Duncan Weldon
@duncanweldon.bsky.social
Economics writer. Author.
Expect history, economics, finance and other stuff.
Wrote Two Hundred Years of Muddling Through.
Blood and Treasure, on the economics of war, out now.
Expect history, economics, finance and other stuff.
Wrote Two Hundred Years of Muddling Through.
Blood and Treasure, on the economics of war, out now.
Pinned
Duncan Weldon
@duncanweldon.bsky.social
· Aug 25
Time for a new pinned post. Out now in the UK, coming January 6th in the US.
If you’re up and following the Ashes and haven’t read Tim Wigmore’s Test Cricket: A History - then ask for it for Xmas.
One of the best things I’ve read this year.
One of the best things I’ve read this year.
December 5, 2025 at 6:44 AM
If you’re up and following the Ashes and haven’t read Tim Wigmore’s Test Cricket: A History - then ask for it for Xmas.
One of the best things I’ve read this year.
One of the best things I’ve read this year.
Could do with a wicket here.
December 5, 2025 at 5:16 AM
Could do with a wicket here.
Americans! I have been provided with nice US edition specific images.
December 4, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Americans! I have been provided with nice US edition specific images.
This was fun
Here's a link to my talk with @duncanweldon.bsky.social on his latest book, Blood and Treasure. It was a lot of fun.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec0q...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec0q...
Book Talk | Blood and Treasure
YouTube video by Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft
www.youtube.com
December 4, 2025 at 4:27 PM
This was fun
This is v good.
One frustration I have with MMT is that some of it is quite sensible and *also entirely mainstream in economics*. And yet lots of supporters don’t seem to know this and have a slightly warped view of economics as a result.
1/2
One frustration I have with MMT is that some of it is quite sensible and *also entirely mainstream in economics*. And yet lots of supporters don’t seem to know this and have a slightly warped view of economics as a result.
1/2
Agree with @jomichell.bsky.social here.
My earlier piece: "The claim that that MMT means that a future government can dodge hard choices about how to pay for decent public services is just plain nonsense."
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/econom...
My earlier piece: "The claim that that MMT means that a future government can dodge hard choices about how to pay for decent public services is just plain nonsense."
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/econom...
December 4, 2025 at 4:18 PM
This is v good.
One frustration I have with MMT is that some of it is quite sensible and *also entirely mainstream in economics*. And yet lots of supporters don’t seem to know this and have a slightly warped view of economics as a result.
1/2
One frustration I have with MMT is that some of it is quite sensible and *also entirely mainstream in economics*. And yet lots of supporters don’t seem to know this and have a slightly warped view of economics as a result.
1/2
At a loss as to how to fill an hour in about 40 minutes time? You could listen to me & @rajakorman.bsky.social talk about Blood & Treasure.
quincyinst.org/events/book-...
quincyinst.org/events/book-...
Book Talk | Blood and Treasure
A discussion of Duncan Weldon's new book.
quincyinst.org
December 4, 2025 at 2:22 PM
At a loss as to how to fill an hour in about 40 minutes time? You could listen to me & @rajakorman.bsky.social talk about Blood & Treasure.
quincyinst.org/events/book-...
quincyinst.org/events/book-...
Proper Test match.
December 4, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Proper Test match.
Welcome to the Twilight Zone.
December 4, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Welcome to the Twilight Zone.
Reposted by Duncan Weldon
"WHY BROOK SHOULD PLAY LIKE ME" - writes old man in the Daily Telegraph
December 4, 2025 at 7:33 AM
"WHY BROOK SHOULD PLAY LIKE ME" - writes old man in the Daily Telegraph
The way commentators talk about Brook infuriates me every time.
He is one of the best batters in the world. And this is how he plays.
He is one of the best batters in the world. And this is how he plays.
December 4, 2025 at 7:22 AM
The way commentators talk about Brook infuriates me every time.
He is one of the best batters in the world. And this is how he plays.
He is one of the best batters in the world. And this is how he plays.
England looking pretty good here. Great recovery. A few questionable shots from Crawley but can’t argue with 61 off 80 balls.
Other than Starc the Australian bowling hasn’t felt too threatening.
Other than Starc the Australian bowling hasn’t felt too threatening.
December 4, 2025 at 6:05 AM
England looking pretty good here. Great recovery. A few questionable shots from Crawley but can’t argue with 61 off 80 balls.
Other than Starc the Australian bowling hasn’t felt too threatening.
Other than Starc the Australian bowling hasn’t felt too threatening.
I’m enjoying some good Bazball - 4+ runs an over and pressure building. And hoping it doesn’t become bad Bazball.
December 4, 2025 at 5:16 AM
I’m enjoying some good Bazball - 4+ runs an over and pressure building. And hoping it doesn’t become bad Bazball.
Debating what time to set my alarm for.
Given that me tuning in meant England collapsing last time maybe I should just sleep in?
Given that me tuning in meant England collapsing last time maybe I should just sleep in?
December 3, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Debating what time to set my alarm for.
Given that me tuning in meant England collapsing last time maybe I should just sleep in?
Given that me tuning in meant England collapsing last time maybe I should just sleep in?
It is perfectly possible to believe that the economic costs of the UK leaving the EU and the economic benefits of rejoining are asymmetric.
December 3, 2025 at 7:52 AM
It is perfectly possible to believe that the economic costs of the UK leaving the EU and the economic benefits of rejoining are asymmetric.
Britain’s largest long-term macro problem is a shortage of *private* investment.
This is not new.
This is not new.
December 2, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Britain’s largest long-term macro problem is a shortage of *private* investment.
This is not new.
This is not new.
A thought. In 2022-24 incumbents did terribly everywhere and the most common explanation was voters hating inflation.
Today inflation is much lower. And Merz, Starmer & Trump are all deeply unpopular.
Today inflation is much lower. And Merz, Starmer & Trump are all deeply unpopular.
He's done it! Merz is now less popular than Olaf Scholz at his lowest low.
Nobody could have predicted this, of course. www.n-tv.de/politik/Kanz...
Nobody could have predicted this, of course. www.n-tv.de/politik/Kanz...
Kanzler Merz ist so unbeliebt wie Scholz an seinem Tiefpunkt
Die schwarz-rote Koalition kommt nicht vom Fleck - weder bei ihrem Rentenpaket noch bei ihrem Ansehen in der Bevölkerung. Die Werte der Parteien im RTL/ntv Trendbarometer sind wie zementiert. Bewegung...
www.n-tv.de
December 2, 2025 at 2:42 PM
A thought. In 2022-24 incumbents did terribly everywhere and the most common explanation was voters hating inflation.
Today inflation is much lower. And Merz, Starmer & Trump are all deeply unpopular.
Today inflation is much lower. And Merz, Starmer & Trump are all deeply unpopular.
I see the OECD have gone with ‘person skating on thin ice’ as their forecast cover illustration.
Is that a good thing?
www.oecd.org/en/publicati...
Is that a good thing?
www.oecd.org/en/publicati...
December 2, 2025 at 1:49 PM
I see the OECD have gone with ‘person skating on thin ice’ as their forecast cover illustration.
Is that a good thing?
www.oecd.org/en/publicati...
Is that a good thing?
www.oecd.org/en/publicati...
Interesting snippet from the OBR report. Alcohol duties revenue forecast notched down by an annual £1.7bn.
December 2, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Interesting snippet from the OBR report. Alcohol duties revenue forecast notched down by an annual £1.7bn.
Really good Bloomberg article on the Estonian arms industry.
This bit was especially interesting.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
This bit was especially interesting.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
December 2, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Really good Bloomberg article on the Estonian arms industry.
This bit was especially interesting.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
This bit was especially interesting.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
December 2, 2025 at 8:25 AM
On @jfb1066.bsky.social’s recommendation I’ve watched the first couple of episodes of Drops of God.
What a superb, stylish and unique show.
What a superb, stylish and unique show.
December 1, 2025 at 8:58 PM
On @jfb1066.bsky.social’s recommendation I’ve watched the first couple of episodes of Drops of God.
What a superb, stylish and unique show.
What a superb, stylish and unique show.
I don’t think there is any read across - at all - from the OBR’s ability post a document to its website at the right time and the OBR’s ability to produce fiscal and economic forecasts.
December 1, 2025 at 6:25 PM
I don’t think there is any read across - at all - from the OBR’s ability post a document to its website at the right time and the OBR’s ability to produce fiscal and economic forecasts.
Reposted by Duncan Weldon
They've done a Paddington musical and it's supposed to be very good but the bear looks like it's on drugs
December 1, 2025 at 7:10 AM
They've done a Paddington musical and it's supposed to be very good but the bear looks like it's on drugs
Working my way back through a few weeks of reports.
I think this para from Bloomberg- on November 14th, when it was reported that the income tax hike had been dropped - is the key.
It is both true and also quite misleading, as that wage growth offset was also in the 1st to 3rd forecasts.
I think this para from Bloomberg- on November 14th, when it was reported that the income tax hike had been dropped - is the key.
It is both true and also quite misleading, as that wage growth offset was also in the 1st to 3rd forecasts.
December 1, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Working my way back through a few weeks of reports.
I think this para from Bloomberg- on November 14th, when it was reported that the income tax hike had been dropped - is the key.
It is both true and also quite misleading, as that wage growth offset was also in the 1st to 3rd forecasts.
I think this para from Bloomberg- on November 14th, when it was reported that the income tax hike had been dropped - is the key.
It is both true and also quite misleading, as that wage growth offset was also in the 1st to 3rd forecasts.