Economist and occasional politics dabbler. Working on a project to improve labour markets. Associate fellow, Centre for European Reform. Visiting fellow, Institute for Policy Research, Bath University. https://bsky.app/profile/johnspringford.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnspringford.bsky.social/post/3mtxy2uu3o22uDoesn't it make more sense for the state funding to be at least 35-40% of undergraduate degree costs, ie the tax-GDP ratio? That's the (minimum) share the government takes of the degree earnings premium via tax. And that's not taking into account spillovers to people without degrees. [contains quote post or other embedded content]26 Aug 2026 09:04 +0000at://did:plc:uuhoxjadteygh25vm32robp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtxy2uu3o22uhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnspringford.bsky.social/post/3mtxrqxif6s2uThere's been interesting push-back on this, which I suppose exposes my underlying view that higher education has large social benefits, and students at British unis have been getting a bad deal out of a system that pre-supposes that the vast majority of the benefit flows to the individual. [contains quote post or other embedded content]26 Aug 2026 07:11 +0000at://did:plc:uuhoxjadteygh25vm32robp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtxrqxif6s2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnspringford.bsky.social/post/3mtwftl5x3c2yThe most annoying thought process about another person is 'because you are x or y you believe z'. It's hard not to do, but we should all try harder. #thoughtleadership25 Aug 2026 18:05 +0000at://did:plc:uuhoxjadteygh25vm32robp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtwftl5x3c2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnspringford.bsky.social/post/3mtw7rdahks2zWhy are non-European but white racists so obsessed with Europe? 🤔 [contains quote post or other embedded content]25 Aug 2026 16:16 +0000at://did:plc:uuhoxjadteygh25vm32robp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtw7rdahks2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnspringford.bsky.social/post/3mtvqkyfotk2kThis would be more convincing if the US hadn't been against the exception culturelle for decades [contains quote post or other embedded content]25 Aug 2026 11:44 +0000at://did:plc:uuhoxjadteygh25vm32robp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtvqkyfotk2khttps://bsky.app/profile/johnspringford.bsky.social/post/3mtvahvrotc2iEU students' spending on subsistence is taxed. Overall they earn the UK sizeable export revenues. So this would entail a small amount of redistribution by the Treasury. It shouldn't be a big deal, but it exposes the mess the international student regime has become. [contains quote post or other embedded content]25 Aug 2026 06:56 +0000at://did:plc:uuhoxjadteygh25vm32robp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtvahvrotc2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/johnspringford.bsky.social/post/3mtsracw4ik2tLooks like a tightening labour market, not elite over-production [contains quote post or other embedded content]24 Aug 2026 07:18 +0000at://did:plc:uuhoxjadteygh25vm32robp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtsracw4ik2thttps://bsky.app/profile/johnspringford.bsky.social/post/3mtskvmglec2wIf this improved productivity is sustained, it fits with the view that macro policy was too tight in the 2010s, and running the economy a little hot should be the priority https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/aug/24/uk-productivity-growing-faster-official-figures-resolution-foundation24 Aug 2026 05:25 +0000at://did:plc:uuhoxjadteygh25vm32robp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtskvmglec2whttps://bsky.app/profile/johnspringford.bsky.social/post/3mtordigxts2mTo put it another way, as the LBC caller said on the UK being responsible for 1% of emissions, we should pick up our dog's shits in the park [contains quote post or other embedded content]22 Aug 2026 17:10 +0000at://did:plc:uuhoxjadteygh25vm32robp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtordigxts2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnspringford.bsky.social/post/3mtnthvmh5c2zCamilla Cavendish argues for the Blue Labour strategy to continue. Side point: the Blair government did do these things. The Cameron government, on the other hand ... https://www.ft.com/content/acfe49a7-3b6d-4930-a37a-5f1b91ed6dc8?syn-25a6b1a6=122 Aug 2026 08:15 +0000at://did:plc:uuhoxjadteygh25vm32robp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtnthvmh5c2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnspringford.bsky.social/post/3mtlycixhws2uAll good points. It saves time on constrained tasks that have been clearly described in papers and on forums. It can, by and large, explain what it's doing. You must interrogate what it's doing, including by checking said papers and forums. Using it for your own communication is daft. [contains quote post or other embedded content]21 Aug 2026 14:36 +0000at://did:plc:uuhoxjadteygh25vm32robp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtlycixhws2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnspringford.bsky.social/post/3mtlbcs3xbc2uMy cod sociology view is the disproportionate obsession with academic appointments flows from a belief that faculty indoctrinates students. When in fact students indoctrinate each other and professors watch in amusement.21 Aug 2026 07:45 +0000at://did:plc:uuhoxjadteygh25vm32robp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtlbcs3xbc2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnspringford.bsky.social/post/3mtla7b3w7c23We know the public is wrong about many facts, *on average*. Anyone seen any work on why they're wrong, which groups are more right or wrong on different subjects? [contains quote post or other embedded content]21 Aug 2026 07:25 +0000at://did:plc:uuhoxjadteygh25vm32robp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtla7b3w7c23https://bsky.app/profile/johnspringford.bsky.social/post/3mtgto4qd4k2jAgree - the microchip enabled global supply chains, eg. Effects take time, aren't always perceptible [contains quote post or other embedded content]19 Aug 2026 13:30 +0000at://did:plc:uuhoxjadteygh25vm32robp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtgto4qd4k2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnspringford.bsky.social/post/3mtgjkx3fm22lDisagree with Haldane's 'it's psychological' argument. UK terms of trade have deteriorated: weaker exports and higher import prices means interest rates have risen. That will push up savings rates! https://www.ft.com/content/117e3a76-0b5c-4e99-a6da-3421cb8d5da7?syn-25a6b1a6=119 Aug 2026 10:29 +0000at://did:plc:uuhoxjadteygh25vm32robp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtgjkx3fm22lhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnspringford.bsky.social/post/3mtgbhdw4ik2lTwo people close to me were diagnosed as adults, both found it difficult to overcome the perceived stigma of being open about their diagnosis, medication and therapy. That had roots in masking behaviour, which both have said is extremely taxing psychologically. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/aug/18/great-adhd-myth-rising-diagnosis-without-treatment19 Aug 2026 08:04 +0000at://did:plc:uuhoxjadteygh25vm32robp4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtgbhdw4ik2l