John Quiggin
banner
johnquiggin.bsky.social
John Quiggin
@johnquiggin.bsky.social
Economist & blogger @ http://johnquiggin.com, http://crookedtimber.org. http://johnquiggin.substack.com/?utm http://mstdn.social/@johnquiggin
I repost my content, using the #repost hashtag. You can go to settings/filters to avoid seeing the same post.
Antarctica massively more livable
February 10, 2026 at 9:32 AM
Telescopes have discovered planets billions of kilometres away. Flying people 200000km is pointless
February 10, 2026 at 9:31 AM
I have some self-growing bridges for sale in desirable locations
February 10, 2026 at 9:29 AM
#Musk has cancelled #Mars and Bezos has announced a pause of "at least two years" (read "forever") on Shepard space tourism. ISS going too. So, we're giving up on humans in Low Earth Orbit & planets. We did the moon 50 years ago - no good reason to go back. Humans belong on Earth and nowhere else.
February 10, 2026 at 6:47 AM
Reposted by John Quiggin
It was great to join pre-conference #AARES2026 6K run along spectaculat River Torrens under the leadership of experienced #AARES runners Lin Crase and @johnquiggin.bsky.social

#econsky
February 10, 2026 at 12:27 AM
So, #Musk has abandoned his long promised Mars mission, apparently because he discovered that Mars is a long way nearly all the time. These surprising problems crop up when you are at the scientific frontier.

Now he's pitching cities on the moon, and his fans love it. I was hoping for world peace.
February 10, 2026 at 5:44 AM
Government buying votes of former students, while disastrous Job Ready Graduates fees swell HECS debts for current students. Jason Clare is worst education minister ever.
The government’s HECS Bill swings and misses on student debt
How the Albanese government continues to shirk action on the worst remnant of the Morrison–era changes to higher education.
www.thenewdaily.com.au
February 9, 2026 at 11:09 PM
TUSNACO: The US Navy Always Chickens Out
TUSNACO
The US Navy Always Chickens Out
johnquigginblog.substack.com
February 9, 2026 at 7:32 PM
The protestors are almost always people objecting to infrastructure on other people's land for which those people have been paid (making them happy). Often from km away or even interstate.
February 9, 2026 at 6:13 AM
The opposite of the pattern for solar PV, where long-term future projections have regularly been surpassed within a few years of being issued.
February 9, 2026 at 5:53 AM
The IEA finally giving up on carbon capture and storage. 2025 projection for 2050 well below 2021 projection for 2035

Only inertia keeping projected share of emissions reductions (now down to 5 per cent) above rounding error
Minimal role for carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) in IEA's World Energy Outlook 2025 | IEEFA
The IEA’s minimal role for CCUS in the Net Zero Emissions (NZE) by 2050 Scenario reflects a multi-year downgrading of the technology, with renewables, electrification, fuel switching, and energy efficiency projected to contribute over 82% of the emissions reductions needed to achieve net zero.
ieefa.org
February 9, 2026 at 5:53 AM
Correct lesson for Labor is that there is point pandering to these people. Treat them the way they would like to treat inner city elites
February 9, 2026 at 3:34 AM
The five-day ~40 hour week seems eternal, but only dates back to about 1950. And until 1980s, everyone assumed working hours would keep on declining. @pluralistic
pluralistic.net/2026...
February 6, 2026 at 7:12 AM
Russia has made repeated attempts to kill Zelensky, & claimed attempts on Putin. So, not much weight on sovereign immunity these days.
Suggestion of arresting Herzog is not made with thought that it will happen, merely that he deserves it, along with all senior figures in Israeli state (and Hamas)
February 6, 2026 at 6:33 AM
Sovereign immunity pretty much a dead duck now
February 6, 2026 at 3:03 AM
As Israel’s President visits Australia, genocide continues in Gaza and serious legal concerns remain unanswered. We’re calling on the government to uphold Australian and international law: Detain and investigate Isaac Herzog. ✍️ Add your name getup.to/YmaMqWFlCKVEC4
✍️SIGN: Detain and investigate Herzog
As Israel’s President visits Australia, genocide continues in Gaza and serious legal concerns remain unanswered. We’re calling on the government to uphold Australian and international law: Detain and ...
getup.to
February 6, 2026 at 12:55 AM
Typo here - Howard introduced Work Choices and Rudd killed it. Hope you are right on Herzog. Photo of him blessing a bomb is pretty damning.
February 5, 2026 at 7:42 PM
I've been proven wrong almost instantly. Head of Paul Weiss law firm, one of the first to capitulate to Trump, is gone. Will there be more?
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/b...
Brad Karp Resigns as Paul Weiss Chairman Amid Epstein Fallout
www.nytimes.com
February 5, 2026 at 6:31 PM
The Epstein files are wreaking havoc for the UK ruling elite, while no one in the US has paid a significant price (Even Maxwell is a Brit). Given that Americans voted for a (civilly) convicted rapist and Epstein pal as president, that's no surprise, I guess #uspol
Labour MPs say Starmer’s days as PM are numbered amid fury over Mandelson
MPs say release of papers on Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador could trigger leadership challenge
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2026 at 6:26 PM
They might think that, but Russian experience with the same strategy not encouraging.
February 5, 2026 at 5:38 AM
I didn't rule out something crazy, just observed that there is nothing to suggest it right now.
February 5, 2026 at 5:37 AM
False Alarm: Nine's Red Alert on China was never credible
False Alarm
Nine's Red Alert on China was never credible
johnquigginblog.substack.com
February 4, 2026 at 8:43 PM
Liberals polling in single digits: As the right splinters, it's a real possibility #auspol
Liberals polling in single digits
As the right splinters, it's a real possibility
johnquigginblog.substack.com
February 4, 2026 at 6:09 AM
I'm struck by the OTT reactions to the recent inflation statistics and the RBA rate increase. We are talking about fractions of a percentage point change in numbers that are historically very low. 0.25 per cent matters if you have a $m mortgage debt, but still, Australia has much bigger problems.
February 4, 2026 at 1:19 AM