Tim Harford May 15

The value of institutional memory

In 1978, a dredging gang working for British Waterways was struggling with a problem. They were trying to clear obstacles on the Chesterfield Canal so they could stabilise a concrete wall — not an easy day’s work. But what really had them stumped was a heavy iron chain on the canal bottom. After various attempts, they hooked the chain to their dredger. That did

https://timharford.com/2025/05/the-value-of-institutional-memory/

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The value of institutional memory

In 1978, a dredging gang working for British Waterways was struggling with a problem. They were trying to clear obstacles on the Chesterfield Canal so they could stabilise a concrete wall — not an …

Tim Harford
Show threadColin Rowat
@TimHarford "Consider Volkswagen’s disastrous scandal, in which the company designed its cars to fool emissions tests by regulators. No, not the scandal of 2015, which cost the company its reputation, its CEO and well over €30bn in fines, settlements and legal fees. I mean the scandal of 1973, in which VW was accused by the [EPA] of designing its cars to fool emissions tests by regulators. VW settled out of court and, it seems, spent the following decades forgetting..."
May 16 at 5:31amTusky
Show threadïng Frank THM van den HeuvelMay 16

@rowat_c @TimHarford Not to forget how they lied about the Volkswagen Beetle design was by a Jewish Engineer.

https://josefganz.org/

Josef Ganz | True father of the Volkswagen Beetle Concept

This website celebrates the life and work of JOSEF GANZ, a Jewish engineer, and the true father of the Volkswagen Beetle concept.

Josef Ganz