Palma Polyak
Senior Researcher @ Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies, Cologne | IPE & Geoeconomics | Trade imbalances 🚢 & EV battery value chains 🔋
palmapolyak.weebly.com/research.html
- Reposted by Palma PolyakThanks @erinkaylockwood.bsky.social for including my book in this wonderful list! And I totally share the motivation and spirit
- This year I made two big changes to my graduate International Political Economy syllabus: 1) I leaned in to money and capital as organizing themes, and 2) I assigned (nearly) all books. Here's our reading list, ft. Karl Polanyi, Benjamin Cohen, @stefeich.bsky.social, Ngaire Woods, J.C. Sharman ...
- Reposted by Palma PolyakLooking forward to discussing Franziska Cooiman’s paper next week 👇
- Reposted by Palma Polyak🚨New piece in Politics & Society! w/ @maxkiefel.bsky.social @mathiaslarsen.bsky.social Internationalizing Industrial Policy: How China and the United States Use State Capacity to Secure Critical Minerals for Electric Vehicles 🇨🇳 🇺🇸 doi.org/10.1177/0032...
- Reposted by Palma Polyak🚨 The political economy of finance summer school is back, 3rd year running! Better still: We're bringing it to London via @lse-ei.bsky.social. 𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜: Finance & democracy 𝙳̲̲𝚊̲̲𝚝̲̲𝚎̲: 4-5 June 2026 𝘈𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦: March 1. Link below. We've got brilliant instructors as usual. Please spread the word!
- Reposted by Palma PolyakApplications are open for the Finance Summer School 2026. Last two have been at Brown. This one is at LSE thanks to LSE European Institute and Huth Initiative, plus the Berkeley Program on Finance and Democracy. Stellar Line up. Apps open: forms.gle/WsEVk4Yy52Dn...
- Reposted by Palma PolyakWe are looking for a postdoc!
- ‼️If you are an early career researcher interested in CPE and related field and focus on Eastern Europe, the great team around @dorobohle.bsky.social at the Department of Political Science @univie.ac.at is looking for a postdoc 📣 Deadline 27.02. 📯Details here👇 jobs.univie.ac.at/job/Universi...
- Reposted by Palma Polyakbrass solidarity band performing “stand by me” in the streets of whittier next to alex pretti’s memorial. the crowd started chanting “the people united will never be defeated” so they incorporated it into the song. i love minneapolis
- Happening TODAY 🤩
- Really looking forward to next week’s MaxCPE webinar with @ingarade.bsky.social presenting her great work on finance & the far right, with @gscheiring.bsky.social joining as discussant. 📅 Wed 21 Jan, 1–2pm CET 📧 Sign up: maxcpe@mpifg.de Check out the full program here: www.mpifg.de/1030945/curr...
- Wow, welcome to growth models scholarship, President Macron! 🤩
- Reposted by Palma PolyakI will be presenting my study on far-right financial regimes Wed 21st (1pm CET) at the Max Planck Comparative Political Economy Series; join us if you'd like to discuss why Meloni's financial-market policies differ so sharply from Trump's... www.mpifg.de/1030945/curr...
- Really looking forward to next week’s MaxCPE webinar with @ingarade.bsky.social presenting her great work on finance & the far right, with @gscheiring.bsky.social joining as discussant. 📅 Wed 21 Jan, 1–2pm CET 📧 Sign up: maxcpe@mpifg.de Check out the full program here: www.mpifg.de/1030945/curr...
- Reposted by Palma PolyakEven after two world wars and a century of upheaval, wealth in 🇩🇪 shows strong persistence. About 8% of today’s top fortunes trace back to the early 1900s: 82 of the richest families today were already among the richest in 1913, challenging the idea of a fully meritocratic elite.
- Little known WWII fact: ~70% of Allied fuel came from Venezuelan crude, refined at Shell’s Curaçao & Aruba plants. It helped defeat Nazi Germany and save Europe. The US commandeered that oil too. Today’s talk of “running” Venezuela? Same power, same oil. The purpose is gone @70sbachchan.bsky.social
- Reposted by Palma Polyak📢 Very timely new paper by @paulahaufe.bsky.social - give it a read! journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
- A sobering read on the sacrifice zones of China’s green FDI boom. From environmental harm to smear campaigns against local residents, Nick Kusnetz’s excellent reporting centers the Hungarian activists pushing back against battery megaprojects under autocratic conditions www.wired.com/story/chinas...
- Reposted by Palma PolyakDelighted to have consulted on this story. The Trump administration recognizes importance of batteries for drones & AI but is biased against EVs which is biggest source of demand for batteries. Can the US have a vibrant battery sector w/o robust production of EVs? www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/c...
- Reposted by Palma PolyakThe decision to finance arms for Ukraine through collective EU debt is taboo-breaking--but also part of a larger security turn in Europe. Ophelia Bentley & I have a new piece out that shows how the EU has geopoliticized markets in an unexpected arena: competition policy. doi.org/10.1017/elo.... 1/
- Reposted by Palma PolyakNot exactly a Xmas merrymaking post, but I wrote something on the changing environment for international academics in the Netherlands and how it has changed over the last 10 years: open.substack.com/pub/alexandr...
- Reposted by Palma Polyak"This is an under-discussed aspect of the EV transition. Why on earth would an oil-less country like Germany be so keen on sticking to the internal combustion engine?"-@giuliomattioli.bsky.social Many countries leapfrogging & getting EVs QUICKLY. Great Ember report ember-energy.org/latest-insig...
- Reposted by Palma PolyakHonestly, from an EU-wide perspective this could be the most significant thing about last night's decision:
- If 24 member states (including all the large ones) have the *political will* to do something, there’s always a legal avenue to make it happen. Too often, the EU’s hiding behind a tiny member state’s veto threat simply means that there was no such political will in the first place.
- … this point matters, because (as @lucasguttenberg.bsky.social points out), the veto threat is not gone — and will come back again & again. It’s never a good excuse not to act if the EU (super)majority genuinely wants to.
- Reposted by Palma PolyakAlors que l’UE se réunit pour l’un des Conseils les plus difficiles, la stratégie climatique européenne vacille. La voie pour résoudre le trilemme de la transition est étroite — @shahinvallee.bsky.social et @palmapolyak.bsky.social proposent une feuille de route. legrandcontinent.eu/fr/2025/12/1...
- Reposted by Palma PolyakEssentially, we are back to the legal proposal the Commission had put on the table in parallel to using the Russian assets: Borrow on the markets agains the headroom of the EU budget. To do this, the MFF regulation which governs the multiannual financial framework 2021-27 needs to be changed.
- Reposted by Palma PolyakA few quick thoughts about this morning's decision. Don't believe the spin from various Russians & others: it's a big deal. The EU has now unambiguously demonstrated that it is able and willing to provide the external financial support Ukraine needs, for as long and as much as it takes. (1/N)
- Reposted by Palma Polyak💥The West urged resistance to Moscow, then stood aside and did nothing when Russian tanks rolled in. This narrative of Western betrayal dates back to Hungary’s 1956 anti-Soviet revolution. Back then the USSR was powerful — not a failing state like today’s Russia. Will history still repeat itself?
- I always enjoy inspiring exchanges at conferences & panels — but returning to Budapest to celebrate my alma mater Rajk College is something extra special 🥰
- Reposted by Palma PolyakIn Trump's first year, he has developed a distinctive style of government — authoritarian, but so poorly thought out as to blunt its own effectiveness. I call it "haphazardism," and it may just be the thing saving American democracy www.vox.com/politics/472...
- Reposted by Palma Polyak✨ MaxCPE is back! ✨ Don’t miss this week's webinar on Wednesday, 17th Dec, at 1pm CEST. Alexandre Afonso (@alexandreafonso.bsky.social) will present his co-authored paper on public opinion towards immigrants & Martin Ruhs will join us to discuss. ✉️ Drop an email to maxcpe@mpifg.de to sign up
- Reposted by Palma PolyakI asked Industrial policy expert @jonasnahm.com on China's AI. Excellent response in thread: 1. China *is* investing heavily in AI but focus is not LLM but "physical and industrial AI" 2. New data centers regulations: 80% of AI power demand must come from green electricity bsky.app/profile/jona...
- Reposted by Palma PolyakFor electric vehicles transatlantic divergence is even more stark (left hand panel) The US is essentially closed to Chinese EVs - given the 100% tariff and a de facto ban (US rules to prohibit the import of connected vehicle hardware and software systems). The EU imports a lot of Chinese EVs.
- Reposted by Palma PolyakI am very happy to report that my article on the strange non-death of credit rating agencies has been published in New Political Economy. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.....
- "rather than aiding domestic production, tariff hikes weaken the US economy" economy-finance.ec.europa.eu/document/dow...
- Reposted by Palma PolyakInvestment pledges are trademark of Trump's deals, but few are tied to specific projects • Half of commitments made by governments are vague promises to boost trade or economic ties • Japan and South Korea are exception to the rule, with US$550bn (Tokyo) and US$350bn (Seoul) investment funds
- Reposted by Palma Polyak🚨New Discussion Paper🚨 about the macroeconomic consequences of US tariff hikes, based on quantitative simulations by the European Commission's multi-region New Keynesian DSGE model, QUEST. Thread 👇1/12 economy-finance.ec.europa.eu/document/dow...
- Reposted by Palma PolyakJoin us next year in Cologne for the 4th Doctoral Conference at the @mpifg.bsky.social. All PhD students in the fields of #economicsociology, #politicaleconomy and related fields are encouraged to submit their abstracts. The deadline has been extended to December 8!
- 📣 Call for Abstracts! Join the 4th Doctoral Conference on the Social and Political Constitution of the Economy, March 19 -20, 2026 at the MPIfG in Cologne. 🎓 We welcome abstracts by doctoral researchers in economic sociology, political economy and related fields by Dec 8, 2025. s.gwdg.de/U27NQb
- Reposted by Palma Polyak📣 Call for Abstracts! Join the 4th Doctoral Conference on the Social and Political Constitution of the Economy, March 19 -20, 2026 at the MPIfG in Cologne. 🎓 We welcome abstracts by doctoral researchers in economic sociology, political economy and related fields by Dec 8, 2025. s.gwdg.de/U27NQb
- Reposted by Palma PolyakChina’s export machine is a wake-up call for other nations. But it requires targeted and separate responses for national security, innovation, and jobs—objectives that are too often conflated. My latest. www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/c...
- Reposted by Palma PolyakThrilled to see our latest paper published in @iojournal.bsky.social! 🥳 "Dollar Diminished: The Unmaking of US Financial Hegemony Under Trump" co-authored with Tobias Pforr (@eui-eu.bsky.social) and @fabianpape.bsky.social 🙂 doi.org/10.1017/S002...
- Reposted by Palma PolyakVery excited about this @iojournal.bsky.social special issue on the future of global governance and world order – many (short) thoughtful pieces, perfect for teaching! www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
- Reposted by Palma PolyakLast month we at the Net Zero Industrial Policy Lab launched ACTIVE MATERIALS, our monthly newsletter so you can stay up to date on our research. Subscribe here: mailchi.mp/jh/subscribe... Join us next week at launch of our new tool for picking winners us13.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=1a62...
- Reposted by Palma PolyakPleased to post this new Dig ep w/ my partner in all things @triofrancos.bsky.social on her beautiful book Extraction: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism. We go from Chile to Nevada, from dawn of colonialism to geoeconomic conflict between the US and China—and more www.thedigradio.com/podcast/extr...
- There are many tragic repercussions of the German austerity fetish — this one tops my list 👇 Reversing investment while interest rates were *negative*, & failing to shield against the inevitable reckoning over Russian gas dependence. All justified in the name of "protecting future generations".
- Solar panel installation dropped off a cliff in Germany, Italy, Greece, Spain etc as EU pursued ruinous austerity policy. Where would solar, Wind & EV be now Without Europe‘s LOST DECADE in 2010s? @palmapolyak.bsky.social @mkblyth.bsky.social www.phenomenalworld.org/analysis/car...
- Reposted by Palma Polyak“China is now making more money from exporting green technology than America makes from exporting fossil fuels. This trend will continue simply because renewables are cheap.” Gift link: China’s clean-energy revolution will reshape markets and politics www.economist.com/leaders/2025...
- ✈️ On my way to NYC for the @columbiasipa.bsky.social New Thinking on Industrial Policy conference — excited to present my work on Europe’s battery industrial rollout alongside this thrilling lineup of cutting-edge research! 📄 Papers & livestream👇 cdep.sipa.columbia.edu/content/new-...
- So excited to present my work on high-road & low-road strategies in Europe's battery industrial rollout at Uni Vienna, organized by the wonderful @vvukov.bsky.social & @dorobohle.bsky.social Next Wednesday @16.45, come say hi if you're around! 🔋🚗 politikwissenschaft.univie.ac.at/en/details/n...
- Reposted by Palma PolyakThe car crisis tops today’s EU summit but leaders keep staring at the wrong problem The issue isn’t the 2035 engine ban - it’s demand falling off a cliff today With @sandertordoir.bsky.social and @lucasguttenberg.bsky.social, we show why flipping regs won’t help - and what the EU can do instead.
- Reposted by Palma Polyak@lucien-mathieu.bsky.social: "Part 2️⃣ - Analysis of the leaked car industry paper: carmakers’ demands would let EV sales stagnate for the rest of the decade❗ T&E analysed and leaked a paper by the European car industry lobby ACEA and found a Christmas list of loopholes (more than 10!)."
- Reposted by Palma PolyakGoing through some history of climate politics notes from last week, I realize we dont appreciate enough the climate mobilization of mid2010s and subsequent electoral green wave of late 2010s. That moment was never really meant to be in the cards and we need to better study how we got there 🪡 1/n
- Reposted by Palma PolyakSuper stoked about Krasznahorkai's Nobel Prize. A beautiful interview with him from a couple years ago: www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/a...
- “Letters; then from letters, words; then from these words, some short sentences; then more sentences that are longer, and in the main very long sentences, for the duration of 35 years. Beauty in language. Fun in hell.” 👏 www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...
- What struck me immediately in German academia was the near absence of scholars from the former GDR (something I’m attuned to, as an Eastern European). The transition shock feels under-researched, with many stories untold. On this Day of German Unity, let's also remember the work that lies ahead.
- Reposted by Palma Polyak“This morning, Germany is one nation again.” This is how BBC Breakfast News reported on German reunification, 35 years ago today.
- Reposted by Palma Polyak"Youth Protest in Serbia: And some thoughts for America." Serbia is a country without the rule of law, and its young people have been taking risks for the better part of a year in the hopes of creating a future where they can live normally in their own country. snyder.substack.com/p/youth-prot...
- Reposted by Palma PolyakToday is publication day! EXTRACTION: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism is officially out with @wwnorton.com - find it at a bookstore near you or order online💚📚 wwnorton.com/books/978132...
- What an inspiring & empowering four days! It was such an honor to meet & exchange with this amazing group of women.
- Thank you to all who joined us in Cologne this week for the 2nd Max Planck Summer School for Women in Political Economy! A fantastic line-up of speakers and participants, thoughtful discussions and global perspectives. Huge thanks to organizers @palmapolyak.bsky.social and @dustinvoss.bsky.social!
- Reposted by Palma Polyak‼️ Read an adapted excerpt from EXTRACTION: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism in @nybooks.com ‼️ Extraction is officially published TOMORROW (9/23) 👀 www.nybooks.com/online/2025/...
- Reposted by Palma Polyak🌍 New in @nature.com: The geoeconomic turn in decarbonization, with data from Simon Evenett et al. and @industrialpolicy.bsky.social @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social @natureatcal.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41... 🧵
- Reposted by Palma PolyakApplications for our visiting researchers program are now open! It’s a great opportunity, especially also for ECRs, to spend some time working on your research projects in-depth, with great and welcoming atmosphere and tiny Kölsch beers. Lmk if you have questions & pls share widely!
- Reposted by Palma PolyakIf true, we might as well bury the concept of rule of law conditionality. The EU cannot keep letting itself be blackmailed by Orbán into unfreezing funds withheld over rule of law violations in exchange for lifting his veto, unless it truly wants to lose all credibility as a guardian of EU values
- ⏳Beyond thrilled to co-launch the 2nd Max Planck Summer School for Women in Political Economy next week — with this *incredible* lineup of female talent 🙌 @dustinvoss.bsky.social @mpifg.bsky.social
- Why, oh WHY, does "frugal" Germany have so little regard for physical capital?
- "Years of disruptive construction work are preordained; and instead of funding lots of shiny new infrastructure, much of the new government’s new €500 billion fund must go toward replacing existing structures." www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
- Reposted by Palma PolyakCITYPERC is organising a workshop on the Economic Project of the Far Right on October 6 at City, University of London. To join us in person or via Teams sign up here www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cityperc-w...
- Reposted by Palma Polyak1/ New report from @bentleyallan.bsky.social's Net Zero Policy Lab: As the US withdraws from green tech industries and pressures allies to follow suit, China is stepping in to power the developing world's energy transition. The scale is staggering. www.netzeropolicylab.com/china-green-...
- Reposted by Palma Polyak"Democratic resistance is a long battle that must be fought through many stages and in many arenas. There are no “silver bullets.” Success may at times have to be measured in terms of delays or limits imposed on backsliding ..." www.journalofdemocracy.org/online-exclu...
- Reposted by Palma PolyakReally enjoyed reading this article. This was a particularly useful insight.
- New Paper out in Development & Change (open access): "Opportunities for Latecomer Technological Catch-up in the Era of Renewables Capitalism" with @lindsaywhitfield.bsky.social onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... @devandchg.bsky.social
- Reposted by Palma PolyakThrilled that my first article is out in @jeppjournal.bsky.social ☺️ It looks at why renewable energy buildout in Europe has been *so* unsteady - tracing the evolution of/conflict over the regime for RE derisking over the last two+ decades... It's open access! 👉 doi.org/10.1080/1350... Short 🧵 ...
