Steve Kelman on Politics, Culture, and Life, 3.13.23
Steve Kelman, Harvard Kennedy School prof, moderate Dem, pro free speech/anti cancel culture, pro tax rich, pro-Israel. Research improving gov performance, China interest. Blog reprints Facebook posts
Chinese consumer brands popular in the US
An article in the Economist this week points out how many Chinese consumer brands are popular in America. In addition to TikTok, Temu, a low-price Chinese clothes brand, has become America's most downloaded app for iPhones, and Shein, a fashion retailer, ranks above Amazon.
Struggle for Taiwan
The cover story of the new issue of The Economist, which just arrived in my mailbox, is called The Struggle for Taiwan.
In France, people want to retire sooner, in US retire later
Are people following the strikes in France going on now to protest increasing the pension age from 62 to 64? From the accounts I've read, it sort of seems maybe to port it unfairly that many French don't want to work very much. In the US, the debate has been the opposite, about eliminating compulsory retirement age to allow people to work more years. It is true, however, that this push comes mostly from higher social class people, while blue collar workers often want to retire young.
Dementia declining
New research in Sweden reported on the TV news finds that the incidence of dementia among 85-year-olds has declined by half since the 1980's.
Serving coffee in a post office in China
Beijing review has a photo of a barista serving coffee at a coffee-themed post office in China. Very nice, innovative use of the space!
No contagion after collapse of Silicon Valley Bank
The Times reports that in the wake of the collapse of Silicon Valley bank, there has been no contagion to other large banks. Since 2008 there have been more strict capital requirements for these banks, and regulators have tried to keep these banks from focusing too heavily in a single area business. Thank you, government regulators.
Promo code: “bankrun”
A Silicon Valley start-up selling gifts for children has a 40% off sale on everything they sell with the promo code "bankrun." You couldn't make this up.
Converting office space to residential space
Remote work is shifting demand from office space to residential space. Office-to-residential conversions are underway in many cities.
Milk most hydrating
Wanna share (maybe) useful facts: I worry I don't get enough liquids. I have now learned that milk is more hydrating than water, and fruit juice is less hydrating.
Who is George Orwell?
A Hong-Kong journalist on trial for sedition was asked during his trial about an op-ed comparing the situation in Hong-Kong to George Orwell's 1984. However, the presiding judge knew nothing about the book and didn't even know it was a book.