#geoecon

[magpiejay1234]

Looking at the Gen Z consumption habits, there doesn't seem to be a drastic increase in overall consumption compared to Millennials (though there isn't much research, either), it seems Gen Z spending seems to be artificially inflated due to preference for luxury, or limited run items.

This explains the recent hysteria about Baby Boomers leaving the workforce, it really seems that Boomer, and elder Silent Generation spending habits were the exception, and not the rule, in the slightest.

[magpiejay1234]

Interesting news, China will impose taxes on conventional solar cells, and lithium-ion batteries.

This presumably also includes small scale electronics, so most of electronics will be forced to shift to sodium ion batteries as well.

This is actually a good policy, but it will hurt a lot of people's pockets.

[magpiejay1234]

https://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/other/bluebook/2018/html/chapter3/c030301.html

Japanese government's own chart for trade agreements kind of explains why Japan is lagging behind, even compared to itself in 1970s. Overall trade policy is strictly stuck in 1800s British naval trade politics that are bread, and butter of Japanese geopolitics, which have nothing to do with modern geoeconomics, which are strictly about investment, not movement of mass goods.

Japan in 1970s took special importance of Africa (specifically East Africa), much like how China, and Korea(s) are doing now, but modern Japan post 1990s real estate bubble is stuck in little Eastern Asia-Pacific.

The Japanese government is considering signing a free trade agreement (FTA) with African countries. .. - MK

The Japanese government is considering signing a free trade agreement (FTA) with African countries. The priority is the eastern part, which

There are some news suggesting this might eventually change, but this is clearly not a priority compared to the GCC, and Mercosur agreements.

[magpiejay1234]

Looking at Nauru's stats at World Bank, apparently the name has finally changed back to Naoero.

[magpiejay1234]

The stats for these are quite bad, but it seems in Japan there has been a genuine resurgence of cultural Buddhism, likely due to the historical influence of Buddhists in animé (Tezuka's family being very devout Zen Buddhists, him being more eclectic etc.), which doesn't seem to occur for Shintoism, despite state support. So it is probably safe to say Japan is more Buddhist than Shintoist culturally now, which also explains the resurgence of right-wing nationalism in animé, since Shintoism is now a cultural minority.

This is somewhat important for Korea's current resurgence of births, it seems that one of the underreported aspects seems to be decline of Protestantism, and rise of Catholicism.

[magpiejay1234]

Some interesting economic tidbits:

China’s imports from Africa surge after Beijing expands zero-tariff policy

China’s growing hunger for critical minerals partly drove the increase, but the tariff reduction is also fuelling trade in several new secto

Contrary to the popular wisdom, China's imports from Africa are surging, and very hard.

This means the global growth of trade to GDP ratio will increase, despite China's slowdown.

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Vietnam, Cambodia snatch Bangladesh RMG’s market share

The global apparel trade staged a notable recovery in 2025, expanding by 4.46% to reach $574.46 billion. However, Bangladesh has largely fai

Bangladesh is finally losing garment market share to Cambodia, and as such will have to move up the value chain.

[magpiejay1234]

Free and open access to global development data

Interestingly, trade to GDP ratio has actually increased to a new peak, though this seems exclusively due to Africa's internal trade increasing.

This probably means this issue is also solved now.

[magpiejay1234]

MacroMicro

MacroMicro is committed to consolidating global economic data, while deploying technology to efficiently discover the clues to economic cycl

MacroMicro

MacroMicro is committed to consolidating global economic data, while deploying technology to efficiently discover the clues to economic cycl

Interesting tidbit, global youth dependency ratio will not go down below old age dependency ratio until 2065, meaning the fertility crisis won't be a big issue until then.

Decarbonisaiton of electricity is expected to be around 2055, so this won't be a big issue until 2045 globally, but individual countries will have to take action much sooner.

This is still sooner than what I expected (problems starting in 2075), though not by much.