Joakim Book
The Stories from a Decentralized Short Squeeze
“Millions were made, billions lost, revenge realized and dreams shattered. The GameStop saga is both disturbing for what it reveals about a society’s divides and the market structure that made it possible.” ~ Joakim Book
The Terrible Baby Boomers
“If you want a careful, well-researched, and nuanced description of today’s generational conflicts, look beyond Andrews. If, on the other hand, you are looking for something entertaining, give Andrews a look.” ~ Joakim Book
A Clear and Nuanced View on Generational Conflict
“Duffy is the first to admit that there are differences between the generations, but upon closer scrutiny many of them fall apart. Many stereotypes of our generations require both nuance and honest qualifications.” ~ Joakim Book
A Tale of Two Pizzas: Are Property Values Really Yours to Keep?
“You may own a monetary asset, but you’re not entitled to determine its exchange rate against other goods and services. Just because you own something, that doesn’t mean you own the prerogative of setting its price. That goes for homes too.” ~ Joakim Book
The Route of (Least) Resistance
“Refuse to let political issues invade the areas of our lives that we cherish; politics and political disagreements don’t belong there, and our lives are too important to let them be ruled by (mostly contrived) political disagreements.” ~ Joakim Book
What Are the Nobel Journalists Doing?
“I’m always surprised at the unbelievably poor quality of questions journalists pose to the newly minted laureates. The profession of the Fourth Estate is indeed in hopeless decline; nowhere is this as clear as in watching the econ Nobel be announced.” ~ Joakim Book
Security Theatre and Covering One’s Buttocks
“People still believe the erroneous and absurdly exaggerated fears that our political and journalistic merchants of fear released a year-and-a-half ago. How long we’ll carry the mistakes of Covid is anybody’s guess, but we’ll play a lot of security theatre until then.” ~ Joakim Book
The “Fortune of the Commons”: Why Are There Still Blueberries in the Fields?
“Sometimes the supposedly inevitable tragedy-of-the-commons can, with prosperity and economic growth, be turned on its head to become the Fortune of the Commons.” ~ Joakim Book
Since Viking Times, the Nordics Have Been Different
“Work hard; Endure hardship; Do what is right. That is the core of the Viking spirit, which Herman so elegantly traces through its millennia-long history: ‘about daring to reach for more than the universe had gifted you, no matter the odds and the obstacles.'” ~ Joakim Book
That’s None of Your Business, Actually
“For what purposes may societies condone the use of violent force? The answer is many fewer than most people presently believe. Because most things are simply none of the government’s business.” ~ Joakim Book
