Sign in

Martin Sandbu

@martinsandbu.ft.com
15K followers 449 following 828 posts

www.ft.com/martin-sandbu

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
Chris Cook @chriscook.news · 21/09/2026
A big new story from us: a big new leak means that we can put numbers on the scale of A7 -- the Kremlin's huge money-laundering machine. $6.9bn laundered through the international banking system via SWIFT, with $1.1bn sent to StanChart alone. www.ft.com/content/3848...
ft.com
Kremlin-backed forgery scheme moved $6.9bn through global banks
FT finds thousands of Russian payments handled by Standard Chartered, Citigroup and other international groups in vast leak from inside fintech A7
5275164
Martin Sandbu @martinsandbu.ft.com · 23/09/2026
Sorry Mark Carney, the world *does* need a rival great power with better manners as.ft.com/r/c591526a-3...
as.ft.com
Sorry Carney, the world does need a great power with better manners
Calling for closer EU-Canada ties without pooling sovereignty is an abdication of European responsibility
0125
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
Leyla Boulton @leylaboulton.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
What would you ask the editor of the Financial Times over lunch? Here's your chance to do just that: Bid for lunch with @roulak.bsky.social at The Ritz in London and all proceeds go to FT FLIC, the FT-backed financial literacy charity Read all about it and bid at ft.com/auction
ft.com
284
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
Martin Sandbu @martinsandbu.ft.com · 10/09/2026
The trade wars were just a warm-up. Brace for the coming capital wars. as.ft.com/r/d9f246c1-d...
as.ft.com
The capital wars are coming
Expect more intense competition for the world’s savings
1178
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
Katie Martin @katie0martin.ft.com · 10/09/2026
maybe they'll make all passengers check if they fit through a window-sized gap like the bag thing
21199
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
William Shakespeare @shakespeare.lol · 10/09/2026
Hark how I’ll bribe you.
650497
Martin Sandbu @martinsandbu.ft.com · 10/09/2026
The trade wars were just a warm-up. Brace for the coming capital wars. as.ft.com/r/d9f246c1-d...
as.ft.com
The capital wars are coming
Expect more intense competition for the world’s savings
1178
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
Captain Haddock @realcaptainhaddock.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
A must read from @martinsandbu.ft.com on the coming capital wars www.ft.com/content/735f...
ft.com
The capital wars are coming
Expect more intense competition for the world’s savings
064
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
90 years ago, Parliament responded to the rise of Oswald Mosley's Blackshirts by passing the Public Order Act, which banned political uniforms, private militias and the threat of force for political objects. The debates make very resonant reading today. Here's the Liberal Robert Bernays. (Short 🧵)
You cannot conduct a fair match when one side is playing with a ball and the other with bombs and, if democracy is to survive, it must be conducted according to definite and recognised rule. One of them is that no political party should resort to any weapon other than reason and argument. The introduction of private armies, as I see it, strikes at the root of democracy. I know it is contended that the Blackshirts are not armed and, therefore, are not an army, but I do not think that argument can be upheld. … Uniformed men in military formation suggest, and are meant to suggest, the idea of force. It is no argument to reply that at this or that demonstration no force is intended. It is an inescapable fact that a uniform in politics symbolises force, to be used either now or in the future.
4123751265
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
Francesc Trillas Jané @francesctrillas.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
@martinsandbu.ft.com: "to the extent that both public and private sectors adopt AI to guide decision-making — how much to invest; in what; how best to tax for desired policy outcomes? — our economies will look increasingly planned and decreasingly market-shaped" www.ft.com/content/cd3f...
ft.com
Could AI revive the socialist dream?
Artificial intelligence has the potential to both reignite and overturn the century-old debate over central economic planning
023
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
Toby Nangle @tobyn.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Could AI replace the market economy? Really interesting thought experiment from @martinsandbu.ft.com www.ft.com/content/cd3f...
ft.com
Could AI revive the socialist dream?
Artificial intelligence has the potential to both reignite and overturn the century-old debate over central economic planning
6188
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
Todd Tucker @toddntucker.com · 29/08/2026
"The Hayekian conclusion always remained contingent — and only true so long as governments lacked the necessary informational and computational capacity for central planning to outdo free markets. The question is whether AI changes that," writes @martinsandbu.ft.com. www.ft.com/content/cd3f...
ft.com
Could AI revive the socialist dream?
Artificial intelligence has the potential to both reignite and overturn the century-old debate over central economic planning
253
Martin Sandbu @martinsandbu.ft.com · 26/08/2026
Feel good about yourself: Your summer holiday was a profoundly humanist act. as.ft.com/r/b9065953-4...
as.ft.com
Don’t take that summer trip for granted
One of the great, under-appreciated benefits of modernity is the ability to seek discovery for discovery’s sake
142
Martin Sandbu @martinsandbu.ft.com · 24/07/2026
These charts need to be drawn for imports/exports from/to all countries, not just JP/SK/CH.
061
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
This is a fantastic piece by @martinsandbu.ft.com which should be required reading for Burnham/Healey/their advisers. [Don't necessarily agree with all of it, but it makes you think about the UK's economic predicament in a different way.]
65521
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
Martin Sandbu @martinsandbu.ft.com · 23/07/2026
My latest piece, on why a conventional misunderstanding of the economy risks leaving the Burnham government in the same sorry place as Starmer's.
192
Martin Sandbu @martinsandbu.ft.com · 23/07/2026
My latest piece, on why a conventional misunderstanding of the economy risks leaving the Burnham government in the same sorry place as Starmer's.
192
Martin Sandbu @martinsandbu.ft.com · 23/07/2026
Long live Europe. Literally.
0332
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Sent an email to 9 Europeans and immediately received 6 automated vacation replies. 🫠
4092049
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
Martin Heneghan @martinheneghan.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Agree with this from @martinsandbu.ft.com & highly recommend his book, 'The Economics of Belonging', fleshing out the type of economic transition needed. However, it's possible Burnham's policies are merely symbolic at this stage to buy the political capital to 'go big'. www.ft.com/content/94a7...
ft.com
Will Burnham go big or go home?
Reasons to be sceptical about the UK’s new prime minister
111
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
Financial Times @financialtimes.com · 23/07/2026
Will Burnham go big or go home? ft.trib.al/DZdeGG1 | opinion
ft.trib.al
Will Burnham go big or go home?
Reasons to be sceptical about the UK’s new prime minister
4125
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
A betting account in the name of George Cottrell, the convicted fraudster who bankrolled Nigel Farage, received almost $9mn in cryptocurrency from unidentified sources while he was providing gifts to the Reform UK leader great work from @annasophiegross.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/b74c...
ft.com
Betting account in George Cottrell’s name received $9mn in crypto from unidentified sources
Deposits in Polymarket wallet came as convicted fraudster was providing gifts to Farage
771354734
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
Christopher Miller @christopherjm.ft.com · 17/07/2026
The sacking of popular, modernising defence minister Mykahilo Fedorov exposed damaging divisions about Ukraine’s military strategy and armed forces’ willingness to address its shortcomings just as momentum in the war against Russia has swung in its favor. My report: www.ft.com/content/a200...
ft.com
Ukraine’s rift over battlefield strategy breaks into the open
Sacking of popular defence minister exposes divisions over how to fight Russia
39124
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
Nicolas Tenzer @nicolastenzer.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
There can be no forgiveness. 12 years ago, on July 17, 2014, the russians shot down Flight #MH17, killing 298 people, incl. 80 children. The perpetrators, sentenced to life in prison, remain under Moscow’s protection. Fact: russia has murdered hundreds of thousands of civilians. It must be smashed.
217680
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 17/07/2026
Ukraine has used a naval drone to transport a ground drone to attack Russia. www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-laun...
businessinsider.com
Ukraine launched a first-of-its-kind robotic amphibious assault, deploying a gun-toting robot from a drone boat
Ukraine said the fully robotic amphibious assault was the first known mission of its kind, demonstrating how drone warfare continues to evolve.
518534
Martin Sandbu @martinsandbu.ft.com · 16/07/2026
It's coming! www.ft.com/content/0a08...
ft.com
The digital euro gets ready for beta testing
A brave new world for EU digital finance
0111
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
Ben Crum @bencrum.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Good ideas about complementing the EU’s finances by @martinsandbu.ft.com But depressing bottomline: member states cannot escape the traditional political economy of budget talks and have already dug themselves deep into the usual trenches for net payers and net recipients” www.ft.com/content/127f...
ft.com
The EU has ways out of its budget trap
Side agreements and special purpose funds could bypass the usual trench warfare
011
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
The rather inconvenient facts around Europe's "China shock"... to be taken alongside the need to engage with the world's trade superpowers in the future. Though I'd suggest this is also why Member States push back against the worst rhetoric and protectionist ideas. www.ft.com/content/5817...
ft.com
Europe’s ‘China shock’ panic is ill-informed
EU industry is largely weathering the competition well
4207
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
Lluís Camprubí @lluiscamprubi.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
The EU has ways out of its budget trap www.ft.com/content/127f... By @martinsandbu.ft.com Side agreements and special purpose funds could bypass the usual trench warfare A.Úbide: "The budget is a clear political statement that Europe does not want to compete with China or the United States.”
ft.com
The EU has ways out of its budget trap
Side agreements and special purpose funds could bypass the usual trench warfare
041
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
Francesc Trillas Jané @francesctrillas.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
@martinsandbu.ft.com: "If this budget proves irrelevant for Europe’s new challenges, alternative financial arrangements will be sought to do the job. We know this from experience" www.ft.com/content/127f...
ft.com
The EU has ways out of its budget trap
Side agreements and special purpose funds could bypass the usual trench warfare
031
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
René Smits 🇪🇺🇺🇦🇬🇱🇮🇸🇨🇦(🇻🇦) @rs-lawsociety.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
excellent analysis of Europe’s budget discussions - supporting joint borrowing and issuance of an EU safe asset, by @martinsandbu.ft.com take note: @volteuropa.org @ecb.europa.eu @ec.europa.eu @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... The EU has ways out of its budget trap
giftarticle.ft.com
The EU has ways out of its budget trap
Side agreements and special purpose funds could bypass the usual trench warfare
051
Martin Sandbu @martinsandbu.ft.com · 09/07/2026
This is a fair guide to most of the arguments around a wealth tax, from @soumayakeynes.ft.com. I would add what I think is one of the most powerful arguments in favour: that is encourages more productive investment than the more common alternative of taxing capital incomes. /
1151
Martin Sandbu @martinsandbu.ft.com · 09/07/2026
As some of us have been saying... www.ft.com/content/3407... - and stay tuned for today's Free Lunch newsletter, landing in an hour. www.ft.com/free-lunch
ft.com
Europe is running from a phantom China threat
EU leaders fear cheap Chinese exports when they should be worrying about embedded spyware and rare earths dependency
4168
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
Helene von Bismarck @helenebismarck.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
👏
111913
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
Max B 💙 🔶 🇺🇦 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 @maxbrockbank.com · 07/07/2026
Early morning press conference at the Whitehouse.
"Belgium is two, maybe three months away from developing a nuclear weapon."
 ED
 PR
 15:29 • 06 Jul 26 • 2,965 Views
709114082434
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
Joris Luyendijk @jorisluyendijk.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
This World Cup has well and truly delivered.
77010
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
BOFIT @bofit.suomenpankki.fi · 03/07/2026
BOFIT Weekly Review 27/2026 Russia faces increasing challenges in balancing its economic policies Read more 🔗 bofit.fi/en/monitorin... #Russia #economy #BOFITWeeklyReview
141
Martin Sandbu @martinsandbu.ft.com · 02/07/2026
We noticed, thanks.
3676
Martin Sandbu @martinsandbu.ft.com · 24/06/2026
But noooo, regulation holds back growth!
45726
Martin Sandbu @martinsandbu.ft.com · 22/06/2026
Pre-Brexit referendum: a British PM surprises by keeping a multi-party coalition together Post-Brexit referendum: successive British PMs fail to keep their own single-party coalitions together
0163
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
Paul Haine @paulhaine.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
A lot of people don't realise this but in the UK we have to replace our Prime Minister every two or three years or else the rights revert back to Marvel
7459621302
Martin Sandbu @martinsandbu.ft.com · 19/06/2026
Striking fact about the Makerfield election: left-right divide has barely budged in the last three GEs (7 years). Lab+LD+Green have gained 53-56 per cent of the votes each time; Con+Ref+Restore 43-47. All the action has been voter movements within each tribe. (Table from @peterkellner.bsky.social)
13310
Martin Sandbu @martinsandbu.ft.com · 11/06/2026
What reasons do we (and they) have for thinking that super-AGI would maintain predatory capitalism, rather than shifting us all over to a planned (by it) economy? #socialistcalculationdebate redux.
060
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
Karthik Sankaran @rajakorman.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
What do you call a trade grouping united by a shared political ideology that avoids economic interactions with a more technologically advanced country because it thinks the latter practices labor repression and it worries such interactions might weaken its own internal cohesion? I dunno. COMECON?
171
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
Dr. Todd Arrington @btarrington.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
On this day 63 years ago-Jun. 11, 1963-President John F. Kennedy addressed the American people on civil rights. It was the same day that Alabama governor George Wallace had symbolically blocked access to the University of Alabama for two Black students trying to register. Video: C-Span.
youtu.be
President John F. Kennedy's Civil Rights Address
YouTube video by C-SPAN
07823
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
Iikka Korhonen @iikkakorhonen.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
#Russia federal budget Jan-May 2026, RUB Revenue 14781 bn (+0.3% y/y) Oil&gas taxes 2977 bn (-29.9%) Other revenue 11804 bn (+12.5%) Expenditure 20791 bn (+17.0%)
1115
Martin Sandbu @martinsandbu.ft.com · 03/06/2026
Good job EU industry lobbies are pushing hard to dismantle the EU corporate sustainable due diligence rules for the sake of "competitiveness".
031
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
European Policy Centre @epc-official.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
🔴 Georg Riekeles, BESF Co-Director and EPC Associate Director, will moderate discussions on global imbalances, China’s export surge and Europe’s digital ecosystem. Featuring @michaelpettis.bsky.social, Maria Demertzis, @martinsandbu.ft.com, Camille Boullenois and others.
122
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
Trish Greenhalgh @trishgreenhalgh.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
Every summer I repost this article on how to spot drowning. Please read it and pass on. In the last few years I’ve had SIX messages from people who saved a kid’s life after clicking on the link from my feed. slate.com/technology/2...
slate.com
Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning
Drowning is not the violent, splashing call for help that most people expect.
253133989736
Martin Sandbu @martinsandbu.ft.com · 22/05/2026
LLMs are fancy Eliza.
092