The Echo Chamber from Tortoise Shack

AI Bubbles, Infrastructure Deficits and Breaking the Social Contract

Nov 10, 2025
Prof Constantin Gurdgiev, an economics expert, dives deep into the complexities of our current geopolitical landscape and economic trends. He discusses the troubling political manipulation of U.S. economic data and the implications of AI investment bubbles. Gurdgiev critiques the obsession with tech infrastructure that ignores pressing social issues, highlighting the erosion of the social contract and rising inequality. He also reflects on the war in Ukraine and warns about the growing power of financial influences over state capacities.
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INSIGHT

Irish Vote Shows Centrist Status Quo

  • Irish presidential victory reflected electorate centrism and weak opposition rather than strong ideological shift.
  • Prof Constantin Gurdgiev warns party advisors failed to present coherent, issue-based alternatives.
INSIGHT

Status Quo Beats Expert Reports

  • Irish policy reports get produced then ignored because permanent government incentives favour preserving the status quo.
  • Gurdgiev argues institutional incentives block deep reform despite expert recommendations.
INSIGHT

Data Fog From Political Shutdowns

  • US shutdowns and politicized oversight are creating a fog of missing and manipulated economic data.
  • The Federal Reserve is less affected but still loses private data suppliers, worsening the data gap.
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