Building a Ruin
Writing about history, political economy, and whatever else comes to mind

Latest

May
20

A Few More Disorganized Thoughts on Belausov

I have a few more thoughts based on what I have heard and read over the weekend. A few commentators,
3 min read
May
16
On Belausov

On Belausov

First, it's been a long time since I wrote anything in this newsletter. There are many reasons for
4 min read
Sep
03
Wagner Group,  Private Equity, Historiography

Wagner Group, Private Equity, Historiography

One of my Sunday morning rituals is listening to  Mark Galeotti's "In Moscow's Shadows"
8 min read
Aug
07
Some Russian Fiscal and Monetary Politics Watching

Some Russian Fiscal and Monetary Politics Watching

This post has been a while in coming, and I am behind many things due to some turbulence in my
4 min read
May
22
Reading Club Update and The Role of Theory and History (also stuff on dollars and BRI)

Reading Club Update and The Role of Theory and History (also stuff on dollars and BRI)

A few weeks ago, I did a poll on what to do for a premium feature on this website, and
7 min read
May
06
Another note

Another note

I am getting a lot of new members here, which is pushing up my fees for running this blog/newsletter.
2 min read
Apr
15
Economists We'll Be Talking About: Wassily Leontief

Economists We'll Be Talking About: Wassily Leontief

My theory of how economics interacts with policy is a bit more complicated than some more popular accounts. Very good
9 min read
Apr
12
Wow...

Wow...

Hi All, My mailbox exploded in the past few weeks with notifications that people were signing up for this website.
2 min read
Mar
21
Dark Brandon and American Liberal's Disillusionment with Europe

Dark Brandon and American Liberal's Disillusionment with Europe

There is a running meme on the internet with relatively left-leaning, younger folks who we'd take to be
6 min read
Mar
13
SVB, Bailouts, and How to Regulate Capitalism

SVB, Bailouts, and How to Regulate Capitalism

The SVB bailout has made me very mad. Not because it is a particularly egregious bailout. Compared to the 2008
6 min read