UK Politics

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179

Zack Polanski wants to use wellbeing targets instead of GDP to measure growth. Is he right? (www.bigissue.com)

submitted 4 days ago by okwithmydecay@leminal.space to c/uk_politics@feddit.uk

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[–] phutatorius@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

I think more people have managed international trade without going coloniser than did, so it can’t be seen as the sole origin.

Yeah, it's a continuum. Consider the Vikings: they'd do raiding, they'd set up trading posts, they'd do elite replacement, and sometimes they'd move in with their families, do farming and set up businesses.

It's also the case that internal power dynamics within the elites would sometimes shift non-coercive trade to something more coercive, a small faction would benefit hugely, but on a wider scale, it'd be a net loss for the nation doing it. Maintaining a long-term military occupation with a lengthy logistic chain isn't cheap, and unanticipated changes in circumstances can drive the cost for higher. That's one of the causes of the collapse of empires.

[–] Semjeza@fedinsfw.app 1 points 1 day ago

Yup, competing factions in power on both sides of the relationship could knock things about.

Vikings were amazing, we (or at least I) still often underestimate or forget their reach. The idea of Vikings in the Middle East and North Africa trading and marrying, and generally being part of the flow of goods, people, and ideas always seems wild.

Anyhow, it's been lovely set of exchanges and I've learnt things and: thanks.