Episode
Patreon Preview – 454. The Shocks Keep Coming
- Podcast
- This Machine Kills
- Published
- Apr 23, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 527
- Processing state
not_requested
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Summary
We dig into two shocks in international political economy that are each on their way to being complex, interrelated crises. First, the unsustainable system of export-led “bottomless competition" in China that is dominating — and disrupting — global markets for advanced manufacturing and high-tech goods thanks to hyper-competitive pressure, diminishing returns, vertical integration, hefty subsidies, and other industrial / policy dynamics. Second, a surprising-to-many effect of the war on Iran: Gulf states are major producers and distributors of synthetic fertilizers which are used for agriculture in large parts of Africa and Southeast Asia. Those supply chains are now disrupted which is causing hunger and coming famines in large parts of the world. ••• China shock 2.0: the flood of high-tech goods that will change the world https://www.ft.com/content/7d51a630-a3de-4cc7-9f5f-0f3e7f0d305a?syn-25a6b1a6=1 ••• The coming global food crisis https://www.ft.com/content/7d51a630-a3de-4cc7-9f5f-0f3e7f0d305a?syn-25a6b1a6=1 Standing Plugs: ••• Order Jathan’s book: https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520398078/the-mechanic-and-the-luddite ••• Subscribe to Ed’s substack: https://substack.com/@thetechbubble ••• Subscribe to TMK on patreon for premium episodes: https://www.patreon.com/thismachinekills Hosted by Jathan Sadowski (bsky.app/profile/jathansadowski.com) and Edward Ongweso Jr. (www.x.com/bigblackjacobin). Production / Music by Jereme Brown (bsky.app/profile/jebr.bsky.social)