Alexandre Afonso’s Political Economy Newsletter

#27 An 800-Year-Old Divide: Why Portugal's North and South Vote Differently

The Reconquista, Land Reform, and Lasting Political Legacies

Jul 9 • 

Alexandre Afonso

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#26 On the Imperialism of US Ethnic Categories

Zohran Mamdani's Crime: not fitting into America's neat little boxes

Jul 4 • 

Alexandre Afonso

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May 2025

#25 Why is the postwar period a model for the left and the (far) right?

The left likes the equality and buildup of the welfare state, the right likes the sexism and the racism. Can we have one without the other?

May 24 • 

Alexandre Afonso

#24 On the Supply of and Demand for Right-Wing Academics

Is it rational to become a right-wing academic outcast?

May 22 • 

Alexandre Afonso

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#23 A Primer on Recent Portuguese Political Scandals

There have been a series of scandals involving prominent political figures in Portugal. Yet the parties embroiled in these scandals emerged as the main…

May 19 • 

Alexandre Afonso

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#22 The Ideological Space of the Papal Conclave

Habemus Statam

May 5 • 

Alexandre Afonso

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April 2025

#21 What Does International Trade Actually Look Like?

Looking at it as a network

Apr 11 • 

Alexandre Afonso

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#20 The (Misguided) Masterplan Behind the Tariff Chaos

Is the world really freeriding on the US?

Apr 8 • 

Alexandre Afonso

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#19 Trump's Tariffs Make a Bit More Sense if You Think Like a Mafia Boss

A Public Choice interpretation. Well, sort of.

Apr 7 • 

Alexandre Afonso

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February 2025

#18 AI Podcast: Why do so many Portuguese women work?

Two humanoids talking about the Portuguese labour market

Feb 8 • 

Alexandre Afonso

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#17 Trump and Class War

Trump has built a political machine that converts working-class votes into policies that benefit the wealthy

Feb 7 • 

Alexandre Afonso

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#16 What If Donald Trump's Tariffs Increased Immigration?

Historically, tariffs and immigration control have acted as substitutes: it's difficult to have both

Feb 3 • 

Alexandre Afonso

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