Why Tech Platforms Intentionally Work Worse, The Enshittification Phenomenon

Illustration: a monitor with floating social-media app icons and notification cards, while a hand reaches towards the screen Ever wondered why your favorite tech platforms, once sleek and user-friendly, now feel bogged down with an endless stream of ads and questionable content? You're not alone! This VPRO Tegenlicht documentary dives deep into a phenomenon aptly termed "Enshittification" by American activist and writer Cory Doctorow. It explains how platforms like Google, Instagram, and YouTube are deliberately degrading their services, filling search results with ads and scams, and prioritizing revenue over user experience.

Huizenmarkt op slot: 'iemand moet de prijs betalen' | Jona van Loenen

Illustratie: twee jongeren op een dak met bankbiljetten in hun handen, terwijl achter de gebouwen een veel groter figuur in pak oprijst In aflevering #2010 van De Nieuwe Wereld praat econoom en columnist Jona van Loenen met Jelle van Baardewijk over de Nederlandse woningmarkt. Zijn stelling is dat het tekort aan huizen de prijzen niet opdrijft, maar de hoeveelheid geld die een koper kan lenen of meeneemt. Die bewering staat naast het beleidsmotto van het afgelopen decennium, bouwen, bouwen, bouwen, en ze gaat gepaard met voorstellen die de kosten naar woningbezitters verschuiven.

C4 models as code, Simon Brown, NDC Oslo 2023

UML class diagram example

The Agony of Outdated Architecture Diagrams

We've all been there. You're trying to understand a complex system, and you finally hunt down the architecture diagrams, only to be hit with a soul-crushing realization: they haven't been updated since the project's kickoff. The diagrams show a pristine monolith, but you know for a fact that the reality is a sprawling jungle of microservices, serverless functions, and cryptic third-party integrations. The documentation lies, and the "source of truth" is now just a source of confusion.

Minimum Viable Architecture, Randy Shoup, YOW! 2022

Diagram: a monolith on the left evolving into a small Minimum Viable Architecture core with many services connected to it

In the world of software engineering, there's a tempting desire to build the perfect, infinitely scalable architecture from day one. However, as veteran architect Randy Shoup explains in his talk at YOW! 2022, this is often a path to failure. The key takeaway is that architecture is not a static blueprint; it's an evolutionary journey that must align with the changing needs of the business. There is no one-size-fits-all solution.

Military spending and the future of Europe, #2006 Lex Hoogduin, Paul Buitink, Kees de Kort

Two soldiers on top of a camouflaged armoured vehicle during a military exercise, with forest and a blue sky behind them

In a recent discussion on De Nieuwe Wereld TV, hosted by Ad Verbrugge, economists Lex Hoogduin, Paul Buitink and Kees de Kort addressed some of the most pressing questions of the moment. The focus was on increased military spending, the state of Europe's economy, the future of the euro and the contours of a new financial and economic world order.

Is SaaS Dead?, Here's a Senior Engineer's Perspective

Server racks in a data center

"SaaS is dead" became a talking point after Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella used the phrase on the BG2 podcast in December 2024: if AI agents can take over the interface and the work, what is left of a subscription application? In his video, senior engineer Arjan from the ArjanCodes channel argues the opposite for a large part of the market — that the value of many SaaS products sits in work that has nothing to do with the code. This post summarises his argument and adds the figures and documents it leans on.

Software Architecture, The Hard Parts - Neal Ford

A traditional, non-SaaS application architecture

The Architect's Dilemma: A World of Awful Tradeoffs

In his insightful talk, "Software Architecture: The Hard Parts," Neal Ford delves into the core challenges that make the role of a software architect so demanding. The central theme is that there are no easy answers or perfect solutions in architecture; every decision is a complex tradeoff. This talk aims to illuminate these difficult areas and provide frameworks for navigating them more effectively.

  • in Economics
  • 3 min read

Import tariffs

Container ship in the Amazonehaven, Port of Rotterdam

An import tariff is a tax levied on goods entering a country. It's essentially an additional cost added to the price of the imported product.

How does an import tariff work?

Imagine a Dutch company imports shoes from China. The Dutch government might decide to impose an import tariff of, for example, 10% on shoes. This means that for every shoe the Dutch company imports, they have to pay an extra 10% of the shoe's value to the Dutch government.

Chat control: the EU proposal to scan messages for abuse material

The hemicycle of the European Parliament in Brussels, with the EU flag and the flags of the member states behind the podium

On 11 May 2022, the European Commission presented a regulation to tackle child sexual abuse material online (COM(2022) 209). The proposal obliges online services to map out risks, gives authorities the power to have material removed or blocked, and sets up a European centre for coordination and victim support. Its most debated part are the detection orders: mandatory detection of abuse material in communications. Member states and the European Parliament do not yet agree on whether that power should exist, and with which safeguards.

Updates van ABN-risicomodellen vertraagd

Het hoofdkantoor van ABN AMRO in de Zuidas, Amsterdam

ABN Amro heeft de verbetering van zijn risicomodellen uitgesteld. Daardoor houdt de bank op dit moment meer kapitaal aan dan nodig is. De vertraging schuift ook de beslissing over de aandeleninkoop op tot halverwege 2025. De bank worstelt al langer met de kwaliteit van haar risicomodellen en data, die niet volledig voldoen aan de eisen van de toezichthouder.