Research, analysis & grey-skies thinking on labour markets, social security, public finance and equality. X-ile. See pinned tweet for Bsky & Mstdn addresses.
Nov 25, 2022 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
Once in a while I am reminded what an amazing invention standard factory-produced couscous is.
The cooking method is simply to add a roughly equal volume of boiling water to the couscous and leave for a few minutes. It’s very forgiving, a little too much won’t ruin it, too little and you can just add some more. Then add some olive oil or butter & reheat gently.
Nov 4, 2022 • 9 tweets • 2 min read
Before drawing any conclusions about potential labour supply from the number of people on out of work benefits, it is worth asking what is an out of work benefit. 1/n
The data cited in the Spectator article corresponds to this data series, downloaded from Stat X-Plore. I've included the breakdown by broad benefit category. As you can see, the most important rows are those labelled INCAP and UC (Out of Work or No Work Requirements). 2/n
Jun 19, 2019 • 4 tweets • 3 min read
@KeohaneDan@BrunoBrussels@TomMcTague I think the point is that governments are in the business of providing public goods and that some public goods can (and in Ireland should) be jointly provided across territorial boundaries. SPS controls are a good example. No border = shared public goods.
@KeohaneDan@BrunoBrussels@TomMcTague The confusion arises from thinking that because there are some government functions that require, and can only be provided within, national territorial boundaries (the monopoly of legitimate violence) this applies to all functions.
May 22, 2019 • 8 tweets • 2 min read
I still can't quite believe the UK is going to leave the EU, quite possibly in an (avoidable) chaotic fashion, because people think that the UK is not an independent sovereign state. I can't believe a category error could generate such a debacle.
Bernard Williams made a distinction between 'what we think' and 'what we think we think'. Maybe that's what's going on here. I don't believe many people really think the UK is not sovereign, independent etc. But maybe they think they think that.
Nov 13, 2018 • 11 tweets • 2 min read
Betrayal. I could smell it in the air everywhere. Of whom, by whom, to what end, all these damn questions. All I knew was it was going to be a long time to breakfast, and for some, that time couldn't be long enough.
I'd got to the point where it was clear X was going to betray Y solely in order to get in with Z who had already betrayed X when I decided on Rice Krispies and apple juice.
