Economics writer. Author. Expect history, economics, finance and other stuff. Wrote Two Hundred Years of Muddling Through. Blood and Treasure, on the economics of war, out now.https://bsky.app/profile/duncanweldon.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/duncanweldon.bsky.social/post/3mk4c4o35hk2cEvery worst case scenario seems to just keep on happening.22 Apr 2026 20:03 +0000at://did:plc:eiroqhvmrl6xbr35pavye5lw/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk4c4o35hk2chttps://bsky.app/profile/duncanweldon.bsky.social/post/3mk3zwwv62k2kSorry but this is absolutely mad. Huge failing of all Chancellors for a decade and a half to allow this to happen. https://www.ft.com/content/c10e4f2f-5564-42a4-8aa7-66c78ca1c61e?shareType=nongift Cut hours and avoid promotions: how the £100,000 tax trap is shaping work22 Apr 2026 17:36 +0000at://did:plc:eiroqhvmrl6xbr35pavye5lw/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk3zwwv62k2khttps://bsky.app/profile/duncanweldon.bsky.social/post/3mk3wupotc22kGrim but useful read. Global energy markets are on the verge of a disaster https://economist.com/finance-and-economics/2026/04/21/global-energy-markets-are-on-the-verge-of-a-disaster22 Apr 2026 16:41 +0000at://did:plc:eiroqhvmrl6xbr35pavye5lw/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk3wupotc22khttps://bsky.app/profile/duncanweldon.bsky.social/post/3mk3vjaq7h22uWill I complain about being busy tomorrow? Yes. Am I still going to treat myself to 40 minutes of the IPL before heading out to collect a child from their club? Also yes.22 Apr 2026 16:17 +0000at://did:plc:eiroqhvmrl6xbr35pavye5lw/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk3vjaq7h22uhttps://bsky.app/profile/duncanweldon.bsky.social/post/3mk3uomg2yc25Tube strike + needing to get to the BBC = decent step count today.22 Apr 2026 16:02 +0000at://did:plc:eiroqhvmrl6xbr35pavye5lw/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk3uomg2yc25https://bsky.app/profile/duncanweldon.bsky.social/post/3mk37u4jo5k24Quite a fascinating series Would not have expected the highs to be circa 2014-15, which I guess is partially a global oil price collapse/incredibly low inflation story? [contains quote post or other embedded content]22 Apr 2026 09:49 +0000at://did:plc:eiroqhvmrl6xbr35pavye5lw/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk37u4jo5k24https://bsky.app/profile/duncanweldon.bsky.social/post/3mk2vbmkfss2sLots more of this kind of thing to come. Loads of (understandable) focus on energy and fertilisers but a large range of wider petrochemical supply chains are messed up. https://giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/actions/redeem/554a72f4-01fb-4f4e-8800-ac0be681b8b5 War disruption forces world’s biggest condom maker to raise prices by up to 30%22 Apr 2026 06:40 +0000at://did:plc:eiroqhvmrl6xbr35pavye5lw/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk2vbmkfss2shttps://bsky.app/profile/duncanweldon.bsky.social/post/3mk2uvmwugk2sWrote an essay last week. https://engelsbergideas.com/essays/how-to-wage-economic-warfare/22 Apr 2026 06:33 +0000at://did:plc:eiroqhvmrl6xbr35pavye5lw/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk2uvmwugk2shttps://bsky.app/profile/duncanweldon.bsky.social/post/3mjzwwhs76k27https://www.ft.com/content/bd0e3253-74ca-4ef3-86b4-ce61d7c714ed?syn-25a6b1a6=121 Apr 2026 21:37 +0000at://did:plc:eiroqhvmrl6xbr35pavye5lw/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjzwwhs76k27https://bsky.app/profile/duncanweldon.bsky.social/post/3mjztkavyx227My view on the Briefing Room 5 weeks ago was: If the Strait reopens in the next week, we have economic disruption but it’s manageable. Closed for another 4-8 weeks & we have high energy prices throughout the year. Closed for few months & all bets are off and we’re in a really grim economic world.21 Apr 2026 20:36 +0000at://did:plc:eiroqhvmrl6xbr35pavye5lw/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjztkavyx227https://bsky.app/profile/duncanweldon.bsky.social/post/3mjzsrbnxe227No war, no peace, Strait closed.21 Apr 2026 20:23 +0000at://did:plc:eiroqhvmrl6xbr35pavye5lw/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjzsrbnxe227https://bsky.app/profile/duncanweldon.bsky.social/post/3mjzlolgeic2gV interesting read. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cx2679eywg9o21 Apr 2026 18:16 +0000at://did:plc:eiroqhvmrl6xbr35pavye5lw/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjzlolgeic2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/duncanweldon.bsky.social/post/3mjzfmj6mfk2fEnjoyed this. Disclaimer: I have some Jim Moir art. [contains quote post or other embedded content]21 Apr 2026 16:27 +0000at://did:plc:eiroqhvmrl6xbr35pavye5lw/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjzfmj6mfk2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/duncanweldon.bsky.social/post/3mjyymwp2yc2eThis chart has left me trying to guess my own annual egg consumption. I reckon something like 350 directly but presumably quite a few more as an ingredient in other products? Wouldn’t be surprised by 400 a year. https://economist.com/britain/2026/04/20/britains-reliance-on-ukrainian-eggs-is-ruffling-feathers21 Apr 2026 12:35 +0000at://did:plc:eiroqhvmrl6xbr35pavye5lw/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjyymwp2yc2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/duncanweldon.bsky.social/post/3mjyr55yalk2uDeep satisfaction when you’re asked to file 800 words and you file *precisely* 800 words.21 Apr 2026 10:21 +0000at://did:plc:eiroqhvmrl6xbr35pavye5lw/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjyr55yalk2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/duncanweldon.bsky.social/post/3mjycqveg5c2vVery interesting but my rule of thumb is to mostly ignore any demographic projection longer than about 25 years. When you’re estimating how many children the as yet unborn will have there’s too much guess work. [contains quote post or other embedded content]21 Apr 2026 06:03 +0000at://did:plc:eiroqhvmrl6xbr35pavye5lw/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjycqveg5c2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/duncanweldon.bsky.social/post/3mjycdpgyak2vReally interesting column. https://www.ft.com/content/154d34b6-3e04-456b-af33-ea12c8fa5945?shareType=nongift Will social media addiction go the way of cigarettes?21 Apr 2026 05:56 +0000at://did:plc:eiroqhvmrl6xbr35pavye5lw/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjycdpgyak2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/duncanweldon.bsky.social/post/3mjx2svil2c2iBy my count, it has been 221 days since Mandelson was sacked. Mandelson was ambassador for 213 days.20 Apr 2026 18:09 +0000at://did:plc:eiroqhvmrl6xbr35pavye5lw/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjx2svil2c2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/duncanweldon.bsky.social/post/3mjwpioyuws2lWatching the statement. I think Number Ten sources and I have a different definition of angry.20 Apr 2026 14:46 +0000at://did:plc:eiroqhvmrl6xbr35pavye5lw/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjwpioyuws2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/duncanweldon.bsky.social/post/3mjwmma3t2s2lI think next time I need to tell off one of the kids, I might pre brief it to some journalists. [contains quote post or other embedded content]20 Apr 2026 13:54 +0000at://did:plc:eiroqhvmrl6xbr35pavye5lw/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjwmma3t2s2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/duncanweldon.bsky.social/post/3mjwihumafc2mThis is, quite obviously, rubbish. But more generally - what sort of person thinks this is a good way to sell their increasingly politically contentious new technology to the public and politicians? [contains quote post or other embedded content]20 Apr 2026 12:40 +0000at://did:plc:eiroqhvmrl6xbr35pavye5lw/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjwihumafc2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/duncanweldon.bsky.social/post/3mjw77xj2xs2yMe: I have too much work this week. Also me: why yes, I will take a few hours out my Wednesday afternoon to take part in your radio show.20 Apr 2026 09:55 +0000at://did:plc:eiroqhvmrl6xbr35pavye5lw/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjw77xj2xs2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/duncanweldon.bsky.social/post/3mjw5qqubp22yIs it just me or is the IMF data portal materially harder to use than the old WEO database?20 Apr 2026 09:28 +0000at://did:plc:eiroqhvmrl6xbr35pavye5lw/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjw5qqubp22y