Paddy Carter
@paddycarter.bsky.social
Head of development economics at British International Investment, formerly CGD, ODI, lapsed academic economist and macroeconomics hobbyist.
https://sites.google.com/site/paddycarter/
https://sites.google.com/site/paddycarter/
here is a very simplified example to illustrate that "the government can borrow more cheaply" does not necessarily imply public finance a lower cost
November 19, 2025 at 10:42 AM
here is a very simplified example to illustrate that "the government can borrow more cheaply" does not necessarily imply public finance a lower cost
this is my favourite data point. Supermarket graduate schemes (in this case, Aldi) now better rewarded than university professors and civil servants.
November 13, 2025 at 2:29 PM
this is my favourite data point. Supermarket graduate schemes (in this case, Aldi) now better rewarded than university professors and civil servants.
He may be a bastard, but he's our bastard
November 13, 2025 at 1:22 PM
He may be a bastard, but he's our bastard
imo big part is simply that people respond positively to politicians that seem to be speaking honestly and in a "normal human being" register, as opposed to communications trained evasions and elisions. So much so that they vote for this:
November 13, 2025 at 8:50 AM
imo big part is simply that people respond positively to politicians that seem to be speaking honestly and in a "normal human being" register, as opposed to communications trained evasions and elisions. So much so that they vote for this:
I did not realise the EIB has so much spare capacity - it should be building interconnectors across Europe (and into Africa). Among other things. @stephenpaduano.bsky.social
findevlab.org/financing-eu...
findevlab.org/financing-eu...
November 3, 2025 at 9:23 AM
I did not realise the EIB has so much spare capacity - it should be building interconnectors across Europe (and into Africa). Among other things. @stephenpaduano.bsky.social
findevlab.org/financing-eu...
findevlab.org/financing-eu...
some encouraging evidence here that green-labelled bonds and loans are actually achieving something meaningful
documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/0...
documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/0...
October 23, 2025 at 10:52 AM
some encouraging evidence here that green-labelled bonds and loans are actually achieving something meaningful
documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/0...
documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/0...
I would be very proud of this paragraph, had I wrote it
October 14, 2025 at 11:33 AM
I would be very proud of this paragraph, had I wrote it
October 14, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Ladywell water tower catching the sun
October 10, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Ladywell water tower catching the sun
Can someone who understands corporate finance tell me whether it makes sense to sit there paying that much interest rather than pay down the principal?
September 27, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Can someone who understands corporate finance tell me whether it makes sense to sit there paying that much interest rather than pay down the principal?
To the initiated, this looks insane. Why would putting an intermediary between you and the SME merit this? I presume you can achieve more diversification by spending $ across intermediaries, but that much more?
September 19, 2025 at 7:29 AM
To the initiated, this looks insane. Why would putting an intermediary between you and the SME merit this? I presume you can achieve more diversification by spending $ across intermediaries, but that much more?
if you're more inclined to care about public services than about growth, this is why you should still care about growth:
September 11, 2025 at 5:57 PM
if you're more inclined to care about public services than about growth, this is why you should still care about growth:
I don't know this business (ARISE), but they look v interesting for anyone following African development and the importance of investment from the Gulf
www.africafc.org/news-and-ins...
www.africafc.org/news-and-ins...
September 11, 2025 at 9:08 AM
I don't know this business (ARISE), but they look v interesting for anyone following African development and the importance of investment from the Gulf
www.africafc.org/news-and-ins...
www.africafc.org/news-and-ins...
Any gardeners out there know why my (tiny) lawn ends up like this? It's not drought related, it's been like this for over 2 years. I have tried sewing seeds each spring.
September 6, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Any gardeners out there know why my (tiny) lawn ends up like this? It's not drought related, it's been like this for over 2 years. I have tried sewing seeds each spring.
the latest JEP has a symposium on housing prices, covering impact of inequality, building costs and popular beliefs about housing. www.aeaweb.org/issues/814
Some interesting claims:
Some interesting claims:
August 15, 2025 at 9:01 AM
the latest JEP has a symposium on housing prices, covering impact of inequality, building costs and popular beliefs about housing. www.aeaweb.org/issues/814
Some interesting claims:
Some interesting claims:
I think this is a good idea
August 10, 2025 at 7:10 PM
I think this is a good idea
July 9, 2025 at 1:28 PM
I hadn't seen this before. I may have to upgrade my opinion for Dyson from "maker of suckers and blowers with slightly different nozzles" I would still probably bet against it - too capital intensive. Still, looks pretty cool.
www.dyson.co.uk/discover/sus...
www.dyson.co.uk/discover/sus...
July 9, 2025 at 12:45 PM
I hadn't seen this before. I may have to upgrade my opinion for Dyson from "maker of suckers and blowers with slightly different nozzles" I would still probably bet against it - too capital intensive. Still, looks pretty cool.
www.dyson.co.uk/discover/sus...
www.dyson.co.uk/discover/sus...
bloody Poland, stealing all our builders
July 3, 2025 at 2:41 PM
bloody Poland, stealing all our builders
imo there is weird collective amnesia about public finance in the AAA billions to trillions rhetoric. Compare that FT article against the original articulation:
June 29, 2025 at 2:35 PM
imo there is weird collective amnesia about public finance in the AAA billions to trillions rhetoric. Compare that FT article against the original articulation:
That's a big subsidy. And still not enough (unless they're just trying their luck to extract more).
June 22, 2025 at 12:44 PM
That's a big subsidy. And still not enough (unless they're just trying their luck to extract more).
regarding the "island surrounded by [salt] water" point, I would like to know the story behind this
June 17, 2025 at 9:53 AM
regarding the "island surrounded by [salt] water" point, I would like to know the story behind this