John Springford
@johnspringford.bsky.social
Economist and occasional politics dabbler. Working on a project to improve labour markets. Associate fellow, Centre for European Reform. Visiting fellow, Institute for Policy Research, Bath University.
Re the death of Dick Cheney, it is worth reflecting on the inflection point in this chart when considering his legacy.
November 4, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Re the death of Dick Cheney, it is worth reflecting on the inflection point in this chart when considering his legacy.
Britain carving out some export niches. Good to see.
November 3, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Britain carving out some export niches. Good to see.
I've seen a lot of 'Poland had fast growth and a far-right government'. The economics of populism is more complicated than that. Last plug for this one.
www.cer.eu/insights/pol...
www.cer.eu/insights/pol...
October 30, 2025 at 5:25 PM
I've seen a lot of 'Poland had fast growth and a far-right government'. The economics of populism is more complicated than that. Last plug for this one.
www.cer.eu/insights/pol...
www.cer.eu/insights/pol...
But wine importer Bill DeBlasio did give the reporter what they wanted to hear
www.semafor.com/article/10/2...
www.semafor.com/article/10/2...
October 30, 2025 at 7:32 AM
But wine importer Bill DeBlasio did give the reporter what they wanted to hear
www.semafor.com/article/10/2...
www.semafor.com/article/10/2...
Recognise that the far right is your enemy, stop helping them, push back against them instead.
October 29, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Recognise that the far right is your enemy, stop helping them, push back against them instead.
Offering them more protection from structural economic changes is unlikely to forestall the drift to the far-right, though. Famously, Joe Biden's industrial policies were designed to raise investment spending in Republican districts. The impact on Kamala Harris's vote share in 2024 was tiny.
October 28, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Offering them more protection from structural economic changes is unlikely to forestall the drift to the far-right, though. Famously, Joe Biden's industrial policies were designed to raise investment spending in Republican districts. The impact on Kamala Harris's vote share in 2024 was tiny.
First, the scale of the problem. The rise of far-right populist parties in Europe has been dramatic since 2015. They're now taking about a fifth to a quarter of the vote.
October 28, 2025 at 12:41 PM
First, the scale of the problem. The rise of far-right populist parties in Europe has been dramatic since 2015. They're now taking about a fifth to a quarter of the vote.
Does the rise of populism have economic roots, and more protectionist and anti-immigration policies help? Quick thread on my latest piece here
buff.ly/O2SoUok
buff.ly/O2SoUok
October 28, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Does the rise of populism have economic roots, and more protectionist and anti-immigration policies help? Quick thread on my latest piece here
buff.ly/O2SoUok
buff.ly/O2SoUok
Bell says that 350,000 European young people might come a year under an uncapped scheme. But according to HMRC data, in 2015, the peak year of free movement flows to Britain, employment of EU nationals aged 18-34 grew by 97,000. 2/n
October 22, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Bell says that 350,000 European young people might come a year under an uncapped scheme. But according to HMRC data, in 2015, the peak year of free movement flows to Britain, employment of EU nationals aged 18-34 grew by 97,000. 2/n
The government can't really blame 'the way in which the UK left the EU' when its red lines rule out a less-damaging alternative. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
October 21, 2025 at 7:25 AM
The government can't really blame 'the way in which the UK left the EU' when its red lines rule out a less-damaging alternative. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Good - both for apologising and for realising that X is cooking brains.
October 18, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Good - both for apologising and for realising that X is cooking brains.
It's certainly true that tax rises can't only be on the very richest, but they can be on the upper half of the income distribution. They were the big fiscal winners from the 2010-24 governments.
(Source: ifs.org.uk/calculators/...)
(Source: ifs.org.uk/calculators/...)
October 18, 2025 at 9:51 AM
It's certainly true that tax rises can't only be on the very richest, but they can be on the upper half of the income distribution. They were the big fiscal winners from the 2010-24 governments.
(Source: ifs.org.uk/calculators/...)
(Source: ifs.org.uk/calculators/...)
Interesting. Also enjoyed this bit
October 17, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Interesting. Also enjoyed this bit
unframed.lacma.org/2017/02/22/l...
More horror porn, I guess.
More horror porn, I guess.
October 14, 2025 at 6:18 PM
unframed.lacma.org/2017/02/22/l...
More horror porn, I guess.
More horror porn, I guess.
The story includes this eye-popping fact.
October 13, 2025 at 8:41 AM
The story includes this eye-popping fact.
A net migration target of tens of thousands a year, but using forced emigration
October 5, 2025 at 8:04 AM
A net migration target of tens of thousands a year, but using forced emigration
Asylum to become even more optional for European governments.
October 3, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Asylum to become even more optional for European governments.
Government breaking its promise if it's true. The FT says it may not be applied retrospectively. Which is it?
September 29, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Government breaking its promise if it's true. The FT says it may not be applied retrospectively. Which is it?
From Krugman's latest. The Europe vs US living standards debate really doesn't take enough account of healthcare insurance costs. These are *monthly* figures.
(The orange bars are if Congress allows Biden-era subsidies to expire)
(The orange bars are if Congress allows Biden-era subsidies to expire)
September 29, 2025 at 10:56 AM
From Krugman's latest. The Europe vs US living standards debate really doesn't take enough account of healthcare insurance costs. These are *monthly* figures.
(The orange bars are if Congress allows Biden-era subsidies to expire)
(The orange bars are if Congress allows Biden-era subsidies to expire)
Economic crises, Brexit and ageing populations are left-wing.
September 29, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Economic crises, Brexit and ageing populations are left-wing.
Journalist from The Sun complaining about inaccurate reporting
September 20, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Journalist from The Sun complaining about inaccurate reporting
It's quite important that journalists learn about time of use tariffs when writing about energy policy. This is a good example of how easy it is to mislead your readers
www.thetimes.com/life-style/p...
www.thetimes.com/life-style/p...
September 16, 2025 at 9:12 AM
It's quite important that journalists learn about time of use tariffs when writing about energy policy. This is a good example of how easy it is to mislead your readers
www.thetimes.com/life-style/p...
www.thetimes.com/life-style/p...