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.
Ah, I got confused between Reagan and Dulles. UK employees are often also awful, it's true.
November 11, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Ah, I got confused between Reagan and Dulles. UK employees are often also awful, it's true.
Yes, once. And other inter-city buses.
November 11, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Yes, once. And other inter-city buses.
Reposted by John Springford
join us next week when Noah is tasked with getting the central line to Bank, changing on to the DLR and finding City Airport
November 11, 2025 at 2:45 PM
join us next week when Noah is tasked with getting the central line to Bank, changing on to the DLR and finding City Airport
It's the whole experience imv. Crappy transport to the airport. Lack of digitisation of everything, from air traffic control to passport checks. Airlines that face no penalty for cancelling flights, so they do it regularly. Harrassed and bad-tempered staff.
November 11, 2025 at 2:50 PM
It's the whole experience imv. Crappy transport to the airport. Lack of digitisation of everything, from air traffic control to passport checks. Airlines that face no penalty for cancelling flights, so they do it regularly. Harrassed and bad-tempered staff.
It's a shame really - I often found his blog interesting. The trolling seems to have taken over. I guess that's what the algorithm rewards.
November 11, 2025 at 2:47 PM
It's a shame really - I often found his blog interesting. The trolling seems to have taken over. I guess that's what the algorithm rewards.
It's epically bad. Newark and Reagan International, ditto.
November 11, 2025 at 2:02 PM
It's epically bad. Newark and Reagan International, ditto.
The funny thing about this, as someone who goes to the US a lot, is that American airports, especially on the Atlantic seaboard, are almost all far far worse than British ones. The whole rant reminds me of Brits tutting in the passport queue and complaining about foreign inefficiency
November 11, 2025 at 1:58 PM
The funny thing about this, as someone who goes to the US a lot, is that American airports, especially on the Atlantic seaboard, are almost all far far worse than British ones. The whole rant reminds me of Brits tutting in the passport queue and complaining about foreign inefficiency
On your point yesterday about Bloom et al and the employment rate, my first thought was the firm-level diff-in-diff analysis can't be expanded to the whole economy because of general equilibrium. But this chart makes me wonder about the batting average with stagnating EU-born employment since 2017.
November 11, 2025 at 8:37 AM
On your point yesterday about Bloom et al and the employment rate, my first thought was the firm-level diff-in-diff analysis can't be expanded to the whole economy because of general equilibrium. But this chart makes me wonder about the batting average with stagnating EU-born employment since 2017.
Over a 25 year period (usual lifespan) I expect solar fencing, if situated properly, would pay for itself. Rooftop solar pays for itself in about 10 years on average.
November 10, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Over a 25 year period (usual lifespan) I expect solar fencing, if situated properly, would pay for itself. Rooftop solar pays for itself in about 10 years on average.
Yes, wood's def cheaper per square metre, but solar panels provide a return. Cheap isn't the word - it's about return on investment really
November 10, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Yes, wood's def cheaper per square metre, but solar panels provide a return. Cheap isn't the word - it's about return on investment really
The firm-level analysis compares firms with more EU exposure (via imports and exports, migration, EU regulation, directors who are EU nationals) to those with less. Striking that it finds investment, productivity and employment effects similar to the macro studies (if somewhat smaller).
November 10, 2025 at 11:47 AM
The firm-level analysis compares firms with more EU exposure (via imports and exports, migration, EU regulation, directors who are EU nationals) to those with less. Striking that it finds investment, productivity and employment effects similar to the macro studies (if somewhat smaller).
I saw. Responded with my own earnestness. :)
November 7, 2025 at 1:27 PM
I saw. Responded with my own earnestness. :)
Perfectly put. Yes. Or change the subject with a crunching gear change.
November 7, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Perfectly put. Yes. Or change the subject with a crunching gear change.
No, I don't think that's the risk. It's more on free movement/Schengen, climate and energy.
November 7, 2025 at 10:10 AM
No, I don't think that's the risk. It's more on free movement/Schengen, climate and energy.
The FdI didn't set out plans to assert Italian law's supremacy through a constitutional amendment. Perhaps RN will have a vaguer manifesto this time round. But the risk is major and unilateral violations of EU law.
November 7, 2025 at 10:02 AM
The FdI didn't set out plans to assert Italian law's supremacy through a constitutional amendment. Perhaps RN will have a vaguer manifesto this time round. But the risk is major and unilateral violations of EU law.