction.
Firms were able to absorb higher costs without resorting to terminations.
Firms were able to absorb higher costs without resorting to terminations.
Reposted by Flavien
Vietnam's solar boom was built on three key pillars:
1⃣ Foreign direct investment (FDI) (mostly from China)
2⃣ Access to subsidised Chinese inputs
3⃣ Productivity spillovers from multinationals to domestic suppliers.
Learn more ⤵️
1⃣ Foreign direct investment (FDI) (mostly from China)
2⃣ Access to subsidised Chinese inputs
3⃣ Productivity spillovers from multinationals to domestic suppliers.
Learn more ⤵️
December 1, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Vietnam's solar boom was built on three key pillars:
1⃣ Foreign direct investment (FDI) (mostly from China)
2⃣ Access to subsidised Chinese inputs
3⃣ Productivity spillovers from multinationals to domestic suppliers.
Learn more ⤵️
1⃣ Foreign direct investment (FDI) (mostly from China)
2⃣ Access to subsidised Chinese inputs
3⃣ Productivity spillovers from multinationals to domestic suppliers.
Learn more ⤵️
Reposted by Flavien
AI doesn’t add up if you neglect the mathematicians on.ft.com/4rB8BKH | opinion
AI doesn’t add up if you neglect the mathematicians
We are failing to invest in the mathematical community at a time when we need it more than ever
on.ft.com
November 30, 2025 at 4:07 PM
AI doesn’t add up if you neglect the mathematicians on.ft.com/4rB8BKH | opinion
Reposted by Flavien
Aurélien Saïdi, @cescoeco.bsky.social & I have a new JEDC paper on Michel Juillard's contribution to macro, aka his role as architect & curator of open-source Dynare software—used worldwide to estimate and simulate DSGE models
It's important for 2 reasons:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
It's important for 2 reasons:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
November 24, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Aurélien Saïdi, @cescoeco.bsky.social & I have a new JEDC paper on Michel Juillard's contribution to macro, aka his role as architect & curator of open-source Dynare software—used worldwide to estimate and simulate DSGE models
It's important for 2 reasons:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
It's important for 2 reasons:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Flavien
What is the most profitable industry in the world, this side of the law? Not oil, not IT, not pharma.
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
November 12, 2025 at 10:31 AM
What is the most profitable industry in the world, this side of the law? Not oil, not IT, not pharma.
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
Meet Grok, the artificial sycophant
November 22, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Meet Grok, the artificial sycophant
Reposted by Flavien
Le nombre de féminicides conjugaux reste toujours élevé. En 2024, 107 femmes ont été tuées dans leur couple.
➡️ Décryptage dans notre graphorama : https://www.altereco.media/oST
➡️ Décryptage dans notre graphorama : https://www.altereco.media/oST
November 22, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Le nombre de féminicides conjugaux reste toujours élevé. En 2024, 107 femmes ont été tuées dans leur couple.
➡️ Décryptage dans notre graphorama : https://www.altereco.media/oST
➡️ Décryptage dans notre graphorama : https://www.altereco.media/oST
Bossuet’s oft-cited quote comes to mind.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said today that the fight against climate change was not against the fuels that cause it — only the pollution they emit.
Von der Leyen says EU is not fighting fossil fuels, only emissions
The comment could undermine European countries’ push at COP30 to move away from coal, oil and gas.
www.politico.eu
November 22, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Bossuet’s oft-cited quote comes to mind.