The hottest Economics Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Business Topics

Declining Birth Rates Are a Good Thing, Actually

antoniomelonio • 119 implied HN points • 16 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Economics
  1. Declining birth rates might seem scary, but they can actually be a good thing. Fewer people could mean more space for nature and better quality of life.
  2. Overpopulation adds stress to our resources, but overconsumption is also a big problem. We have to find a balance and reduce our ecological impact.
  3. Instead of worrying about needing more people, we should focus on improving life for the people already here. Making life better for everyone can lead to a happier, healthier society.

The Future of Finance: Substack’s Market Forecast Summit

Substack Blog • 93 implied HN points • 15 Jan 25
💰 Finance Economics
  1. Finance and business experts are increasingly sharing knowledge independently, as trust in traditional media decreases. This helps them build real connections with their audience.
  2. The Substack Market Forecast Summit will happen on January 31, where top finance minds will discuss investment strategies and economic trends for 2025.
  3. More finance professionals are using Substack to share their insights directly with subscribers, which offers investors better access to valuable information.

BIWEEKLY BRIEFLY NOTED: For 2024-12-05 Th

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 107 implied HN points • 05 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Economics
  1. Intel has faced a lot of trouble due to poor decisions made years ago. The issues they are now trying to fix are rooted in choices that stretch back more than a decade.
  2. Spending on AI is growing, but it's still far below what many companies expected. Big tech firms are investing heavily in AI to protect themselves from competition, even though they don't see immediate profits.
  3. China is now the main driver of global warming, and other countries have significantly cut their CO2 emissions. Tackling climate change is increasingly seen as a challenge that China needs to address.

FHFA Announces Baseline Conforming Loan Limit Will Increase to $832,750 in 2026

CalculatedRisk Newsletter • 9 implied HN points • 25 Nov 25
💰 Finance Economics
  1. The baseline conforming loan limit for most of the U.S. will rise to $832,750 in 2026, increasing by $26,250 from the previous year.
  2. In high-cost areas like Los Angeles, the loan limit will be even higher, reaching $1,249,125 for one-unit properties.
  3. Different areas have different loan limits, and they depend on both location and the number of units in a property.

🚀 1,000 Subscribers and Beyond!

Fight to Repair • 59 implied HN points • 07 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Economics
  1. Right to repair is a common sense issue that is supported by the general public as it is a fairly simple concept that people can relate to.
  2. The right to repair movement goes beyond just fixing phones and computers; it touches on labor, ecological systems, and technology, providing a critical lens to view larger societal problems.
  3. Repair is a global concern that transcends national and cultural boundaries, highlighting its universal importance as a human activity.
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It's 2026 and life is still messy

Klement on Investing • 4 implied HN points • 02 Jan 26
💰 Finance Economics
  1. Prefer experimental and empirical evidence over abstract economic theory, because investing should be based on how the world actually behaves.
  2. Markets and economies are messy, complex social systems with many second‑ and third‑round effects, so simple “ceteris paribus” models and daily market noise often mislead.
  3. Use a clear rhythm for thinking: focus on ESG, deep economic and finance topics midweek, and lighter, quirky economic takes on Fridays, while staying curious and ready to challenge assumptions.

When we lost our minds: Pt. 5 The Lessons Leamer Learned

Erdmann Housing Tracker • 105 implied HN points • 13 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Economics
  1. Housing is really important to the economy. It helps predict how the economy will do and often drives changes in it.
  2. The best time to step in and control the housing market is when construction is happening a lot and above normal levels. Waiting too long can cause problems.
  3. In areas like Los Angeles, even though people think there are too many homes, the reality is that many people are affected by rising rents and low construction rates.

Why the Bitcoin Security Model Is Broken

Dan Hughes • 4 HN points • 26 Jul 24
🔮 Crypto Economics
  1. Bitcoin's security model relies on rising prices and transaction fees, which may not be sustainable long-term. If prices stop rising, it could lead to less funding for network security.
  2. The network can only handle a limited number of transactions due to the current block size limit, which affects how much miners earn from fees.
  3. To keep Bitcoin secure, the block size may need to be increased gradually. This way, more transactions can be processed, helping to fund the security budget effectively.

No, It's Not The Dotcom Bubble All Over Again

How the Hell • 68 implied HN points • 18 Mar 25
💼 Business Economics
  1. The companies investing in AI today, like Microsoft and Google, are much stronger financially than those in the dotcom bubble. They have lots of cash from their main business to fund AI projects.
  2. Investing in AI is different because the technology, like GPUs, has a shorter lifespan than the long-lasting fiber optics from the 90s. This makes it easier to estimate the returns on investment.
  3. AI is already generating hidden revenue, especially for big tech firms in cloud services. So, saying there's no revenue from AI doesn't cover the whole picture.

Russian Roulette

Diane Francis • 399 implied HN points • 09 Dec 21
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Economics
  1. Russia's military actions led to important talks with the US President, which highlights the seriousness of the situation.
  2. Biden warned that any invasion of Ukraine could hurt the Russian economy significantly.
  3. The tension between NATO and Russia shows the need for discussions about security for both sides.

Inflation - what's it all about?

Concepts of Finance 🧠 • 159 implied HN points • 10 Feb 23
💰 Finance Economics
  1. Inflation means prices are going up, which affects how much you can buy with your money. This can make it harder to afford everyday things like food and housing.
  2. The consumer price index (CPI) is used to measure inflation by looking at the average cost of common items. Experts track how these prices change over time to understand inflation rates.
  3. Sometimes inflation can be good for the economy because it shows increased demand for goods. However, if wages don't keep up with rising prices, it can create financial strain for many people.

The Passive Bid Crash Awaits

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 34 implied HN points • 13 Jul 25
💰 Finance Economics
  1. Passive bidding in the stock market comes from retirement plans and ETFs buying stocks regularly, regardless of the price. This leads to a few big companies doing really well while the rest may not grow much.
  2. There's a concern that if job numbers fall, people might have to tap into their retirement savings instead of contributing more to the market. This could slow down the buying that keeps driving up stock prices.
  3. If the flow of money from passive funds stops, it could lead to a big sell-off in the market. Understanding how this works is crucial in a market that's heavily reliant on passive investments.

WEEKLY BRIEFLY NOTED for 2024-11-02 Sa

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 115 implied HN points • 02 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Economics
  1. Global warming is a serious threat, especially for poorer countries like those in sub-Saharan Africa that lack resources to adapt.
  2. Decarbonization efforts in the Global North have been noticeable over the past generation, helping to address climate change.
  3. Passive investing might seem easy, but it actually leads to big market shifts as people try to track indexes, which can complicate real price discovery.

The Questions Guiding IKEA's Future

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ • 39 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
💼 Business Economics
  1. IKEA is looking at new ways to adapt by experimenting with smaller stores in downtown areas. This change could help them reach more customers who live in cities.
  2. The success of IKEA's regular big stores is leading to new ideas that might involve more innovative shopping experiences. They are trying to think outside the box to keep their business thriving.
  3. Nordstrom's closure in Canada shows that even popular locations can face challenges. It highlights the need for companies like IKEA to be flexible and responsive to market demands.

Chinese economy hinges on market reform & rule of law, NOT monetary or fiscal policy, says Zhang Weiying

Pekingnology • 109 implied HN points • 26 Nov 24
💼 Business Economics
  1. The success of the Chinese economy is rooted in market reforms and the rule of law, rather than just government spending or interest rates. This means that true economic growth comes from creating a system that supports freedom and innovation.
  2. Addressing first-order issues, like improving legal systems and personal freedoms, is crucial. These foundational changes spark real confidence among entrepreneurs, driving sustainable economic growth instead of just relying on short-term financial fixes.
  3. China's approach to opening up and internal liberalization must be seen as interconnected. For China to thrive globally, it needs to embrace both international cooperation and reform at home, trusting in the creativity and initiative of its people.

Review 2023 - Mining Economics

nicosmid • 39 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🔮 Crypto Economics
  1. Bitcoin's price in 2023 saw a 171.5% increase from the beginning of the year.
  2. The network difficulty increased significantly throughout the year by 103.6%.
  3. Hashprice stayed above $80/PH/Day due to a surge in transaction fees and Bitcoin's price increase in the last two months of 2023.

America's Productivity Boom

Apricitas Economics • 105 implied HN points • 25 Nov 24
💼 Business Economics
  1. America's productivity is growing really fast, much more than other countries. This means people are making more while working the same hours, which helps everyone earn better wages and live better lives.
  2. Most of this productivity growth is coming from the service sector, like tech and healthcare, rather than manufacturing. Many jobs have changed to become much more efficient, especially since the pandemic made businesses rethink how they work.
  3. However, this growth could slow down because of rising unemployment and less hiring. If businesses don't keep investing in better tools and technologies, the gains we've seen might start to vanish.

The Economics of Vice and Virtue

David Friedman’s Substack • 287 implied HN points • 26 Nov 23
📖 Philosophy Economics
  1. Having an aggressive personality can work as a commitment strategy, but can lead to potential risks in encounters.
  2. Being honest and showing virtue is beneficial in voluntary interactions, leading to higher payoffs for individuals.
  3. In a market society where most associations are voluntary, virtues have higher payoffs and vices have lower payoffs, resulting in overall nicer behavior.

Why It's So Hard to Build a Collapse Proof Community

OK Doomer • 109 implied HN points • 12 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Economics
  1. Building a strong community is really difficult. Many people think it can solve a lot of problems, but it requires a lot of effort and resources.
  2. Examples like Babcock Ranch show that creating resilient communities often needs significant investment and planning. It's not just about having a nice neighborhood; it takes money and careful design.
  3. Many efforts to create climate-smart communities are happening globally, but the assumptions about community often overlook the real challenges involved. It's important to be realistic about what it takes to make these ideas work.

Links to Consider, 1/24

In My Tribe • 243 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Economics
  1. Definition of racism has evolved from being interpersonal to systematic.
  2. Critique on techno-optimism and progress cult from a conservative perspective.
  3. Significance of COBOL in current banking systems and the use of AI for modernization.

December 2024 Residential Construction

Erdmann Housing Tracker • 84 implied HN points • 17 Jan 25
💼 Business Economics
  1. Construction jobs are slowly increasing, reflecting overall job growth in the economy. This could mean more houses being built soon.
  2. There seems to be uncertainty in the construction market, as it doesn't fit historical patterns. It's unclear if residential construction jobs will continue to rise or stabilize.
  3. A lag in supply chains might be causing delays in construction. This suggests that the housing market might improve once those supply issues are resolved.

Part 1: Current State of the Housing Market; Overview for mid-July 2025

CalculatedRisk Newsletter • 33 implied HN points • 09 Jul 25
💼 Business Economics
  1. The housing market is seeing more homes available for sale, with active listings up almost 29% compared to last year. This means buyers have more choices right now.
  2. Sales of homes are flat, and prices are under pressure because of the increased inventory. The new homebuilders are also reducing prices to compete.
  3. Even though there are more homes for sale, sales are still low, and the market is gradually moving back to pre-pandemic inventory levels.

Innovation Job Market Papers 2024 (2/3)

New Things Under the Sun • 96 implied HN points • 06 Dec 24
💼 Business Economics
  1. Many recent PhD papers are focused on innovation, covering a wide range of topics like technology policy and its impact on economic growth.
  2. Some studies show that environmental regulations can spur innovation among suppliers in industries like automotive, leading to more technological advancements.
  3. There is a growing recognition of how social media affects the spread of economic research, highlighting its importance in sharing knowledge.

Participatory Capitalism

Rethinking Software • 99 implied HN points • 24 Nov 24
💼 Business Economics
  1. Many workers struggle to make ends meet while business owners and entrepreneurs often gain wealth and freedom. This gap shows that capitalism isn't working equally for everyone.
  2. Imagine creating small business environments within big companies where employees can act like owners. This could help employees gain wealth without facing the full risks of starting their own businesses.
  3. We should focus on supporting companies that empower their workers and create employee-owners. A better capitalism means more people directly benefiting from their work.

Collateral Damage

Concoda • 405 implied HN points • 18 Apr 23
💰 Finance Economics
  1. Monetary leaders have created new risks while trying to eliminate old ones.
  2. There is a high demand for ultra-short-term Treasury paper due to an impending debt ceiling drama.
  3. Bilateral repos act as a sponge in the market, absorbing excess cash when the supply of bills is low.

Under Construction: Cornerstone

Cornerstone • 59 implied HN points • 28 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Economics
  1. Cornerstone is a blog about urbanism, focusing on the built environment and people's interactions with it, primarily through an economic lens.
  2. Efficient land use in urban areas can lead to significant improvements for everyone.
  3. Bamboo scaffolding in Hong Kong is an interesting example of urban construction techniques.

The vibes are bad

Alex's Personal Blog • 65 implied HN points • 04 Mar 25
💼 Business Economics
  1. Okta and Gitlab had great stock performances today, showing positive earnings and growth. It's nice to see some companies thriving in a tough market.
  2. The stock market is struggling, with major indices like the DJIA and S&P500 dropping significantly. This could raise concerns about an upcoming recession.
  3. Despite the bad vibes in the market, there are still bright spots like new music releases making waves. It's important to find joy even when things seem uncertain.

Coreweave is going public!

Alex's Personal Blog • 65 implied HN points • 04 Mar 25
💼 Business Economics
  1. Coreweave is going public and has seen impressive revenue growth, largely due to a specific focus on AI workloads. They claim that their services are specially built to handle the demands of AI, allowing for high efficiency.
  2. The company is heavily reliant on just a few big customers, with Microsoft providing a significant portion of its revenue. This raises concerns about sustainability if Microsoft decides to cut back on their services.
  3. While Coreweave's expenses are high from investing in infrastructure, they expect to break even on these investments fairly quickly. However, future demand for their services is crucial for their ongoing success.

Sanctions against Russia worked… sort of

Klement on Investing • 3 implied HN points • 08 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Economics
  1. Sanctions clearly reduced Russia’s official import volumes, so they had a real economic effect, but many imports continued through workarounds so the impact was only partial.
  2. Most of the replacement wasn’t from friendly manufacturers — about two‑thirds was re‑routing sanctioned goods through neighboring countries and about one‑third was substitution with third‑party products.
  3. The impact was uneven across sectors: science and technology lost roughly 30% of imported inputs while manufacturing fell about 10%, so some industries were hit much harder than others.

What's Behind the SynBio Bust?

Rough Diamonds • 72 implied HN points • 30 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Economics
  1. Synthetic biology and biomanufacturing can be expensive. It's usually cheaper to make simple chemicals using traditional methods than using living organisms.
  2. Biomanufacturing startups need to focus on products that can only be made with biological processes. If they try to compete on common products, they will struggle.
  3. Successful biomanufacturing requires good teamwork between design and manufacturing. Companies that only focus on one part of the process often face big problems.

0% Rates Are Back

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 33 implied HN points • 02 Jul 25
💰 Finance Economics
  1. Interest rates are likely to drop to 0% again. This could change how people save and borrow money.
  2. Jerome Powell, the head of the Federal Reserve, may soon be replaced. This could impact future economic policies.
  3. It's important to stay informed about these changes. They can have big effects on the economy and people's finances.

Bogus History

David Friedman’s Substack • 233 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
💾 History Economics
  1. Bogus historical stories can teach true lessons but lack evidence
  2. False historical facts can survive due to people's desire to feel superior to ancestors
  3. Political factoids can be fabricated to support or reject certain positions

On Teaching Entrepreneurship

The Rest • 58 implied HN points • 12 Mar 23
🚌 Education Economics
  1. Teaching entrepreneurship can be a complex mix of personal reflection and systemic critique.
  2. In today's world, many feel the pressure to be entrepreneurs due to shrinking job opportunities and rising costs.
  3. There are always alternatives to the current system, as shown by various popular liberation movements.

Links for June

Bullfish Hole • 58 implied HN points • 03 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Economics
  1. AI technology can be used for both dishonest and creative purposes.
  2. Economics attracts serious individuals, and empirical work in the field involves less p-hacking compared to other disciplines.
  3. Child mortality rates have significantly declined over time, reflecting societal changes and advances in healthcare.