Paul
@paulbali.com
Zachtwerkende Nederlander. 📍Paris, previously in Berlin, The Hague and Rabat. Views mine
Scribbles at chipsgunsandmoney.substack.com
Scribbles at chipsgunsandmoney.substack.com
Give the markets what they want. European safe asset
January 24, 2026 at 11:17 AM
Give the markets what they want. European safe asset
The only lesson we need to take away from this is that Europe can be strong - if it unites and acts as one
January 22, 2026 at 10:17 AM
The only lesson we need to take away from this is that Europe can be strong - if it unites and acts as one
This is still extortion btw
January 21, 2026 at 8:47 PM
This is still extortion btw
Amazing that German business wants stronger measures than the government. Merz has bad foreign policy instincts
January 19, 2026 at 7:28 PM
Amazing that German business wants stronger measures than the government. Merz has bad foreign policy instincts
Like this. Doesnt sound scary enough
January 19, 2026 at 11:39 AM
Like this. Doesnt sound scary enough
No offense, but Berlin doesn’t even come close
January 18, 2026 at 4:14 PM
No offense, but Berlin doesn’t even come close
If you need ram or gpus, buy them now…
January 17, 2026 at 9:53 AM
If you need ram or gpus, buy them now…
I guess his hustler persona wasn't an act
January 13, 2026 at 11:52 AM
I guess his hustler persona wasn't an act
New YIMBY argument just dropped
January 11, 2026 at 8:12 PM
New YIMBY argument just dropped
Tooze didn't mention Harp in the piece but he did on Twitter. Which is a shame because Harp's book is really important, but I guess talking about its contents is still a bit taboo or something. One of the most important books if you want to understand the Afghanistan and Iraq wars...
January 11, 2026 at 12:19 PM
Tooze didn't mention Harp in the piece but he did on Twitter. Which is a shame because Harp's book is really important, but I guess talking about its contents is still a bit taboo or something. One of the most important books if you want to understand the Afghanistan and Iraq wars...
Who needs solid state batteries or semiconductors when we've got perfectly fine potatoes at home
January 7, 2026 at 8:17 PM
Who needs solid state batteries or semiconductors when we've got perfectly fine potatoes at home
"People live in homes, not corporations" is remarkably similar to Jinping's "houses are for living, not speculation"
January 7, 2026 at 6:39 PM
"People live in homes, not corporations" is remarkably similar to Jinping's "houses are for living, not speculation"
Someone explain me this. Why shouldn't we use competition rules as industrial policy levers? We're competing against US and CN tech giants on the global market. This isn't about cosmetics or optics. It's about understanding today's world...
January 7, 2026 at 4:20 AM
Someone explain me this. Why shouldn't we use competition rules as industrial policy levers? We're competing against US and CN tech giants on the global market. This isn't about cosmetics or optics. It's about understanding today's world...
Pretty cool chart from @chrisgiles.ft.com newsletter
December 30, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Pretty cool chart from @chrisgiles.ft.com newsletter
Wie herinnert zich "Woedeaanval Wiersma" nog
December 25, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Wie herinnert zich "Woedeaanval Wiersma" nog
Sure, tariffs reduce competitiveness in the long run, industrial policy spend can be inefficient, etc. - but all that's beside the point when nearly all strategically important commodity extraction/processing markets look like this:
December 19, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Sure, tariffs reduce competitiveness in the long run, industrial policy spend can be inefficient, etc. - but all that's beside the point when nearly all strategically important commodity extraction/processing markets look like this:
Some examples of police violence described as 'grounded in the principles of proportionality and non-discrimination' by German interior ministry. Then people wonder why nobody takes EU bloviating about civil rights and rule of law serious anymore. The fish rots from the head...
December 12, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Some examples of police violence described as 'grounded in the principles of proportionality and non-discrimination' by German interior ministry. Then people wonder why nobody takes EU bloviating about civil rights and rule of law serious anymore. The fish rots from the head...
