Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Agathe Demarais @agathedemarais.bsky.social · 8d

US plan to impose US$100,000 fee on H1-B visas is sending shockwaves through Silicon Valley
• 141,000 new H-1B visas were issued last year, meaning US firms could face US$14bn annual price tag
• Move could discourage highly-skilled migrant from emigrating to the US, weighing on US economic prospects

4 11

Reposted by Agathe Demarais

Henry Foy @henryjfoy.ft.com · 8d

Brussels seeks to convert Europe’s savers into investors, wants countries to offer tax incentives to EU households who put their cash into stocks

@paolatamma.bsky.social has the goods:

on.ft.com/488f0FS

Brussels seeks to convert Europe’s savers into investors

[FREE TO READ] Commission wants countries to offer tax incentives to EU households who put their cash into stocks

on.ft.com

2 3 9

Agathe Demarais @agathedemarais.bsky.social · 8d

China-Europe container rates have dropped back down to pre-Red Sea disruption levels
• Diversions are still taking place; 17 cargo ships traversed Suez Canal on Sep 21, vs. 47 at start of Dec 2023
• Tariff uncertainty is weighing on prices; Shanghai-Rotterdam spot rate has been down for eight weeks

1 11

Reposted by Agathe Demarais

Stanley Pignal @spignal.bsky.social · 8d

By imposing conditions on someone accessing the asset (ie demanding Russia pays reparations, which have not been agreed nor can be imposed on Russia, to get access to its money), are you not in effect confiscating the asset? That's the question at the heart of the legality of the frozen asset debate

Jorge Liboreiro @jorgeliboreiro.bsky.social · 8d

Ursula von der Leyen says a "part" of the €140 billion reparations loan for Ukraine will be used "for procurement in Europe and with Europe".

"Importantly, there is no seizing of the assets. Ukraine has to repay the loan if Russia is paying reparations," she says.

Mark Rutte, by her side: "If!"

1 2 12

Reposted by Agathe Demarais

Toby Nangle @tobyn.bsky.social · 8d

Analysts who excel at self-promotion on LinkedIn are worse at their jobs, but experience the highest rates of promotion. klementoninvesting.substack.com/p/self-promo...

Self-promotion works, especially if you are bad at your job

I have come across a recent paper that measures equity analysts self-representation on LinkedIn and the tone they use to describe their research and their views on LinkedIn and in the media.

klementoninvesting.substack.com

16 44 130

Agathe Demarais @agathedemarais.bsky.social · 8d

Financing the war is now one of Ukraine's main challenges
• Tax and domestic borrowing cover only core military spending, or about two-thirds of the budget
• Rosiest forecasts leave a US$45bn shortfall next year, with western support covering just US$27bn of that

1 4 14

Reposted by Agathe Demarais

Agathe Demarais @agathedemarais.bsky.social · 9d

L'accord commercial transatlantique de juillet pourrait ne pas être aussi désastreux qu'on le croit - dans cette tribune pour @lemonde.fr j'avance l'idée que l'économie américaine pourrait être la plus grande perdante des guerres commerciales de Trump

Agathe Demarais, économiste : « Les Etats-Unis, plus que l’Europe, seront les grands perdants des guerres commerciales de Trump »

TRIBUNE. Contrairement aux idées reçues, l’accord commercial entre l’UE et les Américains n’est pas si désastreux, analyse, dans une tribune au « Monde », l’économiste Agathe Demarais, qui a publié à…

www.lemonde.fr

1 5 15

Reposted by Agathe Demarais

John Sipher @johnsipher.bsky.social · 9d

“Not only does this inject significant uncertainty into the infrastructure development process, but it invariably increases the price of the projects and risks raising the cost of electricity, diminishing our ability to meet growing demand…”

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/27/b...

Unexpected Critics of Trump’s Attacks on Wind Energy: Oil Executives

www.nytimes.com

3 18 61

Reposted by Agathe Demarais

Abe Newman @abenewman.bsky.social · 9d

Weaponized interdependence spreads to third countries -- Taiwan uses chip dependence to strong arm South Africa.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Taiwan Curbs Chip Exports to South Africa Over National Security

Taiwan has imposed restrictions on the export of chips to South Africa over national security concerns, the first time it has used its semiconductor industry as a weapon against a country closely alli...

www.bloomberg.com

5 8

Reposted by Agathe Demarais

Alicia Garcia Herrero 艾西亞 @aligarciaherrero.bsky.social · 9d

Views for SCMP: "China might also be increasing its holdings of the euro–given a rise in exports to Europe in recent months – as well as other currencies such as the British pound and Swiss franc, which could be contributing to the rise in its foreign exchange reserves."
www.scmp.com/economy/glob...

As China keeps cutting US Treasury holdings, where are its investments going?

With China’s holdings at their lowest since 2009, analysts said the country’s central bank could be turning to European assets and gold.

www.scmp.com

2 3

Agathe Demarais @agathedemarais.bsky.social · 9d

L'accord commercial transatlantique de juillet pourrait ne pas être aussi désastreux qu'on le croit - dans cette tribune pour @lemonde.fr j'avance l'idée que l'économie américaine pourrait être la plus grande perdante des guerres commerciales de Trump

Agathe Demarais, économiste : « Les Etats-Unis, plus que l’Europe, seront les grands perdants des guerres commerciales de Trump »

TRIBUNE. Contrairement aux idées reçues, l’accord commercial entre l’UE et les Américains n’est pas si désastreux, analyse, dans une tribune au « Monde », l’économiste Agathe Demarais, qui a publié à…

www.lemonde.fr

1 5 15

Reposted by Agathe Demarais

Eliot Higgins @eliothiggins.bsky.social · 9d

I'm finally looking forward to Russia's disinformation campaign no longer emailing us endless fake news videos about Moldova and Maia Sandu. Guess they won't be getting their bonuses
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Pro-EU party in Moldova set to win vote mired in claims of Russian interference

The election was seen as critical for Moldova's EU path, and President Maia Sandu warned the country's future was in danger.

www.bbc.co.uk

30 330 1.7K

Agathe Demarais @agathedemarais.bsky.social · 9d

French economist Gabriel Zucman suggests taxing wealth over €100m at 2% per year
• France hosts highest number of billionaires among EU countries, but some could leave if tax is introduced
• Move could raise only €5bn/year (1.5% of fiscal revenues) and could disincentive investment in France

1 2 11

Agathe Demarais @agathedemarais.bsky.social · 12d

Wind and solar have now overtaken nuclear as the second largest source of US energy
• Clean energy (wind, solar, hydro) now accounts for around one quarter of the US energy mix, ahead of nuclear and coal
• Data are at odds with Trump's view that wind and solar are not sources of energy

2 8

Reposted by Agathe Demarais

Jorge Liboreiro @jorgeliboreiro.bsky.social · 12d

The European Commission is pitching a highly innovative proposal to use the cash balances of Russia's frozen assets to issue a €140 billion loan to Ukraine.

Repayments will begin only when Russia agrees to provide war reparations.

Here's what we know. (It's very complex.)

Brussels pitches €140 billion loan to Ukraine based on Russia's assets

Brussels believes it can issue a €140 billion loan to Ukraine using Russia's frozen assets without engaging in outright confiscation. #EuropeNews

euronews.com

7 18

Reposted by Agathe Demarais

Amy Maxmen, PhD @amymaxmen.bsky.social · 12d

A deal to allow generic versions of HIV-prevention shots in lower income countries is fabulous news. Just $40/year (vs $28K in the US)

Great news, but as usual, middle-income nations with high poverty & lots of HIV are left out.

By @apoorvanyt.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/h...

Philanthropies Strike a Promising Deal to Turn Back H.I.V.

www.nytimes.com

2 37 110

Agathe Demarais @agathedemarais.bsky.social · 12d

Since 1970 income of French pensioners has grown far more quickly than that of workers
• French pensioners have exceptional feature for OECD standards—they earn more than working-age adults
• Rise in life expectancy will place burden on public finances through rise in health and pension spending

2 6 16

Agathe Demarais @agathedemarais.bsky.social · 12d

KAL's cartoon in The Economist this week

6 18

Reposted by Agathe Demarais

G Elliott Morris @gelliottmorris.com · 13d

trump's attack on H-1B visas seems like a pretty terrible own-goal for America's research output

The Xylom @thexylom.com · 13d

EXCLUSIVE: A new analysis by The Xylom's @alexip718.com shows for the first time just how much America’s top research institutions have grown to depend on H-1B skilled workers — and how this delicate balance might be disrupted by U.S. President Donald Trump’s crackdown on legal immigration.

The Most Detailed Maps of H-1B Visa Holders Joining America's Top Research Institutions

A new analysis by The Xylom shows for the first time just how much America’s top research institutions have grown to depend on the specialized knowledge of H-1B skilled workers — and how this…

www.thexylom.com

6 19 110

Agathe Demarais @agathedemarais.bsky.social · 13d

Interesting - in France shifting power use from heures pleines to heures creuses is a way of life for many households that EDF actively encourages; they even have a special rate whereby you face extortionate prices on 22 peak days/year in Winter in return for a 50% discount in the remaining 343 days

2 5

Agathe Demarais @agathedemarais.bsky.social · 13d

Despite US tariffs, Chinese ports and international cargo flights are busier than ever
• Rise in exports to Vietnam, for instance, suggests US-bound goods are rerouted to avoid US tariffs
• Rising sales to Europe and Australia also suggest Beijing found new buyers for many products

1 9

Agathe Demarais @agathedemarais.bsky.social · 13d

"The step goes against Putin’s pledge not to raise taxes before 2030, but the finance ministry [said] the funds would be used to cover Russia’s spiralling defence expenditure, as well as for support for social spending. The Kremlin's revised plans point to a growing budget deficit"

Russia to raise value added tax rate to 22% as war weighs on economy

Finance ministry says funds will be mainly used to cover the country’s spiralling defence and security spending

on.ft.com

6 9

Reposted by Agathe Demarais

Akshat Rathi @akshatrathi.bsky.social · 13d

Don't sleep on the good news. This quarter, China will sell more electric cars than the US will sell all cars of any kind (EVs or gas-guzzling pick-up trucks).

The rise of EVs in developing countries from Nepal to Costa Rica is an extraordinary story. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

The Extraordinary Rise of Electric Cars in Developing Countries

Colin McKerracher, head of transport for BloombergNEF, joins Zero to discuss the latest global trends in electric-vehicle sales.

www.bloomberg.com

1 38 100

Reposted by Agathe Demarais

Tony Tassell @tonytassell.bsky.social · 13d

This Unhedged analysis of Stephen Miran’s interest rate views by @robarmstrong.bsky.social is pretty illuminating more broadly on the Trump admin’s economic strategy www.ft.com/content/1641...

Stephen Miran on interest rates

Are big cuts needed?

www.ft.com

1 1 8

Reposted by Agathe Demarais

Foreign Policy @foreignpolicy.com · 13d

No one knows whether Trump is about to charge or let go. But EU policymakers can sketch a coherent, pragmatic, and coolheaded response to Trump’s attacks, columnist @agathedemarais.bsky.social writes.

Europe’s Hippopotamus Strategy for Handling Trump

EU policymakers should channel their inner naturalists as they adapt to Trumponomics.

foreignpolicy.com

2 5