Interesting Links for 26-07-2022

[andrewducker]

1. Rachel Reeves confirms Labour has scrapped its commitment to public ownership of water, energy and railways

(tags:labour ownership )

2. A review of pumped hydro energy storage

(tags:water storage viaDanielDWilliam )

3. UK to host next year's Eurovision (I hope it's at the SSE Hydro in Edinburgh)

(tags:uk glasgow edinburgh eurovision ukraine viaLizzieCassMaran )

4. The Met Police didn't actually send Johnson questionnaires before deciding not to fine him

(tags:police pandemic party corruption uk OhForFucksSake BorisJohnson )

5. Can anyone explain to me what a "Distinctly British Economic Growth Plan" might be? Other than "having an empire"

(tags:economics labour politics UK wtf )

6. How to think about task estimation

(tags:work estimating )

Comments

[mountainkiss]

So the first answer to “How long will this take?” is really “Why do you want to know?”, and depending on what the answer to that question is, you’ll give a very different answer to the the first question.

I absolutely love this - thank you for posting!

[andrewducker]

My pleasure!

I follow the author on Twitter, and he's generally entertaining and thoughtful: https://twitter.com/DRMacIver

[mountainkiss]

I was on his mailing list for a while and it got a bit samey and long-winded, but I am very happy with a plan that involves trusting you to curate the best of him on my behalf.

[andrewducker]

This is true - I do tend to skim-read a lot. I shall link to things in my normal manner :-)

[mountainkiss]

Then I shall reply in mine!

[dewline]

1. That's horrific. Beyond doubt. Also, bookmarking Bright-Green for future continuing reference.

2. I need to pay more attention. (Also, haven't I got enough to worry about?)

4. Privilege, enforced. Right?

[danieldwilliam]

I think (2) is broadly good news. The probable cost of building enough pumped hydro storage that isn't linked directly to a river system is somewhere about $40 per MWH (not sure if that was Australian or USD) which is a) not horribly expensive when you are teaming it with solar PV and wind in the 2040's and b) the most we need to pay for lots of long term storage - if batteries can do it for less, then that's better news - but the figures in that analysis ought to be the maximum.

[foms]

I was pleased but surprised that there was section about environmental impacts.

My initial reaction is that it seems a bit optimistic, in the context of species and habitat protection rules (at least my impression of them, where I live, in Canada). Then again, while they have teeth, sufficient political will or money seems to get around them.

Smaller footprint hydroelectric generation is clearly better than larger. I'm also watching other energy storage ideas.

[danieldwilliam]

Any technologies that you are following that you are particularly excited about?

[danieldwilliam]

I think on the environmental consenting the reports main point is that with so many potential sites there is an excellent chance that you can find some sites which don't have contentious environmental considerations. If you find, for example, Greater Crested Newts, near you first choice site then your second choice site is likely to be only very marginally worse or more expensive.

[danieldwilliam]

Things I'd expect to see in a distinctly British economic policy

There are some things about Britain that are unusual or which we experience more of. The first lot are non-partisan in that most political viewpoints would see that they were an issue even if they had very different approaches to dealing with them

Policies suitable for a largely post-industrial economy
Policies suitable for a largely service economy
Reflects the UK's strong credit position (e.g. we could borrow a trillion dollars to build 10 million houses if we wanted to)
Links to an energy policy that reflects the UK's geographical situation (largely islanded, lots of wind)
Addresses low productivity growth (on the carrot side, training, infrastructure, on the stick side employment regulations that encourage automation)
takes advantage of our excellent universities and the technology potential of those
Reflects our actual geopolitical aspirations (do we want to pay for a) nuclear deterrence and / or b) expeditionary warfare and / or c) garrison duty
Measures to deal with the impact of working from home on office accommodation and commuting
What to do about London and its relative size in the UK economy
Address our demographic situation (aging with a bit of a bulge in the older age categories)

From a left of centre position I think Britain's economic policy should address issues including

measures to increase workers' bargaining power
secure housing
better housing
regional development and growth rates outside of London
infrastructure outside of London (especially east-west infrastructure in the North of England and the facilitation of a few metro
employment for younger people
cheaper alternatives to the current university offering
more redistributative tax system and spending programme
measures to reduce, slow or mitigate climate change
measures to encourage small, high-growth potential start-ups

[danieldwilliam]

Which is not to say that I think Reeves and Starmer are using "Distinctly British" as anything other than a soundbite.

[andrewducker]

I agree - while being very grateful for the list you provided above, which is actually full of food for thought!

[danieldwilliam]

Anything in particular occur?

[andrewducker]

I'm afraid that my actual thinking is remarkably blurry at the moment.

[mountainkiss]

I really love this, thank you.

[danieldwilliam]

Thank you.

I think another way of approaching this would be to ask in what ways is the British economy not like, for example, Nigeria, India or Peru.