Moving On

By James Kwak

I’ve decided not to post on The Baseline Scenario anymore. I’ve thought about this on and off during the several years that the site has been mostly dormant, but I never pulled the trigger, mainly because this blog still has thousands of email subscribers and an unknown number of followers on Facebook. But I obviously haven’t been into blogging for a long time now, and it feels weird to continue using a platform whose peak was in 2010 and 2011 (when we were regularly listed, with reason, as one of the most important finance and economics blogs on the Internet). As you’ve probably noticed, Facebook, Twitter, and the consolidation of media platforms (the Times, the Atlantic, Slate, Vox, etc.) has killed off most independent blogging. In addition, while Simon and I rarely disagree on anything, we tend to care and write about different things, as evidenced by our latest books—his on investing in science and technology to create better jobs, mine on partisan politics and expanding the welfare state. Both of us also write about issues that have strayed far from the original focus that drew in our core readers—primarily, the financial crisis and financial regulation. For example, the book I’m working on now is about injustice in the criminal legal system.

I owe this blog a lot. Without the blog, there would have been no “Quiet Coup” and hence no 13 Bankers, which got me fifteen minutes of fame, an academic job, and a new career that has lasted a decade so far. There would not have been the day that Larry Summers sent an email to the National Economic Council staff saying that The Baseline Scenario was required reading. I would not have met some good friends, some of whom have gone on to be far more influential than I ever was.

The blog itself will stay up indefinitely, taking up space on the Internet. Simon may choose to post here in the future, so don’t cancel your email subscription if you have one.

I will continue to write, occasionally at least. The primary place I will post things is Medium; you can find me at https://jamesykwak.medium.com/. For a while I’ve been posting articles in both locations, there and here. I just posted an article about this year’s presidential election that you can read on Medium. I’d be flattered if you decided to follow me there. I also have a Twitter account, of course; I spend little time on Twitter (because it’s awful), but links to things that I write get posted there. I have no plans to use Facebook (because it’s also awful).

Good bye, and thank you for reading.

10 thoughts on “Moving On”

  1. I wonder if there isn’t a problem with the link underneath “partisan politics and the welfare state?’ Thanks for this and for the follow-on links. Best! …edN

  2. Thanks a million, James, for all you and Simon have done and are doing to educate us on banking regulation, economic policy, and the politics of the day.

  3. I’ll note that I tried to create an account on Medium. No luck. Bye

    On Thu, Dec 3, 2020 at 11:46 AM The Baseline Scenario wrote:

    > James Kwak posted: ” By James Kwak I’ve decided not to post on The > Baseline Scenario anymore. I’ve thought about this on and off during the > several years that the site has been mostly dormant, but I never pulled the > trigger, mainly because this blog still has thousands of” >

  4. Thanks for the update, but it seems like credible blogging would see a resurgence with an incoming administration that actually gives a rat’s @ss about thoughtful commentary and feedback, never mind facts. Good luck and stay safe.

  5. Baseline Scenario, Mark Thoma’s Economist’s View, Econbrowser. So many only friends from a different era. Next you’ll tell me Calculated Risk is retiring! Thanks for the great writing over the years.

  6. Have always enjoyed your writing, and your combined work during the financial crisis was critical. Good luck. Followed you on Medium.

  7. “The primary place I will post things is Medium”

    Sorry to hear that – I got tired of all the click bait on Medium and let my subscription lapse.

  8. Sorry to hear this, but appreciate the fact you’re going to keep writing elsewhere. I still think of “The Quiet Coup” as one of the foundational political/economic texts of the decade. 13 Bankers also was a profound education in what “really” happened during the crisis. Have enjoyed reading Baseline Scenario for much of the time you two gentlemen wrote for it and it has always been a great education. Thanks for all the great writing over the years!!

  9. TIME WAITS FOR NO MAN, AND THINGS DO CHANGE, SO WE MOVE ALONG; MOVE ON. HOW CAN WE THANK YOU FOR THE DECADE (PLUS) OF CRITICAL TRANSITION, POWERFUL THINKING AND AUTHENTIC EXCHANGES UNINHIBITED AND NOTABLE FOR THE DISTINCTIVE (AND DISTINGUISHED) ATTEMPTS TO SHARE IDEAS DURING AWKWARD TRENDS.
    HOW CAN WETHANK YOU FOR YOUR HONEST AND OFTEN COURAGEOUS STANCES, ALONG WITH YOUR TOLERANCE OF OUR FEEDBACK OR REPLY’S AND/OR ADDED LINKS.
    IT WAS UNIQUELY GENUINE AND, PERHAPS, NEVER TO BE MATCHED.
    IT WAS A PRIVILEGE TO SHARE IT..
    SO EVEN THOUGH IT IS INADEQUATE; THANK YOU JAMES. THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOMS OF OUR HEARTS,. AND JUST REMEMBER TO: SMILE WHEN YOU THINK OF ALL THE EXCHANGES.
    REGARDS ALWAYS; AND MAY GOD KEEP YOU WELL IN HIS CARE.
    BRUCE E. WOYCH

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