Aveek Bhattacharya
@aveek18.bsky.social
Strategy Fellow, Global Health & Wellbeing at Coefficient Giving. Views my own
Pinned
Some news: I'm writing a book!
It's provisionally titled "In praise of experts", and it profiles organisations like the Monetary Policy Committee, OBR, NICE and Climate Change Committee.
My argument is that these institutions are a strength of Britain's, often admired/emulated by other countries
It's provisionally titled "In praise of experts", and it profiles organisations like the Monetary Policy Committee, OBR, NICE and Climate Change Committee.
My argument is that these institutions are a strength of Britain's, often admired/emulated by other countries
This has sent me down a bit of a rabbit hole as to whether we want kids to be taller.
Some analysis suggested austerity had stunted growth: www.theguardian.com/business/202...
But other research suggests height is increasing as a side effect of obesity: www.ox.ac.uk/news/2026-03...
Some analysis suggested austerity had stunted growth: www.theguardian.com/business/202...
But other research suggests height is increasing as a side effect of obesity: www.ox.ac.uk/news/2026-03...
October 6, 2026 at 11:52 AM
This has sent me down a bit of a rabbit hole as to whether we want kids to be taller.
Some analysis suggested austerity had stunted growth: www.theguardian.com/business/202...
But other research suggests height is increasing as a side effect of obesity: www.ox.ac.uk/news/2026-03...
Some analysis suggested austerity had stunted growth: www.theguardian.com/business/202...
But other research suggests height is increasing as a side effect of obesity: www.ox.ac.uk/news/2026-03...
Reposted by Aveek Bhattacharya
A warning from the future
October 6, 2026 at 11:41 AM
A warning from the future
Reposted by Aveek Bhattacharya
Some news: I'm writing a book!
It's provisionally titled "In praise of experts", and it profiles organisations like the Monetary Policy Committee, OBR, NICE and Climate Change Committee.
My argument is that these institutions are a strength of Britain's, often admired/emulated by other countries
It's provisionally titled "In praise of experts", and it profiles organisations like the Monetary Policy Committee, OBR, NICE and Climate Change Committee.
My argument is that these institutions are a strength of Britain's, often admired/emulated by other countries
October 5, 2026 at 10:13 AM
Some news: I'm writing a book!
It's provisionally titled "In praise of experts", and it profiles organisations like the Monetary Policy Committee, OBR, NICE and Climate Change Committee.
My argument is that these institutions are a strength of Britain's, often admired/emulated by other countries
It's provisionally titled "In praise of experts", and it profiles organisations like the Monetary Policy Committee, OBR, NICE and Climate Change Committee.
My argument is that these institutions are a strength of Britain's, often admired/emulated by other countries
Overall this is pretty dismal and scary, but this bit did (ironically enough) make me laugh
nymag.com/intelligence...
nymag.com/intelligence...
October 5, 2026 at 12:22 PM
Overall this is pretty dismal and scary, but this bit did (ironically enough) make me laugh
nymag.com/intelligence...
nymag.com/intelligence...
Some news: I'm writing a book!
It's provisionally titled "In praise of experts", and it profiles organisations like the Monetary Policy Committee, OBR, NICE and Climate Change Committee.
My argument is that these institutions are a strength of Britain's, often admired/emulated by other countries
It's provisionally titled "In praise of experts", and it profiles organisations like the Monetary Policy Committee, OBR, NICE and Climate Change Committee.
My argument is that these institutions are a strength of Britain's, often admired/emulated by other countries
October 5, 2026 at 10:13 AM
Some news: I'm writing a book!
It's provisionally titled "In praise of experts", and it profiles organisations like the Monetary Policy Committee, OBR, NICE and Climate Change Committee.
My argument is that these institutions are a strength of Britain's, often admired/emulated by other countries
It's provisionally titled "In praise of experts", and it profiles organisations like the Monetary Policy Committee, OBR, NICE and Climate Change Committee.
My argument is that these institutions are a strength of Britain's, often admired/emulated by other countries
Reposted by Aveek Bhattacharya
I visited the Amazon rainforest a year ago ahead of the cop conference in Belem. Historically the only thing that has stopped deforestation has been electing Lula da Silva has Brazilian president. www.economist.com/the-americas...
October 5, 2026 at 6:13 AM
I visited the Amazon rainforest a year ago ahead of the cop conference in Belem. Historically the only thing that has stopped deforestation has been electing Lula da Silva has Brazilian president. www.economist.com/the-americas...
I do this a lot and while I'm a one man crusade against extremism, I also consequently have no friends so not sure it was worth it on net.
I disagree, the best cure for ideological bias is asking people to walk through the mechanics of their argument.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23620547/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23620547/
October 4, 2026 at 7:02 PM
I do this a lot and while I'm a one man crusade against extremism, I also consequently have no friends so not sure it was worth it on net.
This reminds me of when I invited a Muslim friend to dinner and realised just before he arrived that I had cooked something with wine vinegar. In a panic, I checked whether it was halal, and turns out there is a hadith in which Mohamed says vinegar is an excellent condiment
They wouldn't have vinegar with their fish and chips because it was made from alcoholic drinks.
So a vinegar substitute was invented, with acetic acid and caramel. It was initially marketed as "non-brewed vinegar"
So a vinegar substitute was invented, with acetic acid and caramel. It was initially marketed as "non-brewed vinegar"
October 3, 2026 at 5:25 PM
This reminds me of when I invited a Muslim friend to dinner and realised just before he arrived that I had cooked something with wine vinegar. In a panic, I checked whether it was halal, and turns out there is a hadith in which Mohamed says vinegar is an excellent condiment
I think we should feel sympathy, or at least pity, for almost any criminal?
October 2, 2026 at 10:37 PM
I think we should feel sympathy, or at least pity, for almost any criminal?
I hadn't seen Snoop Dogg's take on AI risk.
Sharper and more articulate than some I've heard.
Sharper and more articulate than some I've heard.
October 2, 2026 at 2:31 PM
I hadn't seen Snoop Dogg's take on AI risk.
Sharper and more articulate than some I've heard.
Sharper and more articulate than some I've heard.
Reposted by Aveek Bhattacharya
NEW: How does Burnham’s conference speech land with voters when they see it it?
In short, very well it seems. A thread on some new video testing of the PM’s speech among voters by @persuasionuk.bsky.social
Top line findings and some caveats below! 🧵👇
In short, very well it seems. A thread on some new video testing of the PM’s speech among voters by @persuasionuk.bsky.social
Top line findings and some caveats below! 🧵👇
October 1, 2026 at 9:21 AM
NEW: How does Burnham’s conference speech land with voters when they see it it?
In short, very well it seems. A thread on some new video testing of the PM’s speech among voters by @persuasionuk.bsky.social
Top line findings and some caveats below! 🧵👇
In short, very well it seems. A thread on some new video testing of the PM’s speech among voters by @persuasionuk.bsky.social
Top line findings and some caveats below! 🧵👇
Reposted by Aveek Bhattacharya
This is a dreadful argument from Burnham.
Empirically false - almost 6m people were granted settled status; about 4m are currently resident.
More importantly panders to racism/xenophobia, and directly contradicts argument made in his speech about migrant contributions.
Empirically false - almost 6m people were granted settled status; about 4m are currently resident.
More importantly panders to racism/xenophobia, and directly contradicts argument made in his speech about migrant contributions.
September 30, 2026 at 9:49 PM
This is a dreadful argument from Burnham.
Empirically false - almost 6m people were granted settled status; about 4m are currently resident.
More importantly panders to racism/xenophobia, and directly contradicts argument made in his speech about migrant contributions.
Empirically false - almost 6m people were granted settled status; about 4m are currently resident.
More importantly panders to racism/xenophobia, and directly contradicts argument made in his speech about migrant contributions.
Reposted by Aveek Bhattacharya
On 26 October, we'll be marking 50 years since the IMF crisis by exploring the politics of economic shocks.
What is it like to govern in an economic crisis? What happens when "the markets" turn on governments? And what does this mean for democracy?
All welcome!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/politics-a...
What is it like to govern in an economic crisis? What happens when "the markets" turn on governments? And what does this mean for democracy?
All welcome!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/politics-a...
Politics and Economic Shocks, from the IMF Crisis to the Mini-Budget
Join the Mile End Institute for a discussion exploring how financial crises and market pressures have shaped British politics since 1976.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
September 30, 2026 at 10:55 AM
On 26 October, we'll be marking 50 years since the IMF crisis by exploring the politics of economic shocks.
What is it like to govern in an economic crisis? What happens when "the markets" turn on governments? And what does this mean for democracy?
All welcome!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/politics-a...
What is it like to govern in an economic crisis? What happens when "the markets" turn on governments? And what does this mean for democracy?
All welcome!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/politics-a...
Reposted by Aveek Bhattacharya
Public attitudes to electoral reform can be fluid + cross-pressured. See this BSA trend on Keep vs Change over 3 decades
Change the system was 60-36 (+24) in 2024: ahead 2021-24
Keep the system we have peaked 66-27 (+39) 2011, the year a referendum held on the Alternative Vote (which lost 68-32)
Change the system was 60-36 (+24) in 2024: ahead 2021-24
Keep the system we have peaked 66-27 (+39) 2011, the year a referendum held on the Alternative Vote (which lost 68-32)
September 30, 2026 at 11:15 AM
Public attitudes to electoral reform can be fluid + cross-pressured. See this BSA trend on Keep vs Change over 3 decades
Change the system was 60-36 (+24) in 2024: ahead 2021-24
Keep the system we have peaked 66-27 (+39) 2011, the year a referendum held on the Alternative Vote (which lost 68-32)
Change the system was 60-36 (+24) in 2024: ahead 2021-24
Keep the system we have peaked 66-27 (+39) 2011, the year a referendum held on the Alternative Vote (which lost 68-32)
Reposted by Aveek Bhattacharya
This was already happening in other areas too: the changes to employment support in England are a lot like that happens in Scotland; and the Timms review of PIP looks like it will create something that looks like Adult Disability Payment
Something of note; with the reports that Burnham is apparently swaying towards free personal care model as done in Scotland, this combined with moves to enable water renationalisation, and electoral reform...is Andy Burnham just making England into Scotland under devolution?
September 30, 2026 at 8:55 AM
This was already happening in other areas too: the changes to employment support in England are a lot like that happens in Scotland; and the Timms review of PIP looks like it will create something that looks like Adult Disability Payment
Reposted by Aveek Bhattacharya
Or maybe the only growth theory you need is “it’s basically exogenous and nothing that happens in SW1 matters”
September 30, 2026 at 6:40 AM
Or maybe the only growth theory you need is “it’s basically exogenous and nothing that happens in SW1 matters”
This is bad reasoning imo because it overestimates the government's power over the economy (especially in the short run!). It's like saying the football team that won must have had better tactics - maybe, but often not.
A bit like net migration figures being lower, the fact that UK economic growth has been higher than expected cuts against the narrative but can’t be ignored forever. Maybe (probably) I was wrong and Labour did have a theory of growth after all.
🥳 UK economy grew more than thought in the second quarter.
• GDP +0.5% qq versus a previous estimate of +0.4% (same with GDP per head)
• Strong business investment growth (see 👇)
• Current account balance (exc. precious metals) smallest in 5 years at 1% of GDP thanks to services exports
• GDP +0.5% qq versus a previous estimate of +0.4% (same with GDP per head)
• Strong business investment growth (see 👇)
• Current account balance (exc. precious metals) smallest in 5 years at 1% of GDP thanks to services exports
September 30, 2026 at 7:12 AM
This is bad reasoning imo because it overestimates the government's power over the economy (especially in the short run!). It's like saying the football team that won must have had better tactics - maybe, but often not.
Reposted by Aveek Bhattacharya
How can we get Nathan Fielder into a rental home with Man City execs for the next 34 days
September 29, 2026 at 8:40 PM
How can we get Nathan Fielder into a rental home with Man City execs for the next 34 days
From this survey, median position in Scotland seems to be that migration is good but we've had too much. My read of polls from the rest of the UK suggests more ambivalence, but the median person is "neither good nor bad".
3. The overall drift towards greater restriction masks a hardening of views on both sides of the immigration debate. This may indicate that there are fewer people holding more nuanced or uncertain views and who may be more open to persuasion in either direction on this issue
September 29, 2026 at 7:02 AM
From this survey, median position in Scotland seems to be that migration is good but we've had too much. My read of polls from the rest of the UK suggests more ambivalence, but the median person is "neither good nor bad".
I think this impress is probably mistaken.
I was speaking to someone who worked in Blair's Number 10 strategy unit and told me they had no access to academic research (I'm guessing before Google scholar) and apparently nobody had noticed.
I was speaking to someone who worked in Blair's Number 10 strategy unit and told me they had no access to academic research (I'm guessing before Google scholar) and apparently nobody had noticed.
I'm increasingly disillusioned with the (policy) ideas ecosystem in the UK - it seems like underlying (social) scientific research is less and less influential and there's increasing dominance of PR and pseudo-research.
September 28, 2026 at 4:05 PM
I think this impress is probably mistaken.
I was speaking to someone who worked in Blair's Number 10 strategy unit and told me they had no access to academic research (I'm guessing before Google scholar) and apparently nobody had noticed.
I was speaking to someone who worked in Blair's Number 10 strategy unit and told me they had no access to academic research (I'm guessing before Google scholar) and apparently nobody had noticed.
Another example of Reform miserbalism for @duncanrobinson.bsky.social - they're behind among dog people and cat people, but are the favourites of those who don't like pets.
(NB squinting at some pretty small margins here)
(NB squinting at some pretty small margins here)
Brand new episode of the Opinion Brief including a fantastic conversation with @anooshc.bsky.social of @newstatesman1913.bsky.social on why people think Britain is Broken and ways out of it. tr.ee/fIpTTTZNAV
The Opinion Brief Podcast Official: Instagram, X | Linktree
The essential weekly update on what the British public thinks and why. A fresh politics podcast brought to you by More in Common UK and Luke Tryl.
tr.ee
September 28, 2026 at 8:41 AM
Another example of Reform miserbalism for @duncanrobinson.bsky.social - they're behind among dog people and cat people, but are the favourites of those who don't like pets.
(NB squinting at some pretty small margins here)
(NB squinting at some pretty small margins here)
This great, so much in this. Need to resist the urge to think too much about Morrissey's grim politics, but there's an irony that he once represented and embodied a poetic, romantic, culturally promiscuous working class that defied stereotypes and now is easy to reduce to an avatar for the hooligans
Not wanting to rain on the current Marr love-in parade, but... substack.com/home/post/p-...
The meaning of Johnny Marr
And of not talking about Morrissey
substack.com
September 27, 2026 at 9:06 PM
This great, so much in this. Need to resist the urge to think too much about Morrissey's grim politics, but there's an irony that he once represented and embodied a poetic, romantic, culturally promiscuous working class that defied stereotypes and now is easy to reduce to an avatar for the hooligans
Jose Mourinho celebrating his Premier League title with Man Utd
September 25, 2026 at 9:29 PM
Jose Mourinho celebrating his Premier League title with Man Utd
More parochially, do we under-appreciate Armando Iannucci as one of the great living Scots?
Not just personally behind Veep and The Thick of It, but his disciples did Succession, Slow Horses, Peep Show (and Jesse Armstrong even wrote for Black Mirror)
🏴🏴🏴
Not just personally behind Veep and The Thick of It, but his disciples did Succession, Slow Horses, Peep Show (and Jesse Armstrong even wrote for Black Mirror)
🏴🏴🏴
There's someone in the comments saying this list is too American, and 4 of the top 20 are British + Veep/Succession have British creators and about half the actors on the Wire and Game of Thrones were British, so that's actually a pretty good hit rate I think?
I’ve seen 64 of the NYT’s best 100 TV shows of the 21st century.
And don’t really disagree with the inclusion of any of those. That’s a good hit rate.
And don’t really disagree with the inclusion of any of those. That’s a good hit rate.
September 25, 2026 at 3:52 PM
More parochially, do we under-appreciate Armando Iannucci as one of the great living Scots?
Not just personally behind Veep and The Thick of It, but his disciples did Succession, Slow Horses, Peep Show (and Jesse Armstrong even wrote for Black Mirror)
🏴🏴🏴
Not just personally behind Veep and The Thick of It, but his disciples did Succession, Slow Horses, Peep Show (and Jesse Armstrong even wrote for Black Mirror)
🏴🏴🏴
There's someone in the comments saying this list is too American, and 4 of the top 20 are British + Veep/Succession have British creators and about half the actors on the Wire and Game of Thrones were British, so that's actually a pretty good hit rate I think?
I’ve seen 64 of the NYT’s best 100 TV shows of the 21st century.
And don’t really disagree with the inclusion of any of those. That’s a good hit rate.
And don’t really disagree with the inclusion of any of those. That’s a good hit rate.
September 25, 2026 at 3:43 PM
There's someone in the comments saying this list is too American, and 4 of the top 20 are British + Veep/Succession have British creators and about half the actors on the Wire and Game of Thrones were British, so that's actually a pretty good hit rate I think?