Martijn Konings
@mkonings.bsky.social
Political economist at University of Sydney. Most recent book The Bailout State: Why Governments Rescue Banks, Not People (Polity, 2025). Now working on property and democracy.
Pinned
Martijn Konings
@mkonings.bsky.social
· Jan 11
Very pleased to announce that The Bailout State is now available everywhere. Get a copy and find out why governments rescue banks, not people!
That the $75 million is going to the Treasury and not one of Trump’s businesses underscores that the administration has maintained a core of integrity in a highly polarized political environment.
Northwestern University has reached a deal with the Trump administration to restore hundreds of millions of dollars in research funding and close all pending federal investigations, while paying the government $75 million over three years.
Northwestern Reaches $75 Million Deal With Trump Administration
Northwestern University has reached a deal with the Trump administration to restore hundreds of millions of dollars in research funding and close all pending federal investigations, while paying the government $75 million over three years.
bloom.bg
November 29, 2025 at 4:42 AM
That the $75 million is going to the Treasury and not one of Trump’s businesses underscores that the administration has maintained a core of integrity in a highly polarized political environment.
Reposted by Martijn Konings
Billionaires Amass War Chests to Fight AI Regulation
* Goal is influence ahead of 2026 midterm elections
* More than 1,000 AI-related bills were introduced by state lawmakers in 2025
* Leading the Future super PAC has $100 million+
www.wsj.com/tech/ai/tech...
by @laurajnelson.bsky.social
* Goal is influence ahead of 2026 midterm elections
* More than 1,000 AI-related bills were introduced by state lawmakers in 2025
* Leading the Future super PAC has $100 million+
www.wsj.com/tech/ai/tech...
by @laurajnelson.bsky.social
Tech Titans Amass Multimillion-Dollar War Chests to Fight AI Regulation
Some are battling state AI laws and threatening to punish candidates who oppose rapid deployment of the technology.
www.wsj.com
November 28, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Billionaires Amass War Chests to Fight AI Regulation
* Goal is influence ahead of 2026 midterm elections
* More than 1,000 AI-related bills were introduced by state lawmakers in 2025
* Leading the Future super PAC has $100 million+
www.wsj.com/tech/ai/tech...
by @laurajnelson.bsky.social
* Goal is influence ahead of 2026 midterm elections
* More than 1,000 AI-related bills were introduced by state lawmakers in 2025
* Leading the Future super PAC has $100 million+
www.wsj.com/tech/ai/tech...
by @laurajnelson.bsky.social
Reposted by Martijn Konings
Published today: my op-Ed for Sifted on why the dynamics of VC are too risky for defence. I’m grateful to the editors for letting me make this point in the ‘lion’s den’ sifted.eu/articles/def...
VC and defence tech — a recipe for disaster?
War should not be normalised as a financial opportunity, writes Elke Schwarz, a professor at the Queen Mary University of London.
sifted.eu
November 27, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Published today: my op-Ed for Sifted on why the dynamics of VC are too risky for defence. I’m grateful to the editors for letting me make this point in the ‘lion’s den’ sifted.eu/articles/def...
Reposted by Martijn Konings
We welcome APRA taking action in response to the Greens’ & community concerns for the massive spike in investor lending. However, this alone won’t cool investors’ stampede of the housing market. Jim Chalmers must direct APRA to use their levers to curb runaway investor lending.
November 26, 2025 at 11:48 PM
We welcome APRA taking action in response to the Greens’ & community concerns for the massive spike in investor lending. However, this alone won’t cool investors’ stampede of the housing market. Jim Chalmers must direct APRA to use their levers to curb runaway investor lending.
Reposted by Martijn Konings
Call for PhD Student!
I'm recruiting a PhD student to work with me on a project related to my Future Fellowship at Monash University on the political economy of insurance, risk technology, climate governance, and the crisis of uninsurability. Here's the overview of my fellowship.
I'm recruiting a PhD student to work with me on a project related to my Future Fellowship at Monash University on the political economy of insurance, risk technology, climate governance, and the crisis of uninsurability. Here's the overview of my fellowship.
November 25, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Call for PhD Student!
I'm recruiting a PhD student to work with me on a project related to my Future Fellowship at Monash University on the political economy of insurance, risk technology, climate governance, and the crisis of uninsurability. Here's the overview of my fellowship.
I'm recruiting a PhD student to work with me on a project related to my Future Fellowship at Monash University on the political economy of insurance, risk technology, climate governance, and the crisis of uninsurability. Here's the overview of my fellowship.
"onderzoekers die projectaanvragen schrijven, kosten ook veel geld. Die arbeidsuren worden grotendeels gefinancierd door de belastingbetaler. Wanneer je die verloren uren vergelijkt met hoeveel geld er daadwerkelijk wordt uitgedeeld, valt de balans soms negatief uit."
I was recently interviewed about democratizing work, technology, and even research financing.
universonline.nl/nieuws/2025/...
universonline.nl/nieuws/2025/...
Tim Christiaens: ‘We zouden democratischer moeten werken’
Elke maand vraagt Univers aan een wetenschapper wat hij of zij zou onderzoeken wanneer alles mogelijk is. Voldoende geld, voldoende tijd, geen restricties. Kort
universonline.nl
November 26, 2025 at 1:11 PM
"onderzoekers die projectaanvragen schrijven, kosten ook veel geld. Die arbeidsuren worden grotendeels gefinancierd door de belastingbetaler. Wanneer je die verloren uren vergelijkt met hoeveel geld er daadwerkelijk wordt uitgedeeld, valt de balans soms negatief uit."
Reposted by Martijn Konings
Labour is turning Britain into an authoritarian state.
That’s bad enough now.
But imagine what a Nigel Farage government will build on all these authoritarian foundations.
That’s bad enough now.
But imagine what a Nigel Farage government will build on all these authoritarian foundations.
Justice secretary wants most jury trials scrapped
Only cases of alleged murder, rape or manslaughter will be decided by a jury under new proposals to cut court backlogs.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Labour is turning Britain into an authoritarian state.
That’s bad enough now.
But imagine what a Nigel Farage government will build on all these authoritarian foundations.
That’s bad enough now.
But imagine what a Nigel Farage government will build on all these authoritarian foundations.
Reposted by Martijn Konings
"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
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
November 26, 2025 at 7:47 AM
"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
From my analysis Jacobin on the state of Danish politics after the local elections
Reposted by Martijn Konings
this dumb shit is what i mean when i say this is a purely aesthetic “politics.” yeah man, why can’t we have a fusion of cosmopolitan social democracy and revanchist hierarchies of wealth and privilege? tough question.
Matt Stoller: “..Trump & Mamdani defeated establishment in their own way, representing hunger of voters on the right & left who want something different. If those sides cd come together.. that would be a sea change in how we organize our political economy”.
www.thebignewsletter.com/p/monopoly-r...
www.thebignewsletter.com/p/monopoly-r...
Monopoly Round-Up: Why the Establishment Freaked Out Over a Mamdani-Trump Press Conference
Meta wins its antitrust case, there are now two fire truck antitrust claims, the stock market got wobbly, and Larry Summers was exiled from the establishment, at least for now.
www.thebignewsletter.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:04 PM
this dumb shit is what i mean when i say this is a purely aesthetic “politics.” yeah man, why can’t we have a fusion of cosmopolitan social democracy and revanchist hierarchies of wealth and privilege? tough question.
"Now the people who capitalized on the revolt against an indifferent American elite are in power, and, shock of all shocks, they are even more indifferent than anyone who came before them."
Anand Giridharadas' discussion of the Epstein emails as a record of the thought and conduct of white mail elites is the best writing on this subject I have seen in the last several weeks. Read it.
Opinion | How the Elite Behave When No One Is Watching: Inside the Epstein Emails
www.nytimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:27 AM
"Now the people who capitalized on the revolt against an indifferent American elite are in power, and, shock of all shocks, they are even more indifferent than anyone who came before them."
Reposted by Martijn Konings
The system creates a middleman for every dollar spent — and an opportunity for them to make a profit off the digital equivalent of something so simple as handing someone else a bill.
You Will Never Send Money Digitally Without a Private Company — If the GOP Gets Its Way
Republicans are trying to permanently block central bank digital currencies that would create an alternative to profit-seeking companies.
interc.pt
November 23, 2025 at 1:24 AM
The system creates a middleman for every dollar spent — and an opportunity for them to make a profit off the digital equivalent of something so simple as handing someone else a bill.
Reposted by Martijn Konings
from government by consultant to government by consultants using generative AI.
decades of degrading government capacity to actually govern has left it open to further degradation through ai hype and perceptions it enables further cost cutting.
decades of degrading government capacity to actually govern has left it open to further degradation through ai hype and perceptions it enables further cost cutting.
Major N.L. healthcare report contains errors likely generated by A.I. – The Independent
$1.6 million Health Human Resources Plan from Deloitte cites research papers that don’t exist, making it the second major government policy paper called into question in as many months
theindependent.ca
November 22, 2025 at 10:09 PM
from government by consultant to government by consultants using generative AI.
decades of degrading government capacity to actually govern has left it open to further degradation through ai hype and perceptions it enables further cost cutting.
decades of degrading government capacity to actually govern has left it open to further degradation through ai hype and perceptions it enables further cost cutting.
Reposted by Martijn Konings
fresh @leftanchor.bsky.social bonus ep, we have @econmarshall.bsky.social on to talk about Larry Summers, his good pal Jeff Epstein, and Summers' noxious influence on the discipline of economics as well as Democratic Party policymaking www.patreon.com/posts/144130...
Summers, Epstein, and Economics | Left Anchor
Get more from Left Anchor on Patreon
www.patreon.com
November 22, 2025 at 3:54 AM
fresh @leftanchor.bsky.social bonus ep, we have @econmarshall.bsky.social on to talk about Larry Summers, his good pal Jeff Epstein, and Summers' noxious influence on the discipline of economics as well as Democratic Party policymaking www.patreon.com/posts/144130...
Reposted by Martijn Konings
Ferguson and Kastner explore metaphysical resonances between Modern Monetary Theory’s approach to money and Kastner’s “Transactional Interpretation” of quantum physics.
Adventures in Quantumland w/ Ruth E. Kastner
Scott Ferguson is joined on the Superstructure podcast by Ruth E. Kastner, philosopher of physics and research associate at the University of Maryland. In their conversation, Ferguson and Kastner e…
moneyontheleft.org
November 21, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Ferguson and Kastner explore metaphysical resonances between Modern Monetary Theory’s approach to money and Kastner’s “Transactional Interpretation” of quantum physics.
"Nvidia has become “the central bank of AI, they’re the lender of last resort”, says Fitzgerald. Taking equity from vendors, and using the money to support further borrowings, has made the AI boom dependent on a high level of convoluted financial engineering, he adds."
www.ft.com/content/4e39...
www.ft.com/content/4e39...
How OpenAI put itself at the centre of a $1tn network of deals
The company behind ChatGPT has signed agreements with many of the largest tech groups, adding to a growing web of financial dependencies across the AI world
www.ft.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:34 PM
"Nvidia has become “the central bank of AI, they’re the lender of last resort”, says Fitzgerald. Taking equity from vendors, and using the money to support further borrowings, has made the AI boom dependent on a high level of convoluted financial engineering, he adds."
www.ft.com/content/4e39...
www.ft.com/content/4e39...
"The tech companies will survive, and the governments will bail out the financial institutions that get into trouble."
I’m not worried that the AI bubble will herald the end of capitalism as we know it - or even the end of the AI boom.
I'm worried that it will result in a massive upwards transfer of wealth - and further endanger our democracies in the process.
graceblakeley.substack.com/p/the-ai-cir...
I'm worried that it will result in a massive upwards transfer of wealth - and further endanger our democracies in the process.
graceblakeley.substack.com/p/the-ai-cir...
The AI Circular Economy
Big tech companies and wealthy investors are driving an AI bubble - but they won't be the ones feeling the pain when it bursts.
graceblakeley.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:32 PM
"The tech companies will survive, and the governments will bail out the financial institutions that get into trouble."
Reposted by Martijn Konings
Very pleased to announce that The Bailout State is now available everywhere. Get a copy and find out why governments rescue banks, not people!
January 11, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Very pleased to announce that The Bailout State is now available everywhere. Get a copy and find out why governments rescue banks, not people!
Reposted by Martijn Konings
Martijn Konings, Fiscal Dominance? — Sidecar
Trump and the Federal Reserve.
newleftreview.org
November 12, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Reposted by Martijn Konings
People who yell about generational inequality are liars or fools. The problem is the super-rich, not your parents deanbaker22.substack.com/p/the-rich-p...
The Rich People Who Own the Media Want Generations to Fight, not Classes
Yelling about generational inequality is a sure tell someone is a liar or clueless
deanbaker22.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:53 PM
People who yell about generational inequality are liars or fools. The problem is the super-rich, not your parents deanbaker22.substack.com/p/the-rich-p...
Reposted by Martijn Konings
when I was young, i used to wonder how people like this would fare in life, as they didn't seem suited for gainful employment. it turns out, the internet allowed them to accumulate a massive audience of similar idiots, enriching them and turning them into a presidential advisor
November 20, 2025 at 12:58 AM
when I was young, i used to wonder how people like this would fare in life, as they didn't seem suited for gainful employment. it turns out, the internet allowed them to accumulate a massive audience of similar idiots, enriching them and turning them into a presidential advisor
This is obviously good news, but Summers' career remains the ultimate illustration of Howard Zinn's simple but profound understanding of the world.
November 20, 2025 at 12:45 AM
This is obviously good news, but Summers' career remains the ultimate illustration of Howard Zinn's simple but profound understanding of the world.
Reposted by Martijn Konings
We're open for pitches of any length! press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/se...
November 19, 2025 at 12:53 PM
We're open for pitches of any length! press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/se...
Reposted by Martijn Konings
Fed’s Waller calls for December rate cut to bolster labour market on.ft.com/44gB7Hb
Fed’s Waller calls for December rate cut to bolster labour market
Leading candidate to be US central bank’s next chair says economic growth ‘likely slowed’ in latter half of 2025
on.ft.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Fed’s Waller calls for December rate cut to bolster labour market on.ft.com/44gB7Hb
Courtyard lawn finally done but giving off real R&R vibes
November 19, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Courtyard lawn finally done but giving off real R&R vibes
Reposted by Martijn Konings
🇺🇸 Armas para pensar | Trump: ¿control de la política monetaria y gobierno autoritario?
✍🏼 @mkonings.bsky.social
✍🏼 @mkonings.bsky.social
Trump: ¿control de la política monetaria y gobierno autoritario?
Las pretensiones del gobierno estadounidense son tan desmesuradas en su voluntad de poder, tan injustas para las mayorías, tan toscas en su diseño y tan autoritarias en su contenido que desea controla...
www.diario-red.com
November 18, 2025 at 10:08 AM
🇺🇸 Armas para pensar | Trump: ¿control de la política monetaria y gobierno autoritario?
✍🏼 @mkonings.bsky.social
✍🏼 @mkonings.bsky.social