Category: Worth Your Time

1. Neoliberalism’s roots date to a time when the rich wanted to protect their assets by confirming the precedence of voluntary trade over government intervention, but that meaning shifted to “pro-market” in the 1980s and now “crony capitalism” in the eyes of many. What’s the real meaning of neo-liberalism? It depends.
2. It’s time for portable identity and a user-centric redesign of Facebook.
3. Want to buy and sell in a really free market? Try Open Bazaar.
4. The Dutch consumers association goes after packaging lies. 
5. A prose poem on the wonders of water
6. Cruel conditions (death in a Soviet gulag) can teach us about human nature.
7. Repeating themes (of humanity)
8. The origins of “well-regulated militia”
9. The OECD points out that cities should align their planning with tax (and other incentives) because — no duh — incentives can undermine plans.
10. Are you excited to have a “circular economy”? Who isn’t? The researchers who found 114 different definitions of the term. Which one do you choose?

 

1. Illiberal democracy seems to mean that Hungarian politicians can sell residency for cash
2. Power is diffusing. Thus, there’s a need for more governance, at all levels of society
3. The geography (rural vs urban vs suburban) of America’s divisions
4. Surfers, property rights, the commons and gentrification in San Francisco
5. What’s killing Americans? A primer on fentanyl
6. Cooperation varies as water does, as a solid, liquid or vapor
7. Sure, “try everything” to counter climate change, but not every idea is a good one
8. The IMF has a special issue on digitalization and crypto (including this gem to “tax crypto”, this history of the pros/cons of fiat money, and LaGuarde’s wisdom on wait and see.
9. Saving Curitiba and Vancouver from [excess] cars and roads
10. A long look at Coke’s attempt to be “water neutral.” I think the journalist is a little too harsh on the company, given the massive issues with water management at larger scales, but it’s a good exposé of corporate and activist failures to understand water’s complexity. One big mistake: blaming Coke for the footprint of its supply chain when the real blame for “water use” falls with the consumers of the products.

I read a lot, and I think you may enjoy reading these:

1. Stuff your agenda, and you will lose time. Leave space to breathe.
2. The Big Four accounting firms: “too few to fail, but definitely failing investors“
3. The Russian mafia are growing in America, often with help from Trump and his cronies
4. Some options for privatization in Saudi Arabia [pdf] discusses water, oil, etc.
5. How to Build a Smart City (an insightful podcast)
6. Rich kids do better on the marshmallow test because their homes are calmer
7. I watched “Downsizing,” a Matt Damon movie who’s plot revolves around some subtle discussions of sustainability and community. Recommended.
8. Tech-culture: Customer feedback is worthless and longing for community 
9. The decline of the Fourth Estate (reporters too lazy to check sources or find stories)
10. Logic is hard.
11. These villagers have kept their hand pumps working, with local rules of use

H/T to ED