Aslak Berg
@aslak.bsky.social
5.9K followers 450 following 1.2K posts
Trade, public policy, economics, research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, formerly with the Norwegian civil service and EFTA
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aslak.bsky.social
I don't think that's how rugby works, but I like the idea and I'd probably watch it!
Reposted by Aslak Berg
opfuchs.gay
L'Italia ancora una volta all'avanguardia! 🇮🇹🇮🇹💪💪🫠
aslak.bsky.social
France right now is further proof of my longstanding theory that Italy from the 90's onward was the forerunner for modern politics and the template every other country is emulating, each with its own unique twist and on its own schedule.
aslak.bsky.social
Not great, but managing. A bit like the UK in fact.
aslak.bsky.social
What Americans or Brits would make fun of bunga bunga now?
aslak.bsky.social
France right now is further proof of my longstanding theory that Italy from the 90's onward was the forerunner for modern politics and the template every other country is emulating, each with its own unique twist and on its own schedule.
aslak.bsky.social
Machado seems like a good choice
aslak.bsky.social
Told you.
aslak.bsky.social
Anyone who knows a little bit about Norway and the Nobel Peace Prize Committee knows Trump has no chance of getting the prize. They're capable of embarrassing mistakes, like giving it to Obama, but they're just not going to give it to Trump.
aslak.bsky.social
I have a phone, I have a Norwegian accent - I've never felt so powerful
aslak.bsky.social
They might be tempted!
aslak.bsky.social
Anyone who knows a little bit about Norway and the Nobel Peace Prize Committee knows Trump has no chance of getting the prize. They're capable of embarrassing mistakes, like giving it to Obama, but they're just not going to give it to Trump.
aslak.bsky.social
He's absolutely not getting it, there's just no chance
Reposted by Aslak Berg
aslak.bsky.social
Ceasefire in Gaza at long last
aslak.bsky.social
I had AI do a full transcript once and it worked pretty well for that. Got a little confused by the transcription of the US pronunciation of 'comity' as 'comedy' (we need a bit of int'l comedy to make it work...)but it was otherwise fine.
Reposted by Aslak Berg
aslak.bsky.social
It would help if we had a bit of confidence in the basics, like a viable path to substantially lower energy prices, instead of having industries survive out of intertia despite the failure to get the basics right
aslak.bsky.social
It would help if we had a bit of confidence in the basics, like a viable path to substantially lower energy prices, instead of having industries survive out of intertia despite the failure to get the basics right
aslak.bsky.social
We should have countervailing subsidies instead of duties, imo, for strategic sectors. But no money for that perhaps
aslak.bsky.social
Just read an article on the web site of the Norwegian equivalent of the BBC that linked to an FT article... through a paywall removal site. Not sure that's entirely kosher, NRK!
aslak.bsky.social
"As an X, I believe Y" I don't care. "I believe Y because of Z" Now we can have a conversation.
aslak.bsky.social
My greatest pet peeve is this tendency where everyone puts labels on everyone, including themselves. There's no need! Yu can have a complex set of habits and beliefs that don't put you neatly on anyone's side or in anyone's camp. And that makes it easier to see that is also the case for most people
Reposted by Aslak Berg
lordrickettsp.bsky.social
Good to talk to Amol Rajan on the Today Programme earlier about the Hamas statement. It’s a remarkably astute move, accepting Israel’s key demand for hostage release, thereby earning an approving response from Trump and throwing all the pressure back on Netanyahu. Could still go wrong. But 1/6
aslak.bsky.social
AI slop will fix this
aslak.bsky.social
Think about the consequences for schools, the size of the labour force etc. And now think about the fact that it's a global system, and eventually we'll get to a point where immigration to one country means faster depopulation of another country. You're already seeing this in Eastern Europe
aslak.bsky.social
I don't really think people grasp the extent of the demographic crisis. A fertility rate is 1.5 as the UK, France etc, each generation is 25% smaller without immigration. If it's 1, as it is in several countries in Asia, South America and Europe each generation is less than half the size