Scott Alexander argues for a universal right to self-determination, critiquing the current paradigm of determining which groups qualify as 'peoples'. Longer summary

Scott Alexander explores the concept of self-determination in international politics, focusing on the case of Ukraine and Russia. He critiques the current paradigm of determining which groups qualify as 'peoples' deserving self-determination, arguing instead for a universal right to self-determination for any region large enough to feasibly be its own country. The post discusses the complexities and potential problems with this approach, including the cases of Crimea and the American Confederacy. Scott concludes that while his position leads to some controversial conclusions, it's more consistent and ethically sound than basing self-determination on subjective cultural or historical criteria. Shorter summary

The review examines a biography of Narendra Modi, discussing his rise to power and controversial tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat, while noting the book's biased perspective. Longer summary

This book review examines Andy Marino's 'Modi: A Political Biography', which covers Narendra Modi's life and political career up to his election as Prime Minister of India in 2014. The review highlights Modi's humble beginnings, his involvement in the RSS organization, his role during the Emergency period, and his controversial tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat. It discusses Modi's views on Indian politics, his economic policies in Gujarat, and the parallels between his rise to power and that of other populist leaders like Erdogan. The reviewer notes the book's hagiographic nature and the need for a more balanced perspective on Modi's career and actions. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander argues that missing a year or two of school is unlikely to have significant long-term effects on children's education, presenting evidence and critiquing contrary studies. Longer summary

Scott Alexander argues that missing a year or two of school due to COVID-19 or other reasons is unlikely to have significant long-term effects on children's education. He presents evidence from various studies and experiments, such as the Benezet experiment, unschooling, and different countries' school hours, to support his claim. Scott also critiques studies that show negative effects of school absences, arguing they are often correlational and fail to account for confounders. He acknowledges some potential non-academic benefits of schooling and provides his confidence levels on various predictions about the effects of missing school. Shorter summary

Scott analyzes wage stagnation since 1973, examining various explanations and concluding that while wages have risen 40-50%, there is still significant decoupling from productivity due to multiple factors. Longer summary

This post analyzes the apparent wage stagnation and decoupling from productivity since 1973. Scott examines various explanations, including measurement issues, demographic changes, inflation calculations, increasing inequality, and policy changes. He concludes that wages have actually risen about 40-50% since 1973, but there is still a significant 50% decoupling from productivity. The main factors are increasing wage inequality (40%), inflation miscalculations (35%), and labor vs. capital inequality (15%). Scott breaks down potential causes and their relative importance, while noting several remaining questions and uncertainties. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander reviews 'History of the Fabian Society', examining how this socialist organization became influential and why its ideas were compelling in late 19th century Britain. Longer summary

Scott Alexander reviews Edward Pease's 'History of the Fabian Society', exploring how this small group of socialist intellectuals became highly influential in British politics and beyond. The post examines the Fabian Society's origins, strategies, and reasons for success, while also analyzing the historical context that made their ideas so appealing at the time. Shorter summary

A Links post presenting various interesting news and studies from different fields, with brief commentary on each item. Longer summary

This is a Links post that presents a collection of interesting news, studies, and articles from various fields. The post covers topics ranging from scientific research and academic policy to economics and social issues. It includes studies on ADHD diagnosis, income inequality, neighborhood effects, and discussion of various cultural and political events. The tone is casual and informative, with Scott providing brief commentary and connecting different ideas throughout. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander examines 'dualization' in various fields, comparing its effects to non-dualized professions and exploring its causes and broader implications in society. Longer summary

Scott Alexander discusses the concept of 'dualization' in various fields, comparing academia and drug gangs to illustrate how some professions separate into binary classifications of winners and losers. He contrasts this with non-dualized fields like computer programming, where success is more of a continuous spectrum. The post explores the drawbacks of dualized fields, including higher risk for individuals, potential for oppression, and increased politicization. Scott then examines what causes dualization, considering factors like licensing, regulation, and the concept of privilege. He extends this analysis to other areas like minimum wage and urban growth, questioning if there are ways to provide privileges with minimal dualization. Shorter summary