Willem Sas
@willemsas.bsky.social
Prof in economics at UHasselt & Stirling, affiliated at KU Leuven, CESifo & UCLouvain, columnist for De Tijd.
Political (behavioural) economics | public finance | (EU) federalism
Political (behavioural) economics | public finance | (EU) federalism
Reposted by Willem Sas
1. Clampdown on benefit cheats!
2. Clampdown on benefit cheats doesn’t work.
3. Blitz on red tape!
4. Blitz on red tape doesn’t work.
5. Go to 1.
Currently we’re between 3 and 4. I’m confident we’ll be back at 1 by Christmas.
2. Clampdown on benefit cheats doesn’t work.
3. Blitz on red tape!
4. Blitz on red tape doesn’t work.
5. Go to 1.
Currently we’re between 3 and 4. I’m confident we’ll be back at 1 by Christmas.
November 9, 2025 at 12:24 PM
1. Clampdown on benefit cheats!
2. Clampdown on benefit cheats doesn’t work.
3. Blitz on red tape!
4. Blitz on red tape doesn’t work.
5. Go to 1.
Currently we’re between 3 and 4. I’m confident we’ll be back at 1 by Christmas.
2. Clampdown on benefit cheats doesn’t work.
3. Blitz on red tape!
4. Blitz on red tape doesn’t work.
5. Go to 1.
Currently we’re between 3 and 4. I’m confident we’ll be back at 1 by Christmas.
Reposted by Willem Sas
In other words, the whole legal and political hassle of taking the money from Euroclear (via an EU bond), and handing the money to Ukraine could be avoided by just issuing an EU bond, handing *that* money to Ukraine, and servicing it from the returns on Euroclear's assets.
November 7, 2025 at 4:04 PM
In other words, the whole legal and political hassle of taking the money from Euroclear (via an EU bond), and handing the money to Ukraine could be avoided by just issuing an EU bond, handing *that* money to Ukraine, and servicing it from the returns on Euroclear's assets.
Reposted by Willem Sas
📢We are hiring at ISEG!
2 Assistant Professor Positions in Economics (any field)
More info: econjobmarket.org/positions/11...
Get in touch if you have any questions and join us in beautiful Lisbon! 🇵🇹
Please RT #EconSky
2 Assistant Professor Positions in Economics (any field)
More info: econjobmarket.org/positions/11...
Get in touch if you have any questions and join us in beautiful Lisbon! 🇵🇹
Please RT #EconSky
November 3, 2025 at 8:38 AM
📢We are hiring at ISEG!
2 Assistant Professor Positions in Economics (any field)
More info: econjobmarket.org/positions/11...
Get in touch if you have any questions and join us in beautiful Lisbon! 🇵🇹
Please RT #EconSky
2 Assistant Professor Positions in Economics (any field)
More info: econjobmarket.org/positions/11...
Get in touch if you have any questions and join us in beautiful Lisbon! 🇵🇹
Please RT #EconSky
Reposted by Willem Sas
New paper out with a blueprint for a proper European industrial policy in the automotive sector.
The urgent issue is to offset geopolitical demand shocks - coordinated EV subsidies of the big four (FR FR ES IT) could cover 70% of the EU market.
Will tweet more later :)
The urgent issue is to offset geopolitical demand shocks - coordinated EV subsidies of the big four (FR FR ES IT) could cover 70% of the EU market.
Will tweet more later :)
In a new paper @nilsredeker.bsky.social, @lucasguttenberg.bsky.social & @sandertordoir.bsky.social propose co-ordinating consumer subsidies for EVs with a #buy-European clause, extending it to corporate fleets & signing reciprocal EV-subsidy agreements with EU allies.
Read here: buff.ly/qCCQdcG
Read here: buff.ly/qCCQdcG
October 23, 2025 at 8:06 AM
New paper out with a blueprint for a proper European industrial policy in the automotive sector.
The urgent issue is to offset geopolitical demand shocks - coordinated EV subsidies of the big four (FR FR ES IT) could cover 70% of the EU market.
Will tweet more later :)
The urgent issue is to offset geopolitical demand shocks - coordinated EV subsidies of the big four (FR FR ES IT) could cover 70% of the EU market.
Will tweet more later :)
Reposted by Willem Sas
👇
It is depressing to see the centre right and left ignore decades of political science only to walk into the trap of the far right. Again and again.
October 21, 2025 at 10:12 AM
👇
Reposted by Willem Sas
Why do rustbelts vote radical right? Studying the German Ruhr area, @nilsblossey.bsky.social, @lstoetze.bsky.social and I show: it’s not just about deindustrialization, but also about the original industrialization. Where coal is buried deeper and mining started later, the AfD is stronger today 1/12
October 17, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Why do rustbelts vote radical right? Studying the German Ruhr area, @nilsblossey.bsky.social, @lstoetze.bsky.social and I show: it’s not just about deindustrialization, but also about the original industrialization. Where coal is buried deeper and mining started later, the AfD is stronger today 1/12
Reposted by Willem Sas
Helpfully I explained to some pointing tourists that Glaswegians had much longer legs back in the day
October 8, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Helpfully I explained to some pointing tourists that Glaswegians had much longer legs back in the day
Reposted by Willem Sas
In 2012, I published a book about the collapse in trust in the mainstream media. I argued that a widely trusted media establishment was probably incompatible with a polarized party system that is heavily sorted by ideology. /1 www.jonathanmladd.com/why-american...
October 7, 2025 at 2:02 PM
In 2012, I published a book about the collapse in trust in the mainstream media. I argued that a widely trusted media establishment was probably incompatible with a polarized party system that is heavily sorted by ideology. /1 www.jonathanmladd.com/why-american...
Reposted by Willem Sas
President Macron:
“We were very naive to leave our public space to social media networks controlled by US or Chinese companies that don’t share our interests and not interested in survival of our democracies.”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MggN...
“We were very naive to leave our public space to social media networks controlled by US or Chinese companies that don’t share our interests and not interested in survival of our democracies.”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MggN...
French President Macron Speaks at German Unity Day Ceremony | WION LIVE
YouTube video by WION
www.youtube.com
October 4, 2025 at 3:59 AM
President Macron:
“We were very naive to leave our public space to social media networks controlled by US or Chinese companies that don’t share our interests and not interested in survival of our democracies.”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MggN...
“We were very naive to leave our public space to social media networks controlled by US or Chinese companies that don’t share our interests and not interested in survival of our democracies.”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MggN...
Reposted by Willem Sas
Imagine an alternative universe where, after WW1, the advisors of Woodrow Wilson would have prevailed
October 3, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Imagine an alternative universe where, after WW1, the advisors of Woodrow Wilson would have prevailed
Reposted by Willem Sas
Europe’s astonishing drop in illegal migration
"In the first eight months of this year 112,000 people crossed illegally into Europe, down 21% from a year earlier. The drop is an even more impressive 52% from the comparable period in 2023"
www.economist.com/internationa...
From The Economist
"In the first eight months of this year 112,000 people crossed illegally into Europe, down 21% from a year earlier. The drop is an even more impressive 52% from the comparable period in 2023"
www.economist.com/internationa...
From The Economist
Europe’s astonishing drop in illegal migration
Europe’s big, invisible wall is slowing boat crossings by migrants
www.economist.com
October 2, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Europe’s astonishing drop in illegal migration
"In the first eight months of this year 112,000 people crossed illegally into Europe, down 21% from a year earlier. The drop is an even more impressive 52% from the comparable period in 2023"
www.economist.com/internationa...
From The Economist
"In the first eight months of this year 112,000 people crossed illegally into Europe, down 21% from a year earlier. The drop is an even more impressive 52% from the comparable period in 2023"
www.economist.com/internationa...
From The Economist
Reposted by Willem Sas
But I was told that Keir Starmer’s conference speech marked a pivot away from imitating Reform and towards a bold new liberal something! I WAS PROMISED!
on.ft.com/4mGqFPF
on.ft.com/4mGqFPF
UK to scrap right of refugees to seek permanent residency after 5 years
Policy comes as Keir Starmer seeks to toughen stance on immigration and fend off Reform UK
on.ft.com
October 2, 2025 at 6:49 AM
But I was told that Keir Starmer’s conference speech marked a pivot away from imitating Reform and towards a bold new liberal something! I WAS PROMISED!
on.ft.com/4mGqFPF
on.ft.com/4mGqFPF
Reposted by Willem Sas
Just saw an epic TV rant by Robert #Habeck on the state of the German economy from May 2019.
He was very prescient, and basically everyone around the table thought he’d gone mad. There is a reason why Germany is in this mess.
He was very prescient, and basically everyone around the table thought he’d gone mad. There is a reason why Germany is in this mess.
September 26, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Just saw an epic TV rant by Robert #Habeck on the state of the German economy from May 2019.
He was very prescient, and basically everyone around the table thought he’d gone mad. There is a reason why Germany is in this mess.
He was very prescient, and basically everyone around the table thought he’d gone mad. There is a reason why Germany is in this mess.
Reposted by Willem Sas
Reposted by Willem Sas
Striking stat from @kellycnbc.bsky.social on this:
The rise in treasury yields since Trump’s tariffs were announced leads to an increase in US debt interest payments that is larger than all the DOGE savings.
The rise in treasury yields since Trump’s tariffs were announced leads to an increase in US debt interest payments that is larger than all the DOGE savings.
April 22, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Striking stat from @kellycnbc.bsky.social on this:
The rise in treasury yields since Trump’s tariffs were announced leads to an increase in US debt interest payments that is larger than all the DOGE savings.
The rise in treasury yields since Trump’s tariffs were announced leads to an increase in US debt interest payments that is larger than all the DOGE savings.
Reposted by Willem Sas
Some thoughts on the strategic rationale behind the "Brandmauer” – the cordon sanitaire vis-à-vis the AfD – and the challenges associated with maintaining it. Seems pertinent, given that senior CDU/CSU figures regularly float the idea of ditching it and exploring avenues for closer cooperation.
April 17, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Some thoughts on the strategic rationale behind the "Brandmauer” – the cordon sanitaire vis-à-vis the AfD – and the challenges associated with maintaining it. Seems pertinent, given that senior CDU/CSU figures regularly float the idea of ditching it and exploring avenues for closer cooperation.
Reposted by Willem Sas
Critical reactions on this. That’s fine I get it. Worth gauging and probing US intentions for Europe I’d say.
US provides demand, China mainly supply, making the former despite everything a more logical dance partner for trade surplus EU…
US provides demand, China mainly supply, making the former despite everything a more logical dance partner for trade surplus EU…
WH confirms that China will be subject to an additional 50% tariff in counter-retaliation - effective tomorrow.
The US may be engineering decoupling from China and will want others to follow, break trade in two. EU should explore anti-China as part of deal.
Will push financial system to edge.
The US may be engineering decoupling from China and will want others to follow, break trade in two. EU should explore anti-China as part of deal.
Will push financial system to edge.
April 9, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Critical reactions on this. That’s fine I get it. Worth gauging and probing US intentions for Europe I’d say.
US provides demand, China mainly supply, making the former despite everything a more logical dance partner for trade surplus EU…
US provides demand, China mainly supply, making the former despite everything a more logical dance partner for trade surplus EU…
Reposted by Willem Sas
My name is Bond. Eurobond.
April 10, 2025 at 11:39 AM
My name is Bond. Eurobond.
Reposted by Willem Sas
For academics in the US: the University of Toulouse has quickly put together a program to help bring scholars to France whose work is under attack by the Trump administration. The priorities area are: humanities, climate sciences, health, and space research.
en.univ-toulouse.fr/news/toulous...
en.univ-toulouse.fr/news/toulous...
Toulouse Welcomes U.S. Researchers Facing Unprecedented Challenges | Communauté d'universités et établissements de Toulouse
In response to the targeted and drastic budget cuts threatening scientific research in the United States, the Toulouse academic community is launching an initiative to host researchers whose work is a...
en.univ-toulouse.fr
April 8, 2025 at 9:49 AM
For academics in the US: the University of Toulouse has quickly put together a program to help bring scholars to France whose work is under attack by the Trump administration. The priorities area are: humanities, climate sciences, health, and space research.
en.univ-toulouse.fr/news/toulous...
en.univ-toulouse.fr/news/toulous...
Reposted by Willem Sas
On the one hand, the Trump administration says it wants Europe to spend more on defense. On the other hand, administration officials, including DC attorney nominee Ed Martin, back pro-Russian European politicians and parties who oppose defense spending
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
New Martin disclosures show outreach to right-wing politicians in Europe
Interim D.C. U.S. attorney Ed Martin boosted members of Germany’s AfD, Poland’s Law and Justice, and Viktor Orban’s party in Hungary before taking office in January.
www.washingtonpost.com
April 6, 2025 at 2:54 PM
On the one hand, the Trump administration says it wants Europe to spend more on defense. On the other hand, administration officials, including DC attorney nominee Ed Martin, back pro-Russian European politicians and parties who oppose defense spending
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Reposted by Willem Sas
"We zitten in een polycrisis: begroting, veiligheid, wonen,... Is het wel de moment? Maar wat we aan het doen waren, die voorlopige regering, was erger."
@willemsas.bsky.social. Is een minderheidsregering in Brussel de oplossing? Bekijk hier de #terzake reportage: vrtnws.be/p.j1Zeo9N6dGx
@willemsas.bsky.social. Is een minderheidsregering in Brussel de oplossing? Bekijk hier de #terzake reportage: vrtnws.be/p.j1Zeo9N6dGx
April 1, 2025 at 7:26 PM
"We zitten in een polycrisis: begroting, veiligheid, wonen,... Is het wel de moment? Maar wat we aan het doen waren, die voorlopige regering, was erger."
@willemsas.bsky.social. Is een minderheidsregering in Brussel de oplossing? Bekijk hier de #terzake reportage: vrtnws.be/p.j1Zeo9N6dGx
@willemsas.bsky.social. Is een minderheidsregering in Brussel de oplossing? Bekijk hier de #terzake reportage: vrtnws.be/p.j1Zeo9N6dGx
Reposted by Willem Sas
I have no inside knowledge of this but it sure looks like it was done to placate Trump. It won’t work and it’s shameful. www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Harvard Dismisses Leaders of Center for Middle Eastern Studies | News | The Harvard Crimson
Interim Harvard Dean of Social Science David M. Cutler ’87 dismissed the director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, professor of Turkish Studies Cemal Kafadar, and its associate director, Hist...
www.thecrimson.com
March 29, 2025 at 1:12 PM
I have no inside knowledge of this but it sure looks like it was done to placate Trump. It won’t work and it’s shameful. www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Reposted by Willem Sas
‘It’s become almost the norm’: Misinformation ramping up during election, expert www.ctvnews.ca/edmonton/alb...
Me: "...if you feel like something is playing to your rage, playing to your grievances, those kinds of emotional responses should be a red flag to pause & to double check the veracity..."
Me: "...if you feel like something is playing to your rage, playing to your grievances, those kinds of emotional responses should be a red flag to pause & to double check the veracity..."
‘It’s become almost the norm’: Misinformation ramping up during election, expert says
www.ctvnews.ca
March 27, 2025 at 10:56 AM
‘It’s become almost the norm’: Misinformation ramping up during election, expert www.ctvnews.ca/edmonton/alb...
Me: "...if you feel like something is playing to your rage, playing to your grievances, those kinds of emotional responses should be a red flag to pause & to double check the veracity..."
Me: "...if you feel like something is playing to your rage, playing to your grievances, those kinds of emotional responses should be a red flag to pause & to double check the veracity..."
Reposted by Willem Sas
He's now on to the Houthis, who apparently are horrible.
The Houthis have to say "no mas". It's not explained why the Houthis would be speaking Spanish.
The Houthis have to say "no mas". It's not explained why the Houthis would be speaking Spanish.
March 26, 2025 at 9:37 PM
He's now on to the Houthis, who apparently are horrible.
The Houthis have to say "no mas". It's not explained why the Houthis would be speaking Spanish.
The Houthis have to say "no mas". It's not explained why the Houthis would be speaking Spanish.
Reposted by Willem Sas
Femonationalism 101
"What about all the women being raped by migrants in your country?!"
news.sky.com/video/marjor...
"What about all the women being raped by migrants in your country?!"
news.sky.com/video/marjor...
Marjorie Taylor Greene snaps at Sky correspondent when questioned on leaked Signal chat: 'We don't give a crap about your opinion'
US representative Marjorie Taylor Greene snaps at Sky's Martha Kelner asking about the accidental leaking of sensitive text messages. She responds: "Why don't you go back to your own country".
news.sky.com
March 27, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Femonationalism 101
"What about all the women being raped by migrants in your country?!"
news.sky.com/video/marjor...
"What about all the women being raped by migrants in your country?!"
news.sky.com/video/marjor...