Malcolm Fairbrother

There will be benefits for some U.S. industries, costs for others. Same in the EU.

The fact that Trump sees tariffs as a win, and according to this deal the U.S. will charge tariffs, doesn't mean Americans have gained something at Europeans' expense. Rather, there will costs to pay on both sides.

A lot of coverage of the big trade deal suggests the EU somehow lost out bigtime... and the U.S. "won".
To be clear: The U.S. "won" only a game whose rules emanated from Trump's mind.
Mainly, EU products will now be more expensive for U.S. consumers to buy, as their government taxes imports.

Quality of scientific papers questioned as academics ‘overwhelmed’ by the millions published Widespread mockery of AI-generated rat with giant penis in one paper brings problem to public attention

Hmm…

“Eventually these papers will all be written by an AI agent and then another AI agent will actually read them, analyse them and produce a summary for humans. I actually think that’s what’s going to happen.”

One or two lectureships in the sociology department at Uppsala.
Excellent applicants wanted!

EU\'s Climate Law presents a new way to get to 2040 The European Commission today proposed an amendment to the EU Climate Law, setting a 2040 EU climate target of 90% reduction in net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, compared to 1990 levels, as requeste...

Important climate-related announcement by the European Commission today.
Not as ambitious as green groups wanted, but some MS's (Italy, Poland, Czechia, partly France and Germany) refused to go further.
I've read only DK, ES, FI, LU, NL, and SI were fully supportive.

ec.europa.eu/commission/p...

Canada is lucky to have you!

Headline result: ”exposure to most types of extreme weather event does not predict policy support”.
Thus far, this and other papers suggest experiencing extreme weather events does not make a notable difference to people’s views.
It might yet start doing that. But not yet.

Budapest: At least 100,000 people defied Viktor Orbán’s ban & to marched in the largest LGBTQ+ Pride event in Hungary's history

This looks great! I would be interested in taking this.

However, it's in the middle of the night, for us here in Europe... any chance you would consider running this again sometime, so it's during our daytime?

Yep. Disproportionately likely to come to Sweden to take high-paying tech jobs (and so they contribute a lot in tax).

That's a good record to play on repeat!

Plus of course this whole exercise is a big simplification generally.

And even if some groups are net-costs (e.g., refugees) that doesn't mean admitting them was bad. I'm proud of Sweden precisely as a country that has accepted many refugees--a virtuous act.

Uppdrag att analysera migrationens nettoeffekter Konjunkturinstitutet gör prognoser och analyser av svensk och internationell ekonomi.

Yes, you're correct--my language was a little imprecise.

If you want to read the summary, all the materials are here:
www.konj.se/publikatione...

This is great.
The Swedish government asked the National Institute of Economic Research to calculate the net economic costs of immigrants... and they came back with the answer that immigrants contribute to the economy, overall, while native-born Swedes are a net cost!
#nottheansweryouwerelookingfor

Title and abstract. Title: Long-Term Time Horizons and Support for Public Investment. Abstract: Generating public support for long term public investment may require understanding what citizens perceive as the “long term” in politics and how these perceptions shape their preferences. Across two studies, we find that UK citizens generally understand “long term” as 5–10 years. These perceptions appear to shape support for a real, salient, recent case of large-scale public investment: the October 2024 UK budget. Study 1 shows that stating the economic effects of the budget's public investment measures will come “in 50 years' time" rather than “over the longer term” reduces support—with some evidence the effect may be driven by those with the shortest perceived time horizons. Study 2 reveals that when the 5-year benefits of investment—within voters' typical long-term time horizon—are known, highlighting its 50-year benefits lowers support for public investment. But across the board, we find that a majority supports public investment when made aware of its economic effects over any time frame. These findings improve understandings of voters' purported short-termism in a contingent real-world context, with implications for the communication of long-term public policy.

Our paper “Long-Term Time Horizons and Support for Public Investment” is open access @psjeditor.bsky.social (w/ @karlpike.bsky.social @philipjcowley.bsky.social).

Whether the public supports policy that pays off in the long term depends on what “long term” means.

doi.org/10.1111/psj.70040

"The Universities Are the Enemy”: Why Europe Must Act Now The EU should welcome US scholars fleeing Trump’s assault on academia—and lead in global innovation and freedom.

"European support for American academics represents a pragmatic opportunity that the United States capitalised on more than 80 years ago. Following the Nazis’ rise to power in Germany, American universities became sanctuaries ... Today, Europe has the chance to mirror that historical moment."

Statement by the Board of Uppsala University on the situation in Gaza - Uppsala University

Very pleased to see my university's board has made this statement.

www.uu.se/en/news/2025...

Reminder that earlier naturalization leads to better integration of immigrants. Extending the period necessary for settlement in the UK will have exactly the opposite effect of what Starmer and the Labour leadership claim. "Migrants first have to prove themselves" is a nativist trope and bad policy.

An excellent discussion by @fredericmerand.bsky.social of the potential benefits, costs, and risks of Canada seeking EU membership, or at least greater cooperation with Europe.

www.ecsa-c.ca/post/canada-...

How is clean electricity doing globally? Clean electricity hits 40% globally as solar keeps doubling every two years and China's energy revolution outpaces the rest of the world.

There was a lot going on this week, so maybe you missed this pod on the current state of global electricity, but it is really worth your time. Tons of insights in here, some of which will surprise you. Perhaps a chain with some charts?

The problem with most machine-based random number generators is that they’re not TRULY random, so if you need genuine randomness it is sometimes necessary to link your code to an external random process like a physical noise source or the current rate of US tariffs on a given country.

The consumer carbon tax is gone as of today. What will that mean for your wallet? | CBC News Savings at the gas pump will be the biggest, most immediate change, according to experts. But the loss of the carbon rebate will also have an impact.

On this day in history, Canada joins Australia as only the second country to have a carbon tax... and get rid of it. No idea why, as it was a great policy, paying for rebates that low-income families in particular will now miss.

No discussion of the climate. But drivers of gas-guzzlers, rejoice!

Opinion | The Problem With Sweden Is Sweden (Gift Article) The country’s backlash against migration stems from a deeper discontent.

Pretty good characterization of Sweden today, and migration politics here.

One quibble: The supposed crimewave is a bit exaggerated. (Sweden is still quite a safe country, and the murder rate is lower than in the 70s and 80s.)

‘The heat you need at a reasonable price’: how district heating can speed the switch to clean energy In Sweden, most residential heating and hot water comes from heating networks – helping to pool resources and innovation

I live in Stockholm, I have district heating, and I approve this message.

(Unfortunately my house is not in the picture, however.)

Trump threatens EU and Canada with even bigger tariffs as trade war snowballs The U.S. president warns Brussels and Ottawa not to team up against America — or face consequences.

The possibility that Canada and the EU will cooperate in resisting Trump's bullying is now, it appears, beginning to worry Trump.

www.politico.eu/article/trum...

These 21 House Republicans Want to Preserve Energy Tax Credits For those keeping score, that’s three more than wanted to preserve them last year.

This was the political genius of the Inflation Reduction Act:
heatmap.news/sparks/barba...

European Union, what are you waiting for? Build Starline, and we'll come!

www.euronews.com/travel/2025/...

OPINION: Swedish media must get better at covering immigrant perspectives Swedish journalists excel at portraying the victims of immigration crackdowns in other countries – but domestic coverage leaves a lot to be desired, The Local’s Paul O’Mahony argues.

Well said. In Sweden, immigrants are largely objects rather than subjects.

Thanks to @paulomahony.mastodon.nu.ap.brid.gy.

Fox News anchor, Jesse Watters finds it “personally offensive” that Canadians refuse to be annexed by the US: “That’s what everyone in the world wants—American citizenship.”

American Imperialism is on full show.

How in the world can Canada rank lower?

Call for Submissions – GLEN Open Modules

You can now submit proposals for modules to the GLEN study and contribute to environmental and social science research.

Submission details: glen-studie.de/en/offene-mo...
#EnvironmentalResearch #SurveyResearch #SocialScience