Economics Archives

Is War With China Inevitable? A 3-Part Diplomacy Plan for Peace

What would happen if the US went to war with China? Is war with China inevitable? As tensions between the US and China threaten to escalate, Kevin Rudd argues that a full-blown military conflict can and should be averted. He shares his recommendation for how these two global powers can avoid full-on war—an outcome that would take a huge toll on the US and China as well as global stability. Read more to learn the potential consequences of a war between the US and China and how to avoid it.

A History of US-China Relations: Opium Wars to Normalization

How did the Opium Wars impact the US? What opened up China to foreign trade and missionaries? Has the relationship between the US and China ever been good? Hostility between the US and China has been growing for over a decade, eroding the wary but pragmatic relationship of years past. In The Avoidable War, Kevin Rudd explains that today’s situation is best understood in its historical context. Continue reading for an illuminating history of US-China relations.

Kevin Rudd: Xi Jinping’s Priorities & Strategies for China

How did China’s policies change when Xi Jinping came to power? What’s Xi’s vision for China? According to Australian diplomat Kevin Rudd, Xi Jinping has serious goals in mind for China. They include maintaining the power of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), unifying what they perceive as their territory, and increasing their global influence. Keep reading to learn about each of these priorities and the strategies that Xi is using to achieve them.

The Sovereign Individual: Book Overview & Key Takeaways

How does technology shape society? How major has the transition to the information age been? In the 1990s, James Davidson and William Rees-Mogg predicted that “sovereign individuals” would be the future. They discuss this prediction and others about society and the economy in their book The Sovereign Individual: Mastering the Transition to the Information Age. Continue reading for an overview of this prescient book.

How Does Society Change? Exploring the Theory of Megapolitics

How does society change? What’s the biggest factor? Is societal change predictable? Writing in the 1990s, James Davidson and William Rees-Mogg made major predictions about society’s future. They base them on what they call “megapolitics,” the theory that forms of government and economies are dictated mostly by circumstances, such as climate and the resources that are available. Keep reading to understand Davidson and Rees-Mogg’s theory of how society changes.

The Future of the Virtual Economy—as Predicted in the 1990s

3 Major Tips From Charlie Munger on Investing

What’s the impact of the virtual economy on commerce? To what extent have digital currencies replaced fiat currencies? In the 1990s, James Davidson and William Rees-Mogg predicted that the virtual economy would overtake physical economies. In their book The Sovereign Individual, they discuss what that would mean for the economy as a whole and for civilization in general. Keep reading to learn Davidson and Rees-Mogg’s predictions about the virtual economy and, in retrospect, see how close they got.

Why Are Cars So Expensive Right Now? Examining the Issues

Why are cars so expensive right now? Will prices come down any time soon? It’s been a rough ride for Americans looking to buy a car in 2023. The average new vehicle carries a monthly payment of $730, and the average used car rings in at $26,000. Auto insurance rates and repair costs have also been rising. Read on to learn why cars are so expensive right now and if prices will come down any time soon.

Will We See the End of Nation-States? A Forecast for the Digital Era

If nations ceased to exist, what would take their place? How could such a societal change happen? James Davidson and William Rees-Mogg believe that technological developments will profoundly impact social structures in the 21st century. Circumstances will favor small, efficient organizations over large ones. Ultimately, we’ll see the end of nation-states as they’re replaced by city-states and individuals. Read more to understand why Davidson and Rees-Mogg expect nation-states and national governments to decline and ultimately disappear.

The Future of Civilization: The Rise of Micro-Sovereignties

What’s the future of civilization? How will society be structured? James Davidson and William Rees-Mogg contend that, as nation-states decline in the 21st century, millions of micro-sovereignties will rise to take their place. These could be city-states or even individual estates where a wealthy person gets to decide what laws apply to her own property. Keep reading to learn Davidson and Rees-Mogg’s predictions for the future of civilization and the road they believe we’ll take to get there.

A Brief History of Energy Use: From Fire to Fossil Fuels

When did we become dependent on fossil fuels? What did we use before that? Vaclav Smil explains that, for millennia, the only energy sources humans relied on (besides their own labor) were fire and animals. It wasn’t until the 1900s that we began using large amounts of coal and the mid-20th century when we began relying heavily on other fossil fuels. Continue reading for a brief history of energy use.