Carlos Oya

Where are we at on ‘policy space’ and making trade and investment rules work for developing countries? - Activism Influence and Change I spent four days discussing ‘policy space’ for trade, industrial and investment policies last week. I haven’t really worked on it since the early 2000s, when I lived and breathed these topics in my a...

Where are we at on ‘policy space’ and making trade and investment rules work for developing countries? Summary of fascinating week's discussions with development leaders at @soas-dld.bsky.social
blogs.lse.ac.uk/activism-inf...
@soaseconomics.bsky.social
@soasuni.bsky.social

Aid cuts and advocacy: could conflict prevention offer a new direction? - Activism Influence and Change In this post, Lauren Anderson, an advocacy and campaigns professional working in conflict and humanitarian response, reflects on the sector’s strategic impasse in the face of aid cuts — and makes the ...

Aid cuts and advocacy: could conflict prevention offer a new direction? Lauren Anderson reflects on the sector’s strategic impasse in the face of aid cuts — and makes the case for a more politically attuned repositioning of conflict prevention efforts.

blogs.lse.ac.uk/activism-inf...

Netanyahu has spent the better part of two decades trying to strong arm the United States into an unprovoked war against Iran and finally found a president stupid enough to do it for him. Unbelievable.

This is going to be a game-changer. If this had been on my undergrad reading list 35 years ago I may have never dropped economics... Pre-ordered! @surbhikesar.bsky.social @soasuni.bsky.social @soasdevelopment.bsky.social @carlosoya.bsky.social @soaseconomics.bsky.social

We just discovered a new Nasty Party.

Immigration myths are everywhere The media is flooded with outright lies and misleading statistics. Countering the falsehoods is arduous work

Plenty of scope for debate on UK immigration policy. It is complicated -but it doesn't have to be toxic.

But we need to tackle the immigration lie machine.

www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/pol...

Meanwhile, in reality…

The stock portfolios of more than two dozen members of Congress outperformed the market in 2024.

This isn't due to luck or skill.

Lawmakers can use privileged information to trade stocks while they’re supposed to be working for you.

Make no mistake, it’s legalized corruption.

People are willing to forgo 15-30% of their wage to avoid hostile work environments.

Women report a stronger distaste for exclusive workplaces and environments with sexual harassment and value hybrid work twice as much in the presence of sexual harassment.

Collis & @clemvaneff.bsky.social

Horrible sense of déja vu reading this ascleiden.nl/content/ascl...?

Trump says the US will help in Asia quake. A former official says the system is now in 'shambles' The effects of Trump administration’s deep cuts in foreign assistance through the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department will likely be tested in any response to the first ...

"Despite cuts, “there has been no impact on our ability to perform those duties,” [State Department Spokesperson] Bruce said

...Meanwhile, staffing cuts at USAID have “decimated” the teams that normally would be coordinating with allies to target rescue and response..."

apnews.com/article/trum...

You'd never imagine the Inquisition would return in XXI century USA.

I received a heartbreaking email today: A paper in a special issue I’m editing is being retracted because one of its authors is afraid of losing their job and their legal status in the U.S. if they publish a scientific study on evolution. Yes, on evolution, nature's engine of diversity.

When you look at the list of institutions they want to defund: libraries, museums, the Smithsonian, public schools, PBS, NPR, archives, you can clearly see that the real threat to an authoritarian regime is an informed and educated public

Trump is cancelling a Republican project to wipe out Aids – putting millions of lives at risk Millions of people worldwide are likely to lose access to anti HIV drugs, and thousands more people could die, after the US cut project funding.

Check out Michael Jennings latest article on @theconversation.com, analysing the impact of US aid cuts on one of the world’s biggest HIV programmes, & the collapse of global cooperation.

📖 Read here: shorturl.at/Hcpku

@naomihossain.bsky.social @carlosoya.bsky.social @laurahammond.bsky.social

rule of law would be pretty cool

a little rule of law as a treat would really rule right now

Reducir la jornada para redistribuir el crecimiento España atraviesa un buen momento y su tejido productivo presenta signos de modernización, pese a las asignaturas pendientes, pero está haciendo un reparto desigual del avance de su economía

La reducción de la jornada laboral repartirá mejor los frutos del crecimiento.

Porque si las políticas públicas no demuestran que el progreso aún es posible, la ciudadanía terminará por abrazar los nuevos vientos reaccionarios.

Escribo en @CincoDiascom

cincodias.elpais.com/economia/202...

Not just a take. Economists have extensively studied and quantified the massive, lasting economic harm created by uncertainty alone.

For example, Carriero et al. REStat 2018 —> doi.org/10.1162/rest...

An epic thread from the unstoppable @alanbeattie.bsky.social on the White House’s incomprehensibly erratic trade policy —>

Why Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger’s new plan to tackle extremist violence is likely to fail The junta-led countries of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have announced a new joint military force to combat jihadist groups in the region.

Check out Fola Aina's latest article on "Why Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger’s new plan to tackle extremist violence is likely to fail" via @uk.theconversation.com

Read full article here➡️ shorturl.at/ieNw5

@soasuni.bsky.social @naomihossain.bsky.social @carlosoya.bsky.social @devcomms.bsky.social

James Ferguson, professor of anthropology and former department chair, dies at 65 James “Jim” Ferguson played a pivotal roles in the department's history and will be remembered for his remarkable character, kindness and contributions to the field.

I am sad to learn of Jim’s passing. He was a great scholar, teacher, and mentor. RIP.

stanforddaily.com/2025/02/19/j...

Evolution of Economic History

1990
Economic Origins of 1848: Did Marx Get it Wrong?

2000
Causes & Consequences of 1848: Insights from Trade Theory

2010
The Long March: Persistent Long-Run Effects of the 1848 Revolts

2020
Can Rebellion Improve State Capacity? the Causal Effect of 1848 on Taxes

More than 20 years ago Karakacili published the only directly measured estimates of labour productivity in English late mediaeval agriculture, from farms in 3 counties using the manorial accounts of Ramsey Abbey, and found labour productivity almost as high as in 1800.

Here is my extremely brief (potted) history of institutions in macro-development thinking -- just before the AJR intervention. I had most of these thoughts prior to the Nobel week, but now they are crystallising.

Mick Lynch wants a progressive wealth tax with the richest paying the same as everyone else on PAYE, 47%.

That would bring in hundred of billions, it is time for the richest to pay what everyone else has been paying their whole lives.

Fantastic interactive final session on day 3 of our Future Leaders Programme. @carlosoya.bsky.social & @possibilist.bsky.social take participants through new thinking Agriculture, Growth and Development 🍊🫐