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benbraun.bsky.social
Benjamin Braun
@benbraun.bsky.social
9K followers 950 following 790 posts

Political economist @ LSE | Finance, central banking & more | benjaminbraun.org

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benbraun.bsky.social
Benjamin Braun @benbraun.bsky.social · Jul 1
🚨New article🚨 The consensus is that contestation pushed central banks to talk 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 about inequality & climate.

Our theory: At first, CBs seek to ward off politicization by talking 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 about controversial topics.

We tested this 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐡𝐲𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬.🧵
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Screenshot of the title page of linked article: "Noisy Politics, Quiet Technocrats: Strategic Silence by Central Banks" By Benjamin Braun and Maximilian Düsterhöft

benbraun.bsky.social
Benjamin Braun @benbraun.bsky.social · 28m
Wild.

benbraun.bsky.social
Benjamin Braun @benbraun.bsky.social · 28m
"Drawing on newly unsealed archival material, this article demonstrates that the book's central claims are false, and that the authors knew they were false. ... the group actively proselytized well before the prophecy failed and quickly abandoned their beliefs afterward."

Was too good to be true.
asociologist.bsky.social Dan Hirschman @asociologist.bsky.social · 45m
"In 1954, Dorothy Martin predicted an apocalyptic flood and promised her followers rescue by flying saucers. When neither arrived, she recanted, her group dissolved, and efforts to proselytize ceased. But When Prophecy Fails (1956), the now-canonical account of the event, claimed the opposite..."
Debunking “When Prophecy Fails”
In 1954, Dorothy Martin predicted an apocalyptic flood and promised her followers rescue by flying saucers. When neither arrived, she recanted, her group dissolved, and efforts to proselytize ceased....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Reposted by Benjamin Braun

asociologist.bsky.social
Dan Hirschman @asociologist.bsky.social · 45m
"In 1954, Dorothy Martin predicted an apocalyptic flood and promised her followers rescue by flying saucers. When neither arrived, she recanted, her group dissolved, and efforts to proselytize ceased. But When Prophecy Fails (1956), the now-canonical account of the event, claimed the opposite..."
Debunking “When Prophecy Fails”
In 1954, Dorothy Martin predicted an apocalyptic flood and promised her followers rescue by flying saucers. When neither arrived, she recanted, her group dissolved, and efforts to proselytize ceased....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Reposted by Aurélien Mondon

benbraun.bsky.social
Benjamin Braun @benbraun.bsky.social · 1d
“The trouble is, there’s an alliance between Treasury officials and ideologues on the left” is the saddest Labour mandarin quote I’ve ever read. Just how lost are these people?
“The trouble is, there’s an alliance between Treasury officials and ideologues on the left,” one Whitehall source said. They added: “A lot of this is driven by envy – there are people working in the Treasury who are very clever, they have good degrees, they have chosen to go into the civil service but they look at their contemporaries who are earning multiple times what they earn and they resent it.

Reposted by Benjamin Braun

tobyn.bsky.social
Toby Nangle @tobyn.bsky.social · 3d
Any deets as to how the Valuation Office will be implementing their "targeted valuation exercise"? Buying Zoopla guesstimates and then driving around? Something else?
www.gov.uk/government/p...
The Valuation Office will conduct a targeted valuation exercise to identify properties above £2 million and therefore in scope. Fewer than 1% of properties in England are expected to be above the £2 million threshold. Revaluations will be conducted every five years.

Reposted by Brigitte Nerlich, Carl T. Bergstrom, Mark J. Brandt , and 12 more

socarxiv.bsky.social
SocArXiv @socarxiv.bsky.social · 4d
In light of record submission rates and a large volume of AI-generated slop, SocArXiv recently implemented a policy requiring ORCIDs linked in the OSF profile of submitting authors, and narrowing our focus to social science subjects. Today we are taking two more steps:
/1

Reposted by Benjamin Braun

tabouchadi.bsky.social
Tarik Abou-Chadi @tabouchadi.bsky.social · 4d
(3) Dorothee Bohle and Lina Ehrich discuss the housing agenda of the radical right. Their analysis reveals how radical right parties attempt to reconcile housing affordability with their broader ideological commitments, including their stance on immigration, nationalism and the patrimonial family.

Reposted by Cas Mudde, Ben H. Ansell, Silja Häusermann , and 4 more

tabouchadi.bsky.social
Tarik Abou-Chadi @tabouchadi.bsky.social · 4d
With the Progressive Politics Research Network, we have published 8 new research briefs on the politics of housing. What does a progressive agenda on housing look like? Which elements are important? What the hurdles are and how can they be overcome?
politicscentre.nuffield.ox.ac.uk/progressive-...

Reposted by Benjamin Braun

kanejim.bsky.social
Jim Kane @kanejim.bsky.social · 5d
I recommend @benbraun.bsky.social's Exit, Control, and Politics to anyone who hasn't been following this day-to-day.

"the largest asset managers are engaged in a multilevel game that, besides corporate governance, also comprises regulatory politics and the market for asset management services"
Exit, Control, and Politics: Structural Power and Corporate Governance under Asset Manager Capitalism* - Benjamin Braun, 2022
The power of finance vis-à-vis the nonfinancial sector is changing. Macroeconomic developments and financial innovations have reduced financial actors’ exit opt...
journals.sagepub.com

Reposted by Benjamin Braun, John Hogan

kanejim.bsky.social
Jim Kane @kanejim.bsky.social · 5d
Leave BlackRock alone -- they just want to take the politics out of pensions! 🙄

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
BlackRock has scaled back “climate engagement in ways that put our investments at risk needlessly,” Lander said in a phone interview. “Climate risk is financial risk. You can see it all around you in increased number of flash floods and wildfires.” In response, BlackRock Managing Director Armando Senra wrote in a letter to Lander that he is alleging that the firm is “abdicating its financial duty and putting New York City’s pensions at risk. These statements are another instance of the politicization of public pension funds, which undermines the retirement security of hardworking New Yorkers.”

Reposted by Benjamin Braun

boelleu.bsky.social
Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union | Global Dialogue @boelleu.bsky.social · 5d
🟢💶🌐 New Böll EU Brief "Green euro rising: Positioning the euro as the world’s green currency", by @apsmolenska.bsky.social & @jvtk.bsky.social 👉 eu.boell.org/en/green-eur...
🧵👇
@boell.de @janalbrecht.bsky.social @antonmoeller.bsky.social @rasmusandresen.bsky.social @baseickhout.bsky.social
The upheaval in US monetary and climate policy has opened a strategic window for Europe. With its leadership in sustainable finance, regulatory clarity and the European Central Bank’s integration of climate considerations, the EU is well placed to position the euro as the world’s leading green currency. Global demand for euro-denominated green debt and environmental, social and governance (ESG) investments is already rising. A new Böll EU Brief by Agnieszka Smoleńska & Jens van ‘t Klooster examines how ‘green internationalisation’ could strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy, reduce vulnerability to external shocks and anchor global clean-energy finance. It sets out a practical roadmap for EU policy-makers to align ambition with action and seize this ‘euro moment’: https://eu.boell.org/en/green-euro-rising The upheaval in US monetary and climate policy has opened a strategic window for Europe. With its leadership in sustainable finance, regulatory clarity and the European Central Bank’s integration of climate considerations, the EU is well placed to position the euro as the world’s leading green currency. Global demand for euro-denominated green debt and environmental, social and governance (ESG) investments is already rising. A new Böll EU Brief by Agnieszka Smoleńska & Jens van ‘t Klooster examines how ‘green internationalisation’ could strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy, reduce vulnerability to external shocks and anchor global clean-energy finance. It sets out a practical roadmap for EU policy-makers to align ambition with action and seize this ‘euro moment’: https://eu.boell.org/en/green-euro-rising The upheaval in US monetary and climate policy has opened a strategic window for Europe. With its leadership in sustainable finance, regulatory clarity and the European Central Bank’s integration of climate considerations, the EU is well placed to position the euro as the world’s leading green currency. Global demand for euro-denominated green debt and environmental, social and governance (ESG) investments is already rising. A new Böll EU Brief by Agnieszka Smoleńska & Jens van ‘t Klooster examines how ‘green internationalisation’ could strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy, reduce vulnerability to external shocks and anchor global clean-energy finance. It sets out a practical roadmap for EU policy-makers to align ambition with action and seize this ‘euro moment’: https://eu.boell.org/en/green-euro-rising The upheaval in US monetary and climate policy has opened a strategic window for Europe. With its leadership in sustainable finance, regulatory clarity and the European Central Bank’s integration of climate considerations, the EU is well placed to position the euro as the world’s leading green currency. Global demand for euro-denominated green debt and environmental, social and governance (ESG) investments is already rising. A new Böll EU Brief by Agnieszka Smoleńska & Jens van ‘t Klooster examines how ‘green internationalisation’ could strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy, reduce vulnerability to external shocks and anchor global clean-energy finance. It sets out a practical roadmap for EU policy-makers to align ambition with action and seize this ‘euro moment’: https://eu.boell.org/en/green-euro-rising

Reposted by Benjamin Braun, Ian Bruff

runestahl.bsky.social
Rune Møller Stahl @runestahl.bsky.social · 5d
"Around Europe, labor parties have alienated their base by forming grand coalitions with the center-right . In Denmark, Mette Frederiksen’s Social Democrats have pursued this strategy with the same dismal results."

From my analysis Jacobin on the state of Danish politics after the local elections
In Denmark, Social Democracy Is Failing
Around Europe, old labor parties have alienated their base by forming grand coalitions with center-right forces. In Denmark, Mette Frederiksen’s Social Democrats have pursued this same strategy with t...
jacobin.com

benbraun.bsky.social
Benjamin Braun @benbraun.bsky.social · 5d
That’s nothing: Where I’m from, “junior scholar” lasts to 42.

Reposted by Benjamin Braun

thetimes.com
The Times & Sunday Times @thetimes.com · 5d
Adolescence lasts to 32, say brain scientists
Adolescence lasts to 32, say brain scientists
www.thetimes.com

Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Simon Wren‐Lewis, Benjamin Braun , and 2 more

jomichell.bsky.social
Jo Michell @jomichell.bsky.social · 5d
My pre-budget take for the LSE Politics blog is up:

Labour are unable to articulate any vision or sense of purpose.

Much of the left has convinced itself that government spending can be maintained without broad-based tax increases.

Not a great budget backdrop.

blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
Wealth tax and looser fiscal rules won’t save the Budget | British Politics and Policy at LSE
The narrative on the left that a wealth tax and looser fiscal rules would solve the Chancellor's 2025 Budget headaches has got out of hand.
blogs.lse.ac.uk

Reposted by Diane Coyle, Simon Hix, Elizabeth Saunders , and 21 more

sarahobolt.bsky.social
Sara Hobolt @sarahobolt.bsky.social · 6d
🚨 LSE Assistant Professor in Political Science 🚨

We’re hiring a tenure-track assistant professor - any area of empirical political science - to join our wonderful Government Dept @lsegovernment.bsky.social

Any questions, please reach out to me

📣 Please share! 📣

jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...

Reposted by Suresh Venkatasubramanian, Jean Burgess, Philip N. Cohen , and 12 more

alondra.bsky.social
Alondra Nelson @alondra.bsky.social · 6d
Honored to serve on Mayor-elect @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social Transition Committee on Technology. For too long, too many New Yorkers have been left behind. NYC deserves governance that centers affordability, equity, and the public good-looking forward to the work ahead. www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news...
NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani announces transition committees
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani​ announced Monday the creation of 17 transition advisory committees made up of more than 400 people.
www.cbsnews.com

Reposted by Richard S.J. Tol, Mark A. Lemley, Steve Peers , and 13 more

wapplehouse.bsky.social
Kristi Yamaguccimane @wapplehouse.bsky.social · 7d
Everything about this might be the saddest thing I’ve ever seen

Reposted by John Hogan

benbraun.bsky.social
Benjamin Braun @benbraun.bsky.social · 8d
The story of Rockefeller bankrolling the establishment of the University of Chicago is fascinating (he paid for everything). He generally abstained from meddling but somewhow the one guy who got fired was a political economists who advocated for ... public ownership of the energy infrastructure.

Reposted by Benjamin Braun

susglickman.bsky.social
susannah glickman @susglickman.bsky.social · 9d
new interview !
www.nybooks.com/online/2025/...
Runaway Short-Termism | Susannah Glickman, Nic Johnson
Since retaking the presidency in January, Donald Trump has initiated a blitz of chaotic, damaging economic policies. For months, as Nic Johnson wrote in
www.nybooks.com

Reposted by Benjamin Braun, Silvia Secchi, Andrew L. Whitehead

70sbachchan.bsky.social
Albert Pinto @70sbachchan.bsky.social · 9d
you’ll never believe the newest meme pair for “Find someone who looks at you like…”

Reposted by Will Jennings, Jon Green, Benjamin Braun , and 6 more

sadvil.bsky.social
sadvil 😎 @sadvil.bsky.social · 9d
TRUMP [after spending 5 minutes with Zohran]: surplus value, it’s a very wonderful thing, very wonderful, and they’re stealing it. Can you believe that?

We’re going to be looking very strongly at the bourgeoisie, what they’re up to

Reposted by Nicolas Véron, Benjamin Braun

jdeyris.bsky.social
Jérôme Deyris @jdeyris.bsky.social · 11d
One thing I absolutely love in central bank rhetorics: declare a boundary, then elegantly step right over it.

Here's Richard W. Fisher (Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas) on Obama's 2008 fiscal package