Link here to the Democracy Collaborative's "Index of Systemic Trends", a helpful guide to the winners and losers of the US economy as it has developed in recent years. index.democracycollaborative.org

Index of Systemic Trends

The Index of Systemic Trends quantifies, tracks, and visualizes key crises to show the need to move towards a new system to produce better outcomes.

Excellent piece by Aditya Chakrabortty, looking at the Harris-Trump race in light of recent trends in the American economy, making good use of the Democracy Collaborative's "Index of Systemic Trends", showing long-run trajectories, winners & losers of US economy. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

This is the future for Kamala Harris: unless she solves this economic mystery, Trump wins | Aditya Chakrabortty

She is losing the tussle between head and heart. The economy is better than it has ever been, but ordinary people don’t feel it, says Guardian columnist Aditya Chakrabortty

Evergreen

Congratulations, Chris!

Simon Case is resigning as Cabinet Secretary after 4 years in post. It is a sign of the unprecedented degeneration of British politics in recent years that, as per Case's resignation letter, he's worked with *over 120 Cabinet Ministers* during that four year period. A shambles.

Crucial column by the great Aditya Chakrabortty about how the Labour government's obsession with GDP fails to connect with or answer voters' concerns. To this I would add: it also drives us faster towards environmental breakdown. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Britain wants spending and a better NHS, not this obsession with growth. That’s why there’s big trouble ahead | Aditya Chakrabortty

Starmer speaks of a decade of renewal but he is not offering even Labour voters what they clearly want, says Guardian columnist Aditya Chakrabortty

Getting into the habit of reading research papers and books with one main question in mind “What can we do, see, or understand (etc) with this research that we couldn’t without it?”

Very good piece by @leaypi.bsky.socialwww.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Italy’s migrant pact with Albania makes no sense. So what’s the real reason Starmer is showing interest? | Lea Ypi

Britain’s prime minister knows such a plan won’t work. He’s cosying up with Giorgia Meloni for an entirely different reason, says professor in political theory Lea Ypi

Kamala Harris has rolled out plans for an “opportunity economy,” echoing a long liberal tradition of opportunity talk. What does that language miss? A forum with Christine Sypnowich, Gina Schouten, @martinoneill.bsky.social John Roemer, Lane Kenworthy, and others:

Is Equal Opportunity Enough? - Boston Review

Focusing on opportunities instead of outcomes is misguided—politically and philosophically.

Labour did not need to be in this appalling state, gifting sleaze lines & moral equivalence to the Tories. To get out of it, Labour should set up an independent anti-corruption commission and put Nolan Principles into law. blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...x.com/pjdunleavy/s...

The UK needs an independent commission against corruption

From the Covid inquiry, to the Royal Mail postmasters and the NHS infected blood scandals, Britain’s fragmented “integrity institutions” have repeatedly shown that they cannot prevent overt corrupt…