Lionel Page
@lionelpage.bsky.social
Director of UQ Centre for Unified Behavioural and Economic Sciences. Editor of the Journal of the Economic Science Association. Book: ‘Optimally Irrational’, Substack: https://www.optimallyirrational.com/
We have moral intuitions and emotions that help us play the game of morals well with others in order to go through the game of life seamlessly. www.optimallyirrational.com/p/morality-w...
November 10, 2025 at 2:50 PM
We have moral intuitions and emotions that help us play the game of morals well with others in order to go through the game of life seamlessly. www.optimallyirrational.com/p/morality-w...
Why did democracy spread? I argue the key driver were factors shifting bargaining power towards popular coalitions.
Will it keep spreading? There is no historical law guaranteeing it, I am afraid. And AI may even give more cards to autocratic rulers.
www.optimallyirrational.com/p/does-the-a...
Will it keep spreading? There is no historical law guaranteeing it, I am afraid. And AI may even give more cards to autocratic rulers.
www.optimallyirrational.com/p/does-the-a...
October 27, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Why did democracy spread? I argue the key driver were factors shifting bargaining power towards popular coalitions.
Will it keep spreading? There is no historical law guaranteeing it, I am afraid. And AI may even give more cards to autocratic rulers.
www.optimallyirrational.com/p/does-the-a...
Will it keep spreading? There is no historical law guaranteeing it, I am afraid. And AI may even give more cards to autocratic rulers.
www.optimallyirrational.com/p/does-the-a...
“There’s almost no limit to what you can get people to do if you let them think it is their idea”
Jim Downey - former SNL writer
Jim Downey - former SNL writer
October 20, 2025 at 12:15 PM
“There’s almost no limit to what you can get people to do if you let them think it is their idea”
Jim Downey - former SNL writer
Jim Downey - former SNL writer
Goring explaining, in 1946, Putin's strategy to drag his population into war.
October 16, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Goring explaining, in 1946, Putin's strategy to drag his population into war.
Great quote from Matthew McConaughey on how material incentives slant our perception of reality.
(From when he decided to refuse romcom roles)
(From when he decided to refuse romcom roles)
October 3, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Great quote from Matthew McConaughey on how material incentives slant our perception of reality.
(From when he decided to refuse romcom roles)
(From when he decided to refuse romcom roles)
Which reputations matter most across societies?
September 18, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Which reputations matter most across societies?
Idealists say political ideas shape the world; cynics say they just reflect material interests.
I argue that both views can be reconciled: ideologies reflect social coalitions' interests, but debates over ideas still shape real outcomes.
www.optimallyirrational.com/p/why-and-ho...
I argue that both views can be reconciled: ideologies reflect social coalitions' interests, but debates over ideas still shape real outcomes.
www.optimallyirrational.com/p/why-and-ho...
May 15, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Idealists say political ideas shape the world; cynics say they just reflect material interests.
I argue that both views can be reconciled: ideologies reflect social coalitions' interests, but debates over ideas still shape real outcomes.
www.optimallyirrational.com/p/why-and-ho...
I argue that both views can be reconciled: ideologies reflect social coalitions' interests, but debates over ideas still shape real outcomes.
www.optimallyirrational.com/p/why-and-ho...
The economics of religion.
In the 15th century, the English Church banned Bibles translated into common English. Later, an influential clergyman expressed concern that the availability of Bibles in common English would jeopardise the monopoly of the Church on religious teaching.
In the 15th century, the English Church banned Bibles translated into common English. Later, an influential clergyman expressed concern that the availability of Bibles in common English would jeopardise the monopoly of the Church on religious teaching.
May 12, 2025 at 1:29 PM
The economics of religion.
In the 15th century, the English Church banned Bibles translated into common English. Later, an influential clergyman expressed concern that the availability of Bibles in common English would jeopardise the monopoly of the Church on religious teaching.
In the 15th century, the English Church banned Bibles translated into common English. Later, an influential clergyman expressed concern that the availability of Bibles in common English would jeopardise the monopoly of the Church on religious teaching.
"Why didn’t people see what was happening in the 1930s and stop it?"
Every aspiring autocrat ever:
Every aspiring autocrat ever:
April 20, 2025 at 11:48 PM
"Why didn’t people see what was happening in the 1930s and stop it?"
Every aspiring autocrat ever:
Every aspiring autocrat ever:
President George Bush in 1990 on what was at stake in protecting Kuwait’s sovereignty.
February 24, 2025 at 12:10 PM
President George Bush in 1990 on what was at stake in protecting Kuwait’s sovereignty.
Mearsheimer on appeasement with aggressive powerful countries:
“appeasement and bandwagoning are ineffective and dangerous strategies”
“The Tragedy of Great Power Politics””, 2001
“appeasement and bandwagoning are ineffective and dangerous strategies”
“The Tragedy of Great Power Politics””, 2001
February 23, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Mearsheimer on appeasement with aggressive powerful countries:
“appeasement and bandwagoning are ineffective and dangerous strategies”
“The Tragedy of Great Power Politics””, 2001
“appeasement and bandwagoning are ineffective and dangerous strategies”
“The Tragedy of Great Power Politics””, 2001
The very interesting way community notes implement crowd sourcing.
From www.optimallyirrational.com/i/140888694/...
From www.optimallyirrational.com/i/140888694/...
February 20, 2025 at 11:57 PM
The very interesting way community notes implement crowd sourcing.
From www.optimallyirrational.com/i/140888694/...
From www.optimallyirrational.com/i/140888694/...
Community notes have been a great system. They use sound statistical algorithms to extract collective wisdom even from a polarised population. These algorithms are impartial.
Musk went from supporting this crowdsourced fact-checking to finding it inconvenient.
Musk went from supporting this crowdsourced fact-checking to finding it inconvenient.
February 20, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Community notes have been a great system. They use sound statistical algorithms to extract collective wisdom even from a polarised population. These algorithms are impartial.
Musk went from supporting this crowdsourced fact-checking to finding it inconvenient.
Musk went from supporting this crowdsourced fact-checking to finding it inconvenient.
Polls have consistently shown popular support for the extension of federal powers in key areas that require global cooperation, such as defence. The resistance to this comes primarily from the national political leaders and their administrations.
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
February 16, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Polls have consistently shown popular support for the extension of federal powers in key areas that require global cooperation, such as defence. The resistance to this comes primarily from the national political leaders and their administrations.
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
The geopolitical readjustments away from the US keep coming. The idea that the US can act like an international bully and still maintain its leadership with so many allies is misguided.
February 16, 2025 at 10:44 PM
The geopolitical readjustments away from the US keep coming. The idea that the US can act like an international bully and still maintain its leadership with so many allies is misguided.
The new US policy on Ukraine focuses on short-term gains and neglects long-term implications: the loss of US credibility as a Western coalition leader, an increased risk of similar conflicts, and the risk of nuclear proliferation.
February 13, 2025 at 9:52 PM
The new US policy on Ukraine focuses on short-term gains and neglects long-term implications: the loss of US credibility as a Western coalition leader, an increased risk of similar conflicts, and the risk of nuclear proliferation.
Evergreen: Edmund Burke's political insight in one cartoon.
February 10, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Evergreen: Edmund Burke's political insight in one cartoon.
About the state of democracy in Ukraine (all political parties and the public opinion support to delay elections given the war).
via @maxbor.bsky.social
via @maxbor.bsky.social
February 3, 2025 at 7:44 PM
About the state of democracy in Ukraine (all political parties and the public opinion support to delay elections given the war).
via @maxbor.bsky.social
via @maxbor.bsky.social
Transparency and criticisms for thee, not for me.
DeepSeek searches:
DeepSeek searches:
January 28, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Transparency and criticisms for thee, not for me.
DeepSeek searches:
DeepSeek searches:
A very reasonable American friend told me yesterday that he would not be surprised if Trump sent troops to Greenland, using the Russian threat as an excuse.
My initial reaction was, “No way,” but we might have to readjust our expectations.
My initial reaction was, “No way,” but we might have to readjust our expectations.
January 24, 2025 at 11:59 PM
A very reasonable American friend told me yesterday that he would not be surprised if Trump sent troops to Greenland, using the Russian threat as an excuse.
My initial reaction was, “No way,” but we might have to readjust our expectations.
My initial reaction was, “No way,” but we might have to readjust our expectations.