Somebody - #sophiefromromania - is keeping a close eye on my productivity today

#Sophiefromromania taking her neighbourhood watch duties very seriously this morning

"the [UK] Government is considering how to create greater flexibility to charge above marginal costs for more public sector data assets without undermining the benefits of Open Data" www.gov.uk/government/c...

This reinforces my view that government can use the AI revolution to raise competition. Insist that Rightmove/Zoopla listing data is accessible by API, and provide a national registry of home sales that sellers can put their homes on directly. Chatbots provide search. www.ft.com/content/4421...

But at least no element of the increase was performance-related for either of them, so that's ok....

Happy to see one of my PhD chapters published in the Review of Income and Wealth! In this paper, we used Google Trends to measure the depreciation of intangibles. Read the article here: dx.doi.org/10.1111/roiw... This project is funded and supported by @escoeorg.bsky.social & the ONS.

NEW! Big Wood is a rural spot, far away from a main road. It is a wood of oak, ash, hazel and field maple. It's night and the air is still. Another storm is brewing but for now the skies are quiet. 299 Owls of Big Wood (*sleep safe* with owls) > radiolento.podbean.com/e/299-owls-of-big-wood

#SophiefromRomania has had a very relaxing and uneventful day - and from Cambridge, the prof has complained that there’s been no picture

With the likely change in leadership to Andy Burnham and eyes on "Manchesterism" and the way municipal govt can contest privatisation, this is a good time to read our new paper on: How places are contesting the privatisation of local public services academic.oup.com/cjres/articl...

🚨 A deep dataviz dive into UK pay at listed firms www.ft.com/content/c49b...

Martha Lane Fox argues that focusing on “winning” AI distracts from what really matters: building institutions, safeguards, and public readiness to ensure the technology benefits society.

Nice overview of our open-access book, Auditing AI in @the-renovator.bsky.social www.democracyrenovator.com/p/july-13-te... mitpress.mit.edu/978026205172...

The Kiss 1908: most famous work of Gustav Klimt, Austrian Symbolist artist, founder of Vienna Secession, born #OTD 1862. Inspired by Japanese art, he became known for his ‘Gold Phase’ large-scale portraits, with flat, dense decoration and gold leaf. Österreichische Galerie, Belvedere, Wien

This interview with him is quite interesting, and it describes his own accommodations as a disabled academic. I feel genuinely bad for him, because it's clear that he wanted his students safe and supported, and then this happens.

I was one of the economists who signed this statement on "AI’s Transformation of the Economy” - whatever your view about AI, we should try to understand the economic impacts and figure out how to make sure it benefits society. wemustactnow.ai

A big day for #Sophiefromromania as she got her first paddling lesson from her pal Juno

A group of economists and tech leaders (including 15 Nobel laureates, and the chief economists at Open AI and Anthropic) are warning about the disruptions A.I. could cause, and calling on policymakers to prepare. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/13/b... #EconSky

Prof @dianecoyle1859.bsky.social argues in her essay that the arms race framing not only distorts politics, but also actively undermines economic security.

Call for papers/save the date for the UK Digital Economy Network annual conference in November - we @bennettschool.cam.ac.uk are hosting this year competitionpolicy.ac.uk/news/call-fo...

We (@carefultrouble.bsky.social) have a piece of work on public adoption of voice transcription tools coming out later this year, based on work with a group of local authorities. If you must use it, here are some best practice guidelines

“We need an Ozempic for cars. They are growing at a phenomenal rate, wreaking havoc on roads, squeezing out smaller vehicles and endangering pedestrians. Like ever-hungry teenagers, cars in Europe are growing on average a centimetre wider every year.” Don’t repeat North America’s mistake, Europe.

Some thoughts from me on the challenges which the UK's unbalanced devolution model poses for Andy Burnham www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/blog/burnham...

Worth listening IMO. What does Andy Burnham's record tell us abt how he'll respond to future challenges? With @dianecoyle1859.bsky.social, Michael Jacobs, Emeritus prof political economy Sheffield Uni, Scottish Sec Douglas Alexander, former Cabinet Sec Simon Case, Lord Heseltine, Liam Halligan etc.

'The proportion of spend on context is what suffers when your sole metric is economic growth.....the public sphere has convinced itself that a data point trumps a deep description, a graph is more reliable than a graphic illustration or indeed a graphic novel. But we need both.' 3/3

What a moving interview on R4 BH with Peter Hennessey - says he’s retiring because his Parkinson’s means he can longer think clearly, but he sounded far clearer and made more sense than most people you hear on the radio

open.substack.com/pub/rorycell... how soon after a #parkinsons diagnosis should you start to take levodopa? We debate this contentious issue on the latest episode of #MoversandShakers the hit podcast about living with Parkinson’s

While I didn’t get to bed until 1am, #sophiefromromania and the prof had an early night so before 7 we were heading for the park. A decent walk, a brief flurry of barking at the speeding collie, then home to a #bigbreakfast

Second and final batch this season. Plus a freezer drawer full.

Maybe Cory Doctorow has read my book about all the data we don’t have on the digital economy….

Get this in the clubs of Clacton. youtu.be/iNp16EPj1Us?...

As it happens, tomorrow will be Mollie’s 5th year anniversary at @millmedia.bsky.social! She joined straight out of Manchester Uni (UofM, that is…) and has become such a star. If you value this kind of work and you want is to find more Mollies, please join up 🙏 manchestermill.co.uk#/portal/signup

When @molliesimpson.bsky.social started reporting on the renamed Bolton University two years ago, I had *no idea* it would turn into one of the biggest scandals in the history of UK higher education. Proper, proper reporting of the kind that a functioning society relies upon.

A close encounter for #sophiefromromania this morning

Great to see so many jobs popping up, @joshih.bsky.social. @millmedia.bsky.social seems to be riding a wave of momentum. Keep up the great work.

Another brutally hot night, even at 6:30 it's already 24C outside and hotter indoors. Still, a good early walk with #Sophiefromromania as long as we kept a safe distance from the dog ahead

How can governments make better decisions in an increasingly uncertain world? In a new blog, Geoff White argues that decades of centralisation have limited the UK's ability to learn & adapt. Could "devolution plus"—championed by Andy Burnham— create a more resilient state? shorturl.at/fNwBL

Last night, we welcomed Dame Fiona Reynolds for the final Reynolds Lecture, challenging us to place nature, people & place at the heart of governance. She reflected on how 'beauty' is fundamental to human wellbeing, good public policy, & a sustainable future. View the photos: flic.kr/s/aHBqjCYKPm

The original Tesla: Nikola Tesla, Serbian engineer, invented AC electricity supply systems, pioneered wireless communication, born #OTD 1856. #NikolaTeslaDay Wellcome Collection @wellcometrust.bsky.social

There was a (missed) chance to do this in 2009 with Project Kangaroo - blocked by the then-Competition Commission. Thinking has moved on a lot so maybe this will happen now: www.ft.com/content/1318... BBC and Channel 4 in talks to create British streaming champion

I’m thrilled about my conference venue - in the univ buildings in the skeleton of the former steelworks at Belval. It’s beautiful

22C at 07:00 - a tropical night. So #Sophiefromromania and I had a nice gentle walk, met a friend who gave her a treat then home to breakfast on the terrace

The #BBC has published a report on its economic impact www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/...

Big read from @lucyfisher.ft.com & Charles Clover on the weakening of UK’s hard and soft power. Soundings from diplomats show ‘not only has much of the country’s military firepower withered but its image across the world is also much diminished’ www.ft.com/content/17eb...

A free resource that some people might find interesting. As well as my research, my forthcoming book stems fram a course "Economics of Betting Markets" that I have taught in recent years at UCD. The lecture notes are now freely available at www.karlwhelan.com/bettingmarke...

I'm hiring a Living Wage Intern based in my Westminster Office. If you are passionate about policy, Parliament, and care about the people of Newcastle, apply here: chionwurahmp.com/2026/07/job-...

And Burcu's report on understanding growth in the creative industries is here. 3/3 www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/publications...

Nice write up of a fishbowl discussion on creative labour, synthetic vision and AI featuring my @bennettschool.cam.ac.uk colleagues Burcu Sevde Selvi and @drbethkitson.bsky.social. 1/3 www.lcfi.ac.uk/news-events/...

No #Sophiefromromania it’s too hot to play with that cat this morning

BIG NEWS from @molliesimpson.bsky.social: Three people have been arrested on suspicion of money laundering, fraud and bribery at University of Greater Manchester. Police say opened their investigation a year ago “after we received allegations from The Mill". manchestermill.co.uk/breaking-thr...

open.substack.com/pub/rorycell... coming this morning - the obscure clinical drug trial for a sleep disorder that could unlock the Parkinson’s puzzle. Subscribe here to get it in your inbox