Radical Contributions

Forsaking Industrialism: The Most Expensive Thing You Didn’t Buy

Or Why You Need More Than Tariffs To Win Zero-Sum Games On The Global Stage. Global supply chains build to the spec of the pickiest buyer. Europe…

Apr 3 • 

Conrad Bastable

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25

10

July 2024

Monetization & Monopolies: How The Internet You Loved Died

Or Why Tech Monopolies Are Actually Good For Society. A defence of “Big Tech” on the principles of progress. Hold on! Stow the pitchforks! Hear me…

Jul 25, 2024 • 

Conrad Bastable

25

5

3

June 2024

A Podcast & Some Quick Thoughts on Value Capture

a rare non-essay update for Summer 2024!

Jun 3, 2024 • 

Conrad Bastable

3

2

January 2024

Escalation Theory: Compliance, Violence, and Overachievement In Society

How Elites Cause Crime By Acing Marshmallow Tests

Jan 7, 2024 • 

Conrad Bastable

78

53

13

March 2023

Inside My First Bank Run: Zombie Banks and Magic Money

Why Banks Always Explode And What To Do About it. Half-retrospective & half-critical analysis of modern banking, this essay explores what it was like to…

Mar 24, 2023 • 

Conrad Bastable

3

November 2022

Japan’s Housing Crisis: What The YIMBYs Don’t Understand

What Really Drives Housing Prices — And Why Japan’s Haven’t Increased Since 1995!

Nov 25, 2022 • 

Conrad Bastable

16

July 2022

Book Review: Discourses on Livy, Part II

expansion, growth, & leadership

Jul 11, 2022 • 

Conrad Bastable

5

8

A Podcast & A New Platform

a very rare non-essay update for July 4th

Jul 4, 2022 • 

Conrad Bastable

1

2

June 2022

Book Review: Discourses on Livy, Part I

Rehabilitating Machiavelli

Jun 27, 2022 • 

Conrad Bastable

2

February 2022

American Zaibatsu: Macroeconomics for Tech Employees

How great nations are built on the backs of great companies — and what you can do about it

Feb 10, 2022 • 

Conrad Bastable

4

September 2021

Video Games & Professional Society: What Older Generations Don’t Understand About Gaming

Why You Should Play Games To Excess

Sep 10, 2021 • 

Conrad Bastable

3

2

1

June 2021

Elite Underproduction: Why We Can’t Solve Hard Problems Anymore

The Worldview Schism Fueling The Tech-Media Wars & Stunting Our Growth

Jun 10, 2021 • 

Conrad Bastable

6