Interesting Links for 22-01-2025

[andrewducker]

1. An economist explains why Europeans GDP isn't keeping up with the US, but Europeans are actually doing pretty much just as well

(tags:Europe USA economics gdp )

2. USA decides that it's doesn't need cyber security

(tags:security internet USA doom )

3. Illustrated poetry In 150 characters or less

(tags:poetry comic )

4. 3D world generation is now *really* impressive. Damned if I can tell any of this apart from reality.

(tags:3d graphics video impressive )

5. Labour strips environmental watchdogs' powers to block building projects

(tags:labour environment building uk )

Comments

[juan_gandhi]

Wow, an interesting development. Thank you! Especially this "economist explanation" (I'm clueless).

[andrewducker]

I'm by no means an economist either!

Which is probably why I find this level of things fascinating.

[movingfinger]

1. It's healthcare, pensions, and social services, isn't it. I'm not going to watch a video about it; if he has a written essay, I'll read that.

[channelpenguin]

Actually, no

[andrewducker]

It's that the world has split into trade blocks big enough that they buy most of their goods internally. So Europe technically has less money but buy most of their goods in Europe where they're cheaper, so overall they're doing nearly as well.

(Which is what you see if you look at Purchasing Power Parity adjusted GDP)

[danieldwilliam]

I wonder what the minimum geographical, population and economy size and complexity is that PPP become more important than nominal dollar GDP.

The EU with about half a billion people seems to be there. Africa with 1.2 billion seems further away.

[andrewducker]

I suspect it's a factor of "How much of what an economy uses does it provide?"

While Europe manufactures a huge amount of stuff, and can get it to the rest of Europe pretty easily, Africa doesn't have a large manufacturing base and lacks the transport infrastructure even if it did. (I assume that actually without the transport infrastructure it's not actually worth having too large a manufacturing base)

[doubtingmichael]

For me, the most interesting part of the Infinigen video is that they splash "Zero AI". It's telling that that is a boast now!

[andrewducker]

It is! Makes me happy.