Sign in

Zsofi Barta

@bartazsofi.bsky.social
2.6K followers 380 following 37 posts

Political Economist; Sciences Po; previously UAlbany; Author of "In the Red: The Politics of Public Debt" (Michigan 2018) and "Rating Politics" (OUP 2023)

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Zsofi Barta
Lukas Bogner @lbogner.eurosky.social · 23/09/2026
New Paper out in Socio-Economic Review! Part of a coming special issue on the socio-economics of loss and decline. About the 4D chess of using blended finance for the coal exit in the Global South. Read it here: doi.org/10.1093/ser/... (or ask me for a copy if you don't have access)!)
 The spectre of de-assetization: legal infrastructures and fragile fixes in fossil decommissioning - Lukas Bogner. Abstract: Efforts to decommission coal power plants in the Global South are constrained by the legal infrastructures that create and protect them as assets. This article examines the Asian Development Bank’s Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM) as a case of managing these constraints via a series of increasingly complex and fragile spatio-temporal fixes: First, power purchase agreements and investment treaties require compensation of investors at business-as-usual asset valuations; second, for lack of public funding, this compensation is to be generated via a blended finance mechanism; third, its inability to stem these costs necessitates further legal-financial engineering, including a novel guarantee mechanism and ‘coal-to-clean’ credits. The ETM and its successive fixes are haunted by the power relations inscribed in asset creation and protection in the Global South. This renders ‘de-risked’ transition finance dubious as a blueprint for fossil decommissioning and highlights the troubled nature of climate-related asset stranding in transnational, hierarchical legal space.
21510
Reposted by Zsofi Barta
Jonas Nahm @jonasnahm.com · 20/06/2026
1/ The purpose of green industrial policy has inverted. It used to pay for a public good: clean energy that cost more, benefiting everyone. Now it captures advantages a country keeps for itself. That shift, from a shared cost to a prize seized, is the story of the transition.
1468
Reposted by Zsofi Barta
Philipp Golka @pgolka.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Just saw that the first piece from our special issue is already out: Factions of asset-based capitalism: a historical typology, by @melindacooper.bsky.social See here: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... Will write a thread on the SI and each of the papers once they're all out!
14621
Reposted by Zsofi Barta
Daniel Driscoll @danieldrisc.com · 02/06/2026
New State of the Art article in @sasemeeting.bsky.social with @mathiaslarsen.bsky.social. States, markets, and decarbonization are colliding in ways that political economy is only just beginning to map. This article is our map. doi.org/10.1093/ser/...
1134
Reposted by Zsofi Barta
Palma Polyak @palmapolyak.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
Europe is obsessed with Chinese industrial domination. But the more seriously I take the "China is winning" argument, the less sense China's endgame seems to make If European industry collapses, demand for Chinese exports collapses with it. My latest: brettoninthewoods.substack.com/p/chinas-gro...
brettoninthewoods.substack.com
China's Growth Model Has No Endgame
The European debate about China is obsessed with production. It spends remarkably little time thinking about demand.
810625
Reposted by Zsofi Barta
Eleni Tsingou @etsingou.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
On the political economy of memes from a brilliant colleague! www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
tandfonline.com
Making sense of memes: how to study distributed knowledge as lay economics
Internet memes are increasingly recognized as part of political discourse, yet there is no consensus on how to study them. Much existing scholarship has focused on impact – debating whether memes f...
053
Reposted by Zsofi Barta
Palma Polyak @palmapolyak.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
There's a global race to secure EV battery gigafactories & reduce reliance on China. But not all clean-tech projects are created equal. Some generate good jobs & domestic capacities, others produce ecological harm & low value-added enclaves. New paper & thread 👇 www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
923975
Zsofi Barta @bartazsofi.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
The article could be of interest to @70sbachchan.bsky.social chan.bsky.social, @katemac.bsky.social sky.social, @brettchristophers.bsky.social ers.bluesky.social, @afolkers.bsky.social luesky.social, @savannahcox.bsky.social?
130
Zsofi Barta @bartazsofi.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
Huge thanks to everyone who read and commented on previous versions, especially @jvtk.bsky.social , @vapunkt.bsky.social, @nataschavanderzwan.bsky.social and @matthiasthiemann.bsky.social
wan.bluesky.social
130
Zsofi Barta @bartazsofi.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
The article argues that this strategy reflects rating agencies’ urge to offer insurance against short-term climate-related financial risks while avoiding committing to any one model of climate risks that might put them at odds with the markets. 6/n
160
Zsofi Barta @bartazsofi.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
…ratings coordinate market expectations around a “wait-and-see” approach to longer term risks, making a “climate Minsky-moment” more likely. 5/n
150
Zsofi Barta @bartazsofi.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
The upshot of this strategy is that ratings are lower (and thus funding is more expensive) for issuers that opt for mitigation, adaptation, and resiliency-building and forgo “dirty” sources of income and… 4/n
150
Zsofi Barta @bartazsofi.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
This is because rating agencies explicitly choose to - discount longer-term threats; - account only for the immediate costs (but not the benefits) of mitigation, adaptation, and resiliency-building measures; - reward income-generation over proactiveness. 3/n
181
Zsofi Barta @bartazsofi.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
While the claim that financial markets could become the motor of the green transition has long been debunked, the article shows that ratings actively delay the repricing of unsustainable assets & make funding costlier to issuers with more sustainable behavior. 2/n
12710
Zsofi Barta @bartazsofi.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
Publication alert! 🔔 My new article in @ripejournal.bsky.social shows that the way in which credit ratings assess climate risks is detrimental to chances of the green transition. www.tandfonline.com/eprint/DEWKJ... 1/n 🧵
tandfonline.com
Tragedy of the horizon on steroids: the green transition and credit ratings
How do financial markets influence the green transition? Advocates of harnessing markets to foster the green transition claimed that market rationality is a reliable mechanism to channel investment...
14421
Zsofi Barta @bartazsofi.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
Can't wait to read it!
110
Reposted by Zsofi Barta
Scott James @drscottjames.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
Pleased to finally publish this paper with Mareike Beck on the epistemic origins of the 2022 gilt market crisis in @jeppjournal.bsky.social   How can we explain the limited regulatory response to the increasing systemic risk of LDI strategies in UK pensions? 1/n 🧵 doi.org/10.1080/1350...
32610
Reposted by Zsofi Barta
herman mark schwartz @thunen.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
pleased to announce the merger of @erikpeinert.bsky.social (antitrust) and my (corporate organization / franchise) interests in a paper on what the end of regulation banning vertical restraints meant for the US political economy = not good ! academic.oup.com/ser/advance-...
academic.oup.com
Strong Intellectual Property and Weak Antitrust: How the End of Vertical Restraints Fissured the US Political Economy
Abstract. What explains rising inequality after 1980? Explanations describing immediate causes, like skill-biased technological change, financialization, o
02714
Reposted by Zsofi Barta
herman mark schwartz @thunen.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
@palmapolyak.bsky.social ’s work on EU battery policy is electrifying! No, seriously it is the best stuff you can read on this sector.
192
Zsofi Barta @bartazsofi.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
Thank you, Andreas!
010
Zsofi Barta @bartazsofi.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
What an honor to be included in such great company! I would love to take this course. (And thank you for making grad students read and discuss books, not just articles! We should all do it more.)
030
Zsofi Barta @bartazsofi.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
Yes, please! (Would be super interesting for a book chapter I am writing.)
000
Reposted by Zsofi Barta
Christopher Clary @claryc.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
Happy to listen and learn from Brian Greenhill on Trump's withdrawal from dozens of international organizations last week, @goodauth.bsky.social . Part of what Brian calls the liberal international order's "moment of crisis." goodauthority.org/news/trump-p...
goodauthority.org
Trump plans to pull the U.S. out of dozens of organizations
Trump plans to pull the U.S. out of dozens of organizations. Brian Greenhill discusses the impact of this move – and how Americans see international organizations.
155
Reposted by Zsofi Barta
Benjamin Braun @benbraun.social · 31/07/2025
Incredibly instructive reporting on what appears well on its way to becoming the biggest, most concentrated, most energy- and resource-intensive, and most speculative wave of capital investment ever. ig.ft.com/ai-data-cent...
8240120
Reposted by Zsofi Barta
David Woodruff @dmwoodruff.bsky.social · 06/12/2025
The independence of the Bank of England was supposed to facilitate the application of economic reasoning to public policy. But if independence=taboo on discussing the interactions btw fiscal & monetary policy, then not even technocrats deliberate on one of the biggest economic policy issues!
0187
Zsofi Barta @bartazsofi.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
I am immensely grateful to all who helped me think this issue through and commented on the various drafts, especially @mkblyth.bsky.social and @thunen.bsky.social.
010
Zsofi Barta @bartazsofi.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
This article has had a long and winding road to publication and it elaborates on the argument that I first made in this piece written for the Phenomenal World. www.phenomenalworld.org/analysis/sov...
phenomenalworld.org
120
Zsofi Barta @bartazsofi.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
Instead, it should be understood as a reflection of the systemic role that ratings play as a coordination mechanism providing an anchor for market participants’ expectations about ‘safe assets’.
140
Zsofi Barta @bartazsofi.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
In it, I argue that the recurrent failures and the resilient authority of the ‘Big Three’ rating agencies should not be understood in terms of credit assessment failure and regulatory permissiveness.
120
Zsofi Barta @bartazsofi.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
I am very happy to report that my article on the strange non-death of credit rating agencies has been published in New Political Economy. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.....
1277
Reposted by Zsofi Barta
Erik Peinert @erikpeinert.bsky.social · 12/08/2025
My book is out today! Read my stuff! academic.oup.com/book/60584?l... … The book looks at the long-run evolution of policy around monopoly and competition in the US and France over the 20th century, using extensive archival research to track the main policy actors who changed it at key moments.
academic.oup.com
Monopoly Politics: Competition and Learning in the Evolution of Policy Regimes
Abstract. Motivated by the contemporary extremes of monopoly power in the United States and globally, this book uses an in-depth comparison of the United S
84618
Zsofi Barta @bartazsofi.bsky.social · 28/07/2025
Congratulations!
110
Reposted by Zsofi Barta
Mark Blyth @mkblyth.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
OK, I finally gave in. I'm here. Now to migrate a bunch of users.
2213622
Reposted by Zsofi Barta
Jens van 't Klooster 💸💸💸 @jvtk.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
We highlight three own goals of failed internationalization: 1. Non-existent euro value chains locked the EU into disastrous dollar denominated fossil fuel imports 2. Wavering and weak ECB swap line policies (limited, conditional, unattractive) 3. That rare beast “a euro denominated safe asset”
1194
Zsofi Barta @bartazsofi.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
Fantastic piece on one of (the many) ways in which the EU has been punching well below its weight.
192
Zsofi Barta @bartazsofi.bsky.social · 01/02/2025
Yes, please! Thank you!
000
Zsofi Barta @bartazsofi.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
I will come to your talk tomorrow! (I hope I get in :-)
020
Reposted by Zsofi Barta
Centre for European Studies and Comparative Politics @sciencespo-cee.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
📣 Roundtable Book Presentation of @jrovny.bsky.social - Ethnic Minorities, Political Competition, and Democracy: Circumstantial Liberals w/@sciencespo.bsky.social School of Public Affairs 📅 5 Feb. 5-7 pm 📍Sciences Po Registration & Information⤵️ www.sciencespo.fr/centre-etude...
eventbrite.fr
Roundtable - Book Presentation of Jan Rovny (Sciences Po, CEE)
Presentation of Jan Rovny's new book - Ethnic Minorities, Political Competition, and Democracy: Circumstantial Liberals in France
1125
Reposted by Zsofi Barta
International Tax Observatory @taxobservatory.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
🚨 Tax evasion is not a law of nature. It is a policy choice. Last year, we published our first Global #TaxEvasionReport, an unprecedented research collaboration investigating the successes and failures of the fight against tax evasion over the last decade. 📄 www.taxobservatory.eu/publication/...
1278
Reposted by Zsofi Barta
Camilla Locatelli @cami34.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
Stamattina è uscito sul Fatto Quotidiano questo mio pezzo in cui commento l'approvazione della Commissione Europea del budget francese. La Commissione sembra sempre soprassedere sulle violazioni francesi dei target, anche grazie alla capacità dei tecnici francesi nel dialogo con la Commissione
ilfattoquotidiano.it
“Perché la Francia è la Francia”: l’Ue e i conti pubblici di Parigi - Il Fatto Quotidiano
Negli ultimi giorni, il governo francese ha sorprendentemente ottenuto l’approvazione dei propri piani di spesa da parte di Bruxelles. L’esecutivo, recentemente insediato e guidato dal primo ministro ...
021
Reposted by Zsofi Barta
Lukas Haffert @lhaffert.bsky.social · 13/01/2025
Since the 1970s, advanced economies have reduced top income tax rates a lot. In the same period, these economies have become more financialized. In a new paper @ripejournal.bsky.social, David Hope, @julianlimberg.bsky.social and I argue that these developments may be related: doi.org/10.1080/0969...
doi.org
Taxes on top incomes and financialisation
Financialisation is one of the most prominent economic developments of the past half century in the advanced democracies. While the existing literature focuses on financial deregulation and liberal...
36230
Reposted by Zsofi Barta
Anke Hassel @ankehassel.bsky.social · 26/12/2024
Just published, open access, another paper with @donatodc.bsky.social and Martin Höpner @mpifg.bsky.social journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com
Shielding competitiveness: Germany’s wage policy during the inflation shock years in comparative perspective - Martin Höpner, Donato Di Carlo, Anke Hassel, 2024
We analyse wage developments in Germany during the inflation shock years of 2021–2023 from three perspectives: cost of living, supply-side cost pressure, and re...
1185
Reposted by Zsofi Barta
Manuela Moschella @manuelamoschella.bsky.social · 07/01/2025
(R)IPE rocks! 🎉 No time for complacency, but thrilled to share these promising updates as we kick off the New Year! Huge thanks to all past and present editorial boards, reviewers, and the incredible IPE community for making this possible @ripejournal.bsky.social
0194
Zsofi Barta @bartazsofi.bsky.social · 06/01/2025
Very cool project!!
040
Reposted by Zsofi Barta
Centre for European Studies and Comparative Politics @sciencespo-cee.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
🚨Job Alert🚨 We are seeking to recruit not only 1, but 2⃣ tenure-track Assistant Professors in political science (Politics and policy in/of Europe and the European Union) Description and application guidelines: sciencespo.fr/centre-etude... #AcademicJobs #PolSci
sciencespo.fr
Recruitment 'Assistant Professor (tenure track)'
Recruitment 2024 /2025 - Sciences Po is recruiting two Assistant Professors (tenure track) in political science / Politics and policy in/of Europe and the European Union
02730
Reposted by Zsofi Barta
Timothy Weaver @timweaver.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
My book, Inequality, Crime, and Resistance in New York City, published by @TempleUnivPress is now available for pre-order with a 25% discount. If you’re interested in using it for a course, I’d be very happy to pop into a class to discuss with students. tupress.temple.edu/books/inequa...
3139
Zsofi Barta @bartazsofi.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
So MANY trains!
010
Zsofi Barta @bartazsofi.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
Short and sweet case study of how ill equipped financial markets are to account for climate related risks.
1118
Reposted by Zsofi Barta
cornelban.bsky.social @cornelban.bsky.social · 09/12/2024
Indicative planning can mitigate the climate crisis. But under capitalism it only happens when the stakes are sky-high: wars, energy crises, post-war rubble. Jacob Hasselbalch and I took a dive in the topic. #GreenState #PoliticalEconomy #ClimateAction www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
tandfonline.com
Green economic planning for rapid decarbonisation
Sustainable futures require deep social and economic transformations to address climate change adequately. The current landscape of intergovernmental and market-based coordination is not delivering...
96432
Reposted by Zsofi Barta
Christoph Sorg @christophsorg.bsky.social · 08/12/2024
Interesting new paper from @cornelban.bsky.social and @jhasselbalch.bsky.social in New Political Economy. Happy to see more work on indicative planning and to see the planning research agenda develop in general. tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
14011