A new bill, currently under public consultation, is poised to introduce quotas, yes, for music: Greek-Language Music Quota Bill Sparks Controversy (BalkanInsight) In its proposed form, the bill tinkers with the music lists aired in common areas (lobbies, elevators, corridors etc) of various premises (hotels, traveling facilities, casinos and shopping malls). The programs should consist of a minimum of 45% of either Greek-language songs, or instrumental versions of said songs. The quota leaves out cafes, restaurants and such (thus slinking away from a direct breach of private economic liberty ..read more

Friedrich Hayek’s main thesis in “The Road to Serfdom” (1944) consists of postulating that attempts at central planning and dirigisme provoke, through the increasing use of political expediency, a continuous erosion of the political institutions that characterize to democracy and the separation of powers, thus leaving aside, by way of exception, constitutional rules and procedures. Hayek had warned that such a process had occurred in the Weimar Republic and pointed out that England could incur a similar process if it chose dirigisme as an instrument to overcome the post-war crisis. Hayek himse ..read more

Several years ago, a mentor shared Paul Graham’s 2008 essay ‘Cities and ambition’ as part of helping me evaluate where to pursue my doctorate. Graham’s argument is that cities act like a peer group on an individual: where one lives affects one’s goals, sense of individuality, and ambition. Therefore, one should choose where to live carefully, just as one should choose one’s friends carefully. Graham pointed out that a city is not only a geographic location, an administrative area, or a convenient location. A city is a collection of individuals who form a group. Groups in turn have a culture, a ..read more

Three papers from this year’s American Economic Journal: Economic Policy deal with shocks that change people’s willingness to migrate to another location. As usual with these, I’m reporting on recent research results that readers might find interesting, but I’m not otherwise commenting. Nian and Wang, “Go with the Politician” In a study of crony capitalism in China: when a Chinese local leader is transferred from one prefecture to another, large firms in the old prefecture buy up 3x more land than average in the new prefecture at half the normal price. These land parcels show lower u ..read more

A case of couleur locale Peloponnese in Southern Greece features one of the most spectacular rack trains in the world, “Odontotos”. The short route connects a seashore town (Diakofto) with the mountainous Kalavryta plateau (700m altitude), up and through the impressive Vouraikos Gorge. Visited it for the first time recently. I kind of knew that railways were built in 1880s/90s? Something like that. The relatively young Greece acquired the large Thessalia flatland in the north at the time, putting integration via transport into perspective. Government was frantically trying to develop inter/ in ..read more

Towards a Nietzschean liberalism Richard Hanania, RHN Isonomia and the liberal’s bet Greyson Ruback, Isonomia Quarterly Culture or economics? Fred Bauer, City Journal Thomas Aquinas and Islam (pdf) David Burrell, Modern Theology Manliness and trust in God Paul Seaton, Law & Liberty Are the kids al(t)right? Michael Anton, Claremont Review of Books BAP admits the American federal order is the best of second bests The poetry of New England James Wilson, Modern Age ..read more

Great piece on the American culture wars Lawrence M. Mead, NA On the past & present aims of conservatism Daniel McCarthy, NC Civilization, colonialism, and Isaiah Berlin Eric Schliesser, D&I Young Chinese rediscover wet markets Fan Yiying, Sixth Tone ..read more

French Laïcité, Free Speech, and Unreasonable Views Eric Schliesser, Crooked Timber ..read more

Locksley Hall (19th century poem) by Alfred, Lord Tennyson India, China, and the future of Christianity George Weigel, First Things The quiet part about Russia and NATO Branko Marcetic, RS Did life exist on Mars? Other planets? With AI’s help, we may know soon ..read more

Fantastic 1947 essay on world federalism under the US constitution (pdf) Greater Poland Ethnographic Park The tragedy of Stafford Beer (cybersocialism) Kevin Munger, Crooked Timber Democracy or liberalism for the Middle East? Jonathan Dean, Law & Liberty ..read more