Ralf Martin
@mondpanther.bsky.social
📤 702
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Professor of Economics @ Imperial College Business School, London Proud resident of Parlo
Damn it...
www.economist.com/science-and-...
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Is dark chocolate actually healthy?
We assess whether that tempting idea is too good to be true
https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2025/10/03/is-dark-chocolate-actually-healthy?giftId=2148ce58-c618-4be3-a66e-6251be56f82d&utm_campaign=gifted_article
about 5 hours ago
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This article is quite a tour de force: from Hannah Arendt via Trump to a critique RCTs.
www.theguardian.com/news/2025/oc...
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A critique of pure stupidity: understanding Trump 2.0
If the first term of Donald Trump provoked anxiety over the fate of objective knowledge, the second has led to claims we live in a world-historical age of stupid, accelerated by big tech. But might th...
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/oct/02/critique-pure-stupidity-understanding-donald-trump-2
about 15 hours ago
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Finally somebody telling it how it is....
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
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Migration is Britain’s superpower. Our future depends on embracing that truth, not denying it | Zack Polanski
Labour has lost its nerve. At our party conference this weekend, we’re gathering to set things right, says Green party leader Zack Polanski
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/oct/03/migration-britain-superpower-labour-green-party
1 day ago
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Ian Dunt
6 days ago
As a society, our financial system around information is insane. It is the kind of system you would create if you wanted everyone to go insane.
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Reform Party UK Exposed
8 days ago
Nigel Farage & Alex Phillips have been awfully quiet about Nathan Gill pleading guilty to eight counts of bribery relating to pro-Russia statements made in European parliament and articles. Just wanted to refresh their memories about how they were all a team through that period.
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Stephen Bush
6 days ago
Getting mighty tired of the meme on here of “oh, it is just so difficult for the government to set the agenda”. The government (which literally employs thousands of press officers) is setting the agenda - it’s just that it is setting it on toxic ground it can’t win.
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International Growth Centre
15 days ago
🌍 Only 3 days to go until
#LSEEnvironmentWeek
! 📆22–25 Sept Join us online via Zoom to explore innovation, climate solutions & sustainable growth with leading economists & experts. Registration & programme:
lse-environment-week.com/environment-...
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Dmitry Grozoubinski
19 days ago
This is as good as everyone is saying it is.
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That's how chatgpt sees me:
19 days ago
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Ed Davey
19 days ago
It should be simple: people who cheer on violence in the UK can't enrich themselves with British taxpayers’ money. That means Elon Musk – no government contracts for you, no energy supply license for you.
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Ian Dunt
19 days ago
This really shouldn't even need saying, let alone agitating for. It is a truism more than a proposition.
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Alan Lester
20 days ago
It’s a start. But if Starmer is to stay PM after the largest show of support for the racist far right in British history, he needs to stop fearing the far right’s propaganda influence among voters & mobilise a progressive challenge for hearts & minds.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
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Britain will ‘never surrender flag’ to far-right protesters, Starmer says
PM condemns attacks against police, racist intimidation of minorities and use of flag to instil fear
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/sep/14/britain-far-right-protesters-flag-keir-starmer?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
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Ed Davey
20 days ago
I've written to Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage, urging them to join me in condemning Elon Musk's dangerous remarks inciting violence yesterday. As leaders, we must stand together and make clear Musk will face serious consequences for these actions.
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The cleanest way to cross the channel:
www.saillink.co.uk/book-now/
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SailLink - Book your cross-Channel adventure | Sailing ferry Dover
Book your cross-channel ferry with SailLink! Travel between Dover and Boulogne for a unique sailing experience. Secure your spot today for a seamless journey, by foot or by bike !
https://www.saillink.co.uk/book-now/
23 days ago
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Patrick Dunleavy
26 days ago
The problems with Reform UK’s immigration policy
blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
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The problems with Reform UK’s immigration policy - British Politics and Policy at LSE
Reform UK's policy on immigration of "detect, detain, deport" will be highly costly, involve sending money to authoritarian regimes, and have uncertain results.
https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/the-problems-with-reform-uks-immigration-policy/
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I can confirm that cycling in Paris is an absolute pleasure.
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about 1 month ago
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Centre for Economic Policy Research
3 months ago
📢
#CallForPapers
To honour the memory of Ghazala Azmat, the Economics Department of SciencesPo is creating an award in her name. Junior researchers can submit a paper in economics of discrimination, gender, education & organizational
#economics
. Submit by 31 August.
cepr.org/events/ghaza...
#EconSky
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Praxis, for migrants and refugees
about 1 month ago
📢
@jdportes.bsky.social
"We have yet to hear a Cabinet Minister point out that migrants now fill 1/5 jobs in the UK, that they are more likely to be employed & less likely to claim benefits. Diversity should be our greatest strength, and it is that argument that anti-immigration zealots fear most."
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Jonathan Portes
about 1 month ago
Very important work by
@lgilbert.co
comprehensively dissecting and demolishing the myth spread by politicians and "thinktanks" that recent migrants are likely to be a drain on public finances.
www.laurenpolicy.com/p/are-recent...
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Are recent immigrants a "ticking time bomb" for British public finances?
At a few recent policy events, I keep hearing that dependents on visas are a Problem.
https://www.laurenpolicy.com/p/are-recent-immigrants-a-ticking-time
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It's good to remember that the number of UK asylum applications is higher than in previous years, the current number is comparable to the early 00s:
about 1 month ago
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Anand Menon
3 months ago
BBC news seems to have adopted what I presume is the government’s distinction between those crossing in small boats and ‘genuine asylum seekers’. They should reconsider, not least given the proportion of the latter who have their asylum claims approved.
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Last chance to submit papers for LSE environment week 2025.... deadline is July 14:
www.lse-environment-week.com/environment-...
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LSE Environment Week 2025 — LSE Environment Week
https://www.lse-environment-week.com/environment-week-2025
3 months ago
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Tony Yates
3 months ago
Difficult to understand entering into new critical long term dependencies on a state that seems to be abandoning the values that the nuclear deterrent is designed to protect.
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Sue Wilson MBE
3 months ago
"It's enough to make one move to Spain. If only I could". 🤣🤣
bylinetimes.com/2025/06/23/n...
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'Nine Years on from Brexit: And I've Had Enough of London Too!'
Inspired by the insights of Matthew Goodwin and David Goodhart, Professor Ivor Oddgrin documents the terrifying change that is happening before our eyes
https://bylinetimes.com/2025/06/23/nine-years-on-from-brexit-and-ive-had-enough-of-london-too/
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Otto English
3 months ago
Just 24 hours until DAN HANNAN day. How will you be celebrating?
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www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
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Western leaders call for diplomacy, but they won’t stop this war – they refuse to even name its cause | Nesrine Malik
The political centre sees the US and Israel’s war on Iran as a crisis to be managed, while the gap between their detached politics and bloody rhetoric widens, says Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jun/23/us-iran-israel-war-western-leaders-diplomacy?utm_term=Autofeed&CMP=bsky_gu&utm_medium=&utm_source=Bluesky#Echobox=1750656220
3 months ago
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Key diagram
www.ft.com/content/193f...
3 months ago
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Christian Flachsland
4 months ago
🚨Climate politics job alert🚨 Interested in the opportunity to focus on your own climate politics research project for 1 year in a stimulating and supportive environment at a leading university in Berlin? Open to postdocs & graduates.
hertie-school.dvinci-easy.com/en/p/en/jobs...
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Postdoctoral Researcher / Research Associate - Climate Politics (gn) full-time (40 hours/week)
https://hertie-school.dvinci-easy.com/en/p/en/jobs/80968/postdoctoral-researcher-research-associate-climate-politics-gn-full-time-40-hoursweek
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concerning...
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4 months ago
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In case you are in Berlin tomorrow and want to hear me go on about virtual power plants:
rserc-berlin.github.io/seminar/Ralf...
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Ralf Martin (Imperial College London)
Title: Building Virtual Power Plants: Incentives and Automation for Demand-Side Flexibility (with Shefali Khanna & Mirabelle Muûls)
https://rserc-berlin.github.io/seminar/Ralf-Martin/
5 months ago
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Dave Vetter
5 months ago
Seriously. Paradigm-shifting stuff.
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every word...
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5 months ago
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Jonathan Portes
5 months ago
This won't have much impact on net migration, but will hinder integration, promote "churn", and increase hardship. Mean-spirited, unnecessary, and unpopular.
www.ft.com/content/f844...
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Migrants will have to spend decade in UK before applying to stay
Government to also end visas for care workers as part of immigration clampdown
https://www.ft.com/content/f844df48-09a3-47bf-b467-a2cb5bc9a307
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I would suggest what is causing any damage is this kind of rhetoric:
5 months ago
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Kees van der Leun
5 months ago
After decades of solar PV deployment, the world crossed the 1 TW (a million MW) line in 2022. Just two years later, after adding 0.6 GW in 2024, we already crossed the 2 TW mark too!
@solarpowereu.bsky.social
via
@olofvandergaag.bsky.social
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Climate contributions instead of offsets seems like a good way forward?
newclimate.org/sites/defaul...
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https://newclimate.org/sites/default/files/2023-07/NewClimate_GuideClimateContributions_Jul23.pdf
5 months ago
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exactly
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5 months ago
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Shuang Zhang
6 months ago
🚨PhD alert! In light of everything happening in the world, the Econ Department at Imperial College is conducting a second round of admissions for fall 2025! Applications due April 30, offers in mid-May. Please spread the word! More details:
#EconPhD
@mondpanther.bsky.social
@samasher.bsky.social
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https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/55wkl2qyzse92nuv7gllz/2025-Imperial-EPP-2nd-Round-Application-Call.pdf?rlkey=1fl4l14k3plec7oxegiribjmz&st=0r9jl60z&dl=0
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I have had my current phone (a lovely oneplus) for nearly 6 years now.
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6 months ago
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Classic
add a skeleton here at some point
6 months ago
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Avishay BSG (Ben-Sasson-Gordis)
6 months ago
Fantastic analogy
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An insanely beautiful book...
www.penguin.co.uk/books/456705...
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Meditations for Mortals
Stop trying to sort your life out. Start living.Our lives can feel defined by the struggle with overwhelm, endless decisions and striving to be productive. Wouldn’t it be good to stop doing all that? ...
https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/456705/meditations-for-mortals-by-burkeman-oliver/9781529939538
6 months ago
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David McKenzie
6 months ago
The research group at the Workd Bank is doing an off-cycle hire for a trade economist
worldbankgroup.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
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Research Economist
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solv...
https://worldbankgroup.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/32367?c=worldbankgroup&lang=en-US
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Jay 🦋
6 months ago
Great writeup of the
#ATmosphere
conference. It was organized by the community — the protocol that powers Bluesky is taking on a life of its own.
techcrunch.com/2025/03/25/a...
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A world without Caesars: How the ATProto community is rebuilding the web to return power to the people | TechCrunch
The first in-person gathering devoted to those building with the AT Protocol — which powers Bluesky — was held in Seattle.
https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/25/a-world-without-caesars-how-the-atproto-community-is-rebuilding-the-web-to-return-power-to-the-people/
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Financial Times
6 months ago
An ominous shadow falls over mRNA technology | Opinion
https://www.ft.com/content/70654d6d-48ad-45be-8a10-dcd1a75ffc5e
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An ominous shadow falls over mRNA technology | Opinion
Once researchers begin wondering whether their government might pull the rug from under them, the damage is done
https://www.ft.com/content/70654d6d-48ad-45be-8a10-dcd1a75ffc5e
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Simone Tagliapietra
6 months ago
🚨 Energy & climate job posts at Bruegel - Apply by April 6 🚨 As we keep expanding Bruegel's work on energy and climate, we are recruiting: - 1 energy and climate economist:
www.bruegel.org/careers/ener...
- 2 research assistants:
www.bruegel.org/careers/rese...
Please share/apply! 🚀
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Energy and climate economist
Deadline for applications: 6 April 2025 23:59 CET
https://www.bruegel.org/careers/energy-and-climate-economist-0
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WIRED
6 months ago
Companies in the EU are starting to look for ways to ditch Amazon, Google, and Microsoft cloud services amid fears of rising security risks from the US. But cutting ties won’t be easy.
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Trump’s Aggression Sours Europe on US Cloud Giants
Companies in the EU are starting to look for ways to ditch Amazon, Google, and Microsoft cloud services amid fears of rising security risks from the US. But cutting ties won’t be easy.
https://wrd.cm/4iTLKF0
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I believe it when I charge it...but it would be great news...
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7 months ago
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Dani Rodrik
7 months ago
This book is fantastic—informative, witty, and revealing about Facebook, Zuckerberg, and senior executives Read it while yu can.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
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Meta stops former Facebook director from promoting critical memoir
Social media company wins US emergency ruling preventing ex-director from publicising her book.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq5zyq0250wo
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Bruegel
7 months ago
📣 CALL FOR APPLICATIONS Bruegel's energy and climate team is expanding! ⚡ We are recruiting 1️⃣ a full-time economist, and 2️⃣ a research assistant. Apply by 6th April 2025, 23:59 CET! 🔗 Energy and climate economist:
buff.ly/BOnQSOC
🔗 Research assistant on energy and climate:
buff.ly/lwchlzq
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