Patrick Holden
@patrickholden.bsky.social
Irish academic at the University of Plymouth, IR/ Political Economy/EU Policy.
Reposted by Patrick Holden
My pet peeve about using GDP as a measure of national economic power. I suggest an adjustment that may get closer to reality. www.piie.com/blogs/realti...
China vs. the US: Which GDP is bigger?
Has China yet surpassed the United States in aggregate economic power? Perhaps not. Although China’s GDP, at market prices and exchange rates, is still much lower than that of the United States, the o...
www.piie.com
December 19, 2025 at 6:21 PM
My pet peeve about using GDP as a measure of national economic power. I suggest an adjustment that may get closer to reality. www.piie.com/blogs/realti...
Reposted by Patrick Holden
The complete Bayeux Tapestry has finally been released and proves that Bishop Odo had absolutely nothing to do with the illegal Norman invasion of England.
December 20, 2025 at 12:38 PM
The complete Bayeux Tapestry has finally been released and proves that Bishop Odo had absolutely nothing to do with the illegal Norman invasion of England.
Reposted by Patrick Holden
NEW: Without USAID funding to help buy food for refugees, the World Food Program rushed to prioritize families based on need, determining that only half the population would get food.
Refugees learned which half they were in from a number stamped on the back of their ration card.
Refugees learned which half they were in from a number stamped on the back of their ration card.
After Trump Officials Cut Food Aid to Kenya, Children Starved to Death
“Brutal and traumatizing”: Interviews and a trove of internal documents show government officials and aid workers desperately tried to warn Trump advisers about impending disaster and death.
www.propublica.org
December 17, 2025 at 12:00 PM
NEW: Without USAID funding to help buy food for refugees, the World Food Program rushed to prioritize families based on need, determining that only half the population would get food.
Refugees learned which half they were in from a number stamped on the back of their ration card.
Refugees learned which half they were in from a number stamped on the back of their ration card.
Reposted by Patrick Holden
Today the European Union released its new strategies for economic security and raw materials:
The Joint Communication on EU economic security can be found here: circabc.europa.eu/ui/group/7fc...
And the RESourceEU Action Plan is here: single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/document/dow...
The Joint Communication on EU economic security can be found here: circabc.europa.eu/ui/group/7fc...
And the RESourceEU Action Plan is here: single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/document/dow...
December 3, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Today the European Union released its new strategies for economic security and raw materials:
The Joint Communication on EU economic security can be found here: circabc.europa.eu/ui/group/7fc...
And the RESourceEU Action Plan is here: single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/document/dow...
The Joint Communication on EU economic security can be found here: circabc.europa.eu/ui/group/7fc...
And the RESourceEU Action Plan is here: single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/document/dow...
Reposted by Patrick Holden
I don't know if Bluesky is more USA-skewed than Twitter was, but still almost all the sports content I'm seeing is about teams called things like the South Oakland Raccoons or Pennsylvania Fuckforce.
November 26, 2024 at 7:02 PM
I don't know if Bluesky is more USA-skewed than Twitter was, but still almost all the sports content I'm seeing is about teams called things like the South Oakland Raccoons or Pennsylvania Fuckforce.
Reposted by Patrick Holden
We are not yet a year into Trump’s second term and already DOGE has been mothballed, MTG has bailed from Congress, the administration tried and failed to present a Russian plan to end the war, and the ‘Secretary of War’ is trying to court-martial a US Senator. Time for a reminder of this I think…
November 24, 2025 at 8:20 PM
We are not yet a year into Trump’s second term and already DOGE has been mothballed, MTG has bailed from Congress, the administration tried and failed to present a Russian plan to end the war, and the ‘Secretary of War’ is trying to court-martial a US Senator. Time for a reminder of this I think…
Yes go live in other countries in the EU?
November 25, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Yes go live in other countries in the EU?
Reposted by Patrick Holden
Behind architecture and ancient treasures lies a state strategy built on mega-projects and foreign capital to shore up Egypt’s strained economy
www.irishtimes.com/world/africa...
www.irishtimes.com/world/africa...
The politics of prestige behind Egypt’s new mega-museum
Behind architecture and ancient treasures lies state strategy built on mega-projects and foreign capital to shore up strained economy
www.irishtimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Behind architecture and ancient treasures lies a state strategy built on mega-projects and foreign capital to shore up Egypt’s strained economy
www.irishtimes.com/world/africa...
www.irishtimes.com/world/africa...
Reposted by Patrick Holden
Cloudflare outage destroys all human communication except Bluesky, this is the weirdest sci-fi scenario I’ve ever seen
November 18, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Cloudflare outage destroys all human communication except Bluesky, this is the weirdest sci-fi scenario I’ve ever seen
Reposted by Patrick Holden
The end of dollar hegemony will transform U.S. debt from a fiscal drag into a high-yield fusion bomb.
For decades dollarization has generated structural demand for U.S. treasuries, depressing the interest rates the U.S. needs to offer to service its debt.
For decades dollarization has generated structural demand for U.S. treasuries, depressing the interest rates the U.S. needs to offer to service its debt.
one thing that I think we really don't think about is if Trump fucks up America's macro privileges or role in the international system and Americans are forced to end up dealing with a economic system that doesn't allow for the same old fiscal fixes as before
god I remember the fandom Russian zoomers on Twitter during the start of the war who were either "what can I do, I can't be held responsible" or "wow it's so mean that the West sanctioned us from our favourite fandoms"
November 16, 2025 at 7:22 PM
The end of dollar hegemony will transform U.S. debt from a fiscal drag into a high-yield fusion bomb.
For decades dollarization has generated structural demand for U.S. treasuries, depressing the interest rates the U.S. needs to offer to service its debt.
For decades dollarization has generated structural demand for U.S. treasuries, depressing the interest rates the U.S. needs to offer to service its debt.
Reposted by Patrick Holden
🇪🇺🇺🇸🇬🇧🗳️I was milliseconds away from launching a "Oh God, yet another poll made only in highly developed Western countries" tirade when I noticed that, hey, Croatia and Poland are now in the West.
November 14, 2025 at 9:46 AM
🇪🇺🇺🇸🇬🇧🗳️I was milliseconds away from launching a "Oh God, yet another poll made only in highly developed Western countries" tirade when I noticed that, hey, Croatia and Poland are now in the West.
Reposted by Patrick Holden
This is the march the Polish president chose to grace with his presence today.
November 11, 2025 at 6:45 PM
This is the march the Polish president chose to grace with his presence today.
Well with the far-sighted leadership and solidarity coming from Washington that should be easy.
Getting other countries to give up their own currency for the $ is geopolitical Hanke Panky, except in the case of Finland where it would be Hanke Pankki.
on.ft.com/47kmFjz US pushes for wider global dollar adoption
on.ft.com/47kmFjz US pushes for wider global dollar adoption
US pushes for wider global dollar adoption
Officials in Washington explore how to encourage more countries to adopt greenback as their primary currency
on.ft.com
November 2, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Well with the far-sighted leadership and solidarity coming from Washington that should be easy.
Reposted by Patrick Holden
A curious approach from people who don't like the concept of immigration
October 22, 2025 at 11:02 AM
A curious approach from people who don't like the concept of immigration
Reposted by Patrick Holden
🇪🇺🤑The mother of all EU fund misuses from Hungary: a treetop/canopy walkway without trees in Nyírmártonfalva, led by a Fidesz (Orbán’s ruling party) mayor who said trees weren’t required. €160K of EU taxpayers’ money wasted. Story uncovered by @atlatszo.hu in 2023: english.atlatszo.hu/2023/03/28/t...
October 19, 2025 at 10:55 AM
🇪🇺🤑The mother of all EU fund misuses from Hungary: a treetop/canopy walkway without trees in Nyírmártonfalva, led by a Fidesz (Orbán’s ruling party) mayor who said trees weren’t required. €160K of EU taxpayers’ money wasted. Story uncovered by @atlatszo.hu in 2023: english.atlatszo.hu/2023/03/28/t...
Reposted by Patrick Holden
In private sector, Bessent made his money by betting that Central Banks would not be able to control their currencies. In government, he is betting that Argentina’s, of all countries, will manage to do so.
"'You generally don’t want your first use of the E.S.F. to be a failure,' [Brad] Setser said, referring to the Exchange Stabilization Fund. 'I do think it would impact the broader credibility of Secretary Bessent’s financial management.'"
Treasury Secretary Stakes Credibility and Taxpayer Money on Argentina Bet
www.nytimes.com
October 17, 2025 at 5:20 PM
In private sector, Bessent made his money by betting that Central Banks would not be able to control their currencies. In government, he is betting that Argentina’s, of all countries, will manage to do so.
Reposted by Patrick Holden
J. D. VANCE: We need to end DEI.
MONKEY’S PAW: (raises one finger)
MONKEY’S PAW: (raises one finger)
BREAKING: Pope Leo XIV is set to effectively disband Opus Dei in the coming weeks.
This would be the most sweeping internal reform of his pontificate — and a dramatic continuation of Pope Francis’s legacy.
This would be the most sweeping internal reform of his pontificate — and a dramatic continuation of Pope Francis’s legacy.
NEW: Pope Leo Set To Break Up Opus Dei
If Pope Leo does indeed approves a plan that effectively dissolves Opus Dei’s structure, it would be the most significant internal action of his short pontificate to date.
open.substack.com
October 17, 2025 at 2:48 AM
J. D. VANCE: We need to end DEI.
MONKEY’S PAW: (raises one finger)
MONKEY’S PAW: (raises one finger)
Reposted by Patrick Holden
Mega test of EU approach to industrial policy coming up. 3 big French telcos are jointly bidding to buy the 4th. EU has historically blocked 4-to-3 consolidation as it raises prices. But the mood has shifted of late, eg Draghi saying mergers could be OK. One to watch.
www.lemonde.fr/economie/art...
www.lemonde.fr/economie/art...
Le plan choc d’Orange, Bouygues Telecom et Free pour faire disparaître SFR et se partager ses « business »
Les trois groupes de télécoms ont envoyé, mardi 14 octobre, une offre de rachat conjointe de 17 milliards d’euros pour l’entreprise de Patrick Drahi. Objectif : dépecer leur rival pour faire passer le...
www.lemonde.fr
October 15, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Mega test of EU approach to industrial policy coming up. 3 big French telcos are jointly bidding to buy the 4th. EU has historically blocked 4-to-3 consolidation as it raises prices. But the mood has shifted of late, eg Draghi saying mergers could be OK. One to watch.
www.lemonde.fr/economie/art...
www.lemonde.fr/economie/art...
Reposted by Patrick Holden
👇🎯 I remain astounded by how hard so many folks in the media are working to try & make a 🇫🇷 debt crisis happen. This is the correct take.
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
The French budget and debt are no worse than in most other major economies.
They all need a medium term plan to restore sustainability. That’ll require broad buy-in from society. It’ll have to include wealth taxation everywhere.
independenteconomics.substack.com/publish/post...
They all need a medium term plan to restore sustainability. That’ll require broad buy-in from society. It’ll have to include wealth taxation everywhere.
independenteconomics.substack.com/publish/post...
Sign in to Sunday Wrap by Erik F. Nielsen
independenteconomics.substack.com
October 12, 2025 at 1:40 PM
👇🎯 I remain astounded by how hard so many folks in the media are working to try & make a 🇫🇷 debt crisis happen. This is the correct take.
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
Reposted by Patrick Holden
Reposted by Patrick Holden
Israel’s far-right government is restructuring the occupation of the West Bank. Outside actors should squarely face the reality of annexation, and impose meaningful costs on the country. www.crisisgroup.org/middle-east-...
Sovereignty in All but Name: Israel’s Quickening Annexation of the West Bank | International Crisis Group
With prominent members serving in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, the settler movement is steering the Israeli state toward establishing formal permanent control of the occupied West B...
www.crisisgroup.org
October 9, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Israel’s far-right government is restructuring the occupation of the West Bank. Outside actors should squarely face the reality of annexation, and impose meaningful costs on the country. www.crisisgroup.org/middle-east-...
Reposted by Patrick Holden
“Now more than ever we must keep in the forefront of our minds the fact that whenever we take away the liberties of those we hate, we are opening the way to loss of liberty for those we love.”
Wendell Willkie
Wendell Willkie
October 8, 2025 at 12:36 PM
“Now more than ever we must keep in the forefront of our minds the fact that whenever we take away the liberties of those we hate, we are opening the way to loss of liberty for those we love.”
Wendell Willkie
Wendell Willkie
Reposted by Patrick Holden
Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.
Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry
Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry
Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.
buff.ly
October 8, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.
Reposted by Patrick Holden
what if I told you that taking accountability for your actions was traditionally considered a load-bearing feature of masculinity?
“I voted for none of this."
Prominent influencers, including Theo Von, Joe Rogan, and Andrew Schulz, are starting to distance themselves from the president they helped propel to the White House.
Story: www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
Prominent influencers, including Theo Von, Joe Rogan, and Andrew Schulz, are starting to distance themselves from the president they helped propel to the White House.
Story: www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
October 6, 2025 at 8:35 PM
what if I told you that taking accountability for your actions was traditionally considered a load-bearing feature of masculinity?
Reposted by Patrick Holden
Jesus Christ
October 6, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Jesus Christ