Conversation

New norms vs new rules arms race Examples: New norm: no need for college degree to work in tech New rule: free college New norm: it’s ok to assert fraud without proof if you lose an election New rule: make election day a holiday New norm: WFH New rule: Net non-neutrality
2
28
At the aggregate level it will be interesting to see if we swing net towards more norm-based or more rule-based.
1
4
I think new norms will win out. New rules cost money to install and enforce. But huge fiscal deficits mean state capacity will net go down. But I think new norms will drive fragmentation. For every old norm or rule that’s collapsed, several regional new norms will emerge.
1
7
California is simultaneously the best and worst showcase of rules based thinking. DC for norms based. People think norms are good by default, rules bad by default, but plenty of norms are terrible.