Lars P. Syll

Alesina’s ‘expansionary austerity’ — a tale of scientific delusion Alberto Alesina has returned to the debate on budget deficits, austerity, and growth … Now, with fellow economists Carlo Favero and Francesco Giavazzi, Alesina has written a new book entitled Austerity: When It Works and When It Doesn’t … New book, old tune. The authors’ conclusion, in a nutshell, is that “in certain cases the direct output cost of spending cuts is more than compensated for...

Please tell me what we’ve learned  [embedded content] [h/t Nanikore]

Julia Kristeva — renowned​ literary theorist and spy Throughout the recent, highly public exchange of claims and counterclaims, accusations and counteraccusations, Kristeva has expressed concern that her reputation as an engaged intellectual would be unfairly and permanently harmed. In truth, however, the damage had been done long ago, the cumulative effect of her uncritical support, as a member of the Tel Quel circle, for left-wing dictatorships during the...

Även den som uppskattar konkurrens och privat utförande på skolans område ser nog skandalen kring Vetenskapsskolan som problematisk. Skolans VD har omhändertagits av Säpo, sannolikt beroende på radikalislamistiska kopplingar … Vetenskapsskolan må vara ett extremt fall, men också symptomatiskt för den modell för privat utförande som gäller i skolan … [I] den svenska modellen [ses det] snarast som en rättighet att driva fristående skolor medan det är upp till tillståndgivande...

Sie hat das Glück in eine Reihenfolge gebracht. Einer der glücklichsten Momente ihres Lebens war es demnach, als sie spät in der Nacht die Lichter Venedigs in ihrem Zugfenster aufleuchten sah, im Jahr 1960. Die Grenzen zwischen dem Osten und dem Westen Europas waren geschlossen, es war ihre erste Italienreise, und ihr Pass wurde bald wieder eingezogen. Als die ungarische Philosophin Ágnes Heller, deren Werk die Aufmerksamkeit für das mögliche Glück durchzieht, diese Episode in...

Economics education needs a revolution Economics has become a rather quaint and highly guarded discipline. We urgently need to update economics education to change this – because economics, as taught in universities, does not reflect or speak to many of the issues of the real world, be they political, environmental or social. Take the tricky entanglement between politics and economics, which economists tend to try to avoid. Such an attempt is futile....

 [embedded content] Tomorrow is Mother’s Day here in Sweden. This one is in loving memory of my mother Lisbeth, and of Kristina, beloved wife and mother of David and Tora. Those whom the gods love die young. But in dreams, I can hear your name. And in dreams, We will meet again. When the seas and mountains fall And we come to end of days, In the dark I hear a call Calling me there I will go there And back again. [embedded content]

Adorno: Jargon der Eigentlichkeit  [embedded content]

10 Jahre Finanzkrise: Die Party der Banker geht weiter  [embedded content]

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