Apr 09, 2015 greek finance minister yanis varoufakis addresses a news conference after an eurozone finance ministers meeting in brussels, feb. But varoufakis said in an interview with the zeit, i had a moral duty to tape these negotiations because afterwards, i needed to answer for my actions to the media and the public. Valve is an entirely flat organisation, meaning it has no hierarchical management structure. Relaxnews greekborn economic expert yanis varoufakis of athens university is thelatest. Yanis varoufakis, valve s former economistinresidence, is greeks radical new finance minister. Varoufakis on valve, spontaneous order, and the european crisis. The new greek video game finance minister yanis varoufakis. Varoufakis is wellknow for his study of software company called valve that operates without most of the managerial hierarchies that are typically found in firms.
In 20, former valve economist yanis varoufakis explained that bonuses are a major part of valve s employee compensation. Exvalve employee describes ruthless internal politics at. Politics, economy, euro yanis varoufakis was instructed last year by prime minister alexis tsipras to put together a small team of people to draw up a plan for introducing a parallel currency if greece was unable to reach an agreement with its lenders on a new bailout, the exfinance. Valves economist is greeces new finance minister pc gamer. Digital economies as experienced through the prism of valve corporation having spent some time working with a video game company, valve corporation, i have distilled some of that experience in the following posts. The refugee crisis, immanuel kant and germanys moral leadership. Varoufakis speaks about plan x and its rejection news. In february 20 his function at valve was to work on a game for predicting trends.
Valve s economistinresidence yanis varoufakis says that a large. Valve hires economist to study virtual currency gamespot. In effect, greece has become sort of economic suicide bombers of the eurozone and by extension, the rest of the world. The wall street journal reports that yanis varoufakis has been tapped to help turn the greek economy around, but fans of virtual economies will remember him as valve software. Greece will neither want to leave the euro nor threaten to do so, interview by. Despite the fact i could see the technician moving the virtual character around with. Yanis varoufakis is the cofounder of diem25 democracy in europe movement, former finance minister of greece and author of and the weak suffer what they must. Varoufakis, an economics professor based in athens, joined valve in march 2012 as a consultant after gabe newell emailed to describe. Yanis varoufakis thinks we need a radically new way of thinking about the economy, finance and capitalism. Opportunities at valve run broad and deep across the following areas, where were always hiring for. Yanis varoufakis on greek crisis late night live abc. Yanis varoufakis on the future of greece and the eurozone. Valve promised me the world and then backstabbed me. The hiring process in valve s flat structure is a curious one and is described in detail as part of an econtalk podcast interview with yanis.
Mar 29, 2016 lefteast is a platform that supports free expression in a climate of equally free speech for all persons that want to participate. Jul 23, 2015 i recently met greeces former finance minister, yanis varoufakis, in the lobby of a fivestar hotel in athens. Aug 07, 2012 yanis varoufakis discusses the horizontal management structure at valve, and how this relates to possible postcapitalist forms of activity. Steams economist now sits atop a steaming pile of greek debt kill. Jump to 3340 to hear my take on the companys anarchosyndicalist management structure and the scope for original economic research it provides. Yanis varoufakis of the university of athens, the university of texas, and former economistinresidence at valve software talks with econtalk host russ roberts about the unusual structure of the workplace at valve. How valve hires, how it fires, and how much it pays. Varoufakis, an economics professor based in athens, joined valve. Read more the insidious return of xenophobia in greece. Interviewed on cbcs writers by eleanor wachtel, april 20. When the author was greeces finance minister amid the bailout crisis, he said his country was being bullied by europes proausterity establishment. How valve demonstrates democracy in the workplace the. Yanis varoufakis on mays mistakes and the best road ahead.
Varoufakis was born in palaio faliro, athens, on 24 march 1961, to georgios and eleni varoufakis varoufakis s father, georgios varoufakis, was an egyptiote greek but ultimately originating from rethymno in crete who emigrated from cairo to greece in the 1940s, arriving in the midst of the greek civil war. Yanis varoufakis is an academic economist, an author, and a prominent contributor to the debates on the recent economic crises in europe and the united states. Yanis varoufakis a sometime bothersome financial expert. May 07, 2017 yanis varoufakis, who also served as greeces finance minister from january to july 2015, urged the prime minister to request more time in order to secure the best deal for britain. Varoufakis explains the real outcome we can except after greek voters contradictory verdict, where 55% voted for antibailout parties yet a probailout government resulted due to the nature of greeces electoral system.
Yanis varoufakis of the university of athens, the university of texas, and the economistinresidence at valve software talks with econtalk host russ roberts about the unusual structure of the workplace at valve. Ill post here whenever theres something about what im doing or about valve that seems worth sharing. During his time as valve s economistinresidence, he ran a blog dedicated to analysing and explaining the studios virtual economies. Varoufakis speaks about plan x and its rejection tags. Greeces exfinance minister tells all the new yorker. The new greek finance minister used to work for valve.
Virtual world needs laissezfaire economists forbes. Yanis varoufakis served as greek finance minister in 2015. One day, he was roughed up by the police and asked to sign. Yanis varoufakis was greeces minister of finance for only a few months. Valve software s chief economist, yanis varoufakis, has a post up detailing the strange corporate structure of the company, famous for its string of hits from the half life and portal series to counterstrike and team fortress, as well as its mammoth digital distribution network steam the whole post is fascinating as an introduction to the area of economics known as theory of the firm, but. The former greek finance minister takes a taxi with the ft. Newell describes valve s philosophy in terms of economics possibly, hes building on conversations with yanis varoufakis, who spent some time as valve s economist in residence. Zaher sahloul zac goldsmith yuval noah harari yury fedotov yonden lhatoo yann martel yann arthusbertrand yanis varoufakis wim naude wim hof will. Yanis varoufakis of the university of athens, the university of texas, and former economistinresidence at valve software talks with econtalk host russ roberts about the unusual structure of the. Yanis varoufakis institute for new economic thinking. Valve, a software company that creates online video games, has no hierarchy or bosses.
Former greek finance minister yanis varoufakis, who last september stepped down from his post in the radicalleft syriza government, has launched his democracy in europe movement, diem25. How valve hires, how it fires, and how much it pays gamasutra. Yanis varoufakis, an academic economist, recounts the story of how his widely read writings on the euro crisis led to a job offer from valve software, who were contemplating the creation of a. The twoway yanis varoufakis railed against the terms imposed on greece by its creditors and. Greeces erratic marxist leaves legacy of sound bites.
He was hired in march 2012 by valve corporation, the company behind some of the worlds. The new greek finance minister, yanis varoufakis, demolishes this stereotype, as he is smart, worldly thinker with a phd in economics and wideranging interests. Varoufakis on valve, spontaneous order, and the european. Every participant leaves the room with their own version, people lie and information is leaked, thats toxic for europe. Valve economistinresidence yanis varoufakis offers a rare glimpse behind the curtain of what may be the most unique management structure in video game development today, in which projects thrive. Now, as theresa may nears the brexit endgame, he looks back. What does valve software have in common with the european economic crisis. Yanis varoufakis, diem25 cofounder and mera25 mp, on the economic and political impact of the coronavirus. Valve economistinresidence yanis varoufakis offers a rare glimpse.
A discussion with doug henwood on why i accepted the position of economistinresidence at valve software. Valve hires economist to study virtual currency seattle software giant brings on greek economics theory professor yanis varoufakis to assist company in managing its ingame economies. Guests yanis varoufakis professor of political economy and economic theory at the university of athens university. Greeces new finance minister yanis varoufakis is valves. Economics professor joins gaming company valve mweb. Varoufakis, who as an economist working in and writing on. Newell hired yanis varoufakis, a greek economist, after being impressed with mr. Sep 09, 2012 varoufakis, who had never heard of valve and is not a gamer, is studying the workings of the virtual economies of valve games, in which players can barter and sell items like hats and armor. Yanis varoufakis, a former valve economist, resigned today from his position as greek finance minister just six months after taking the job. Valve software now has a resident economics expert to help manage virtual economies around its games. An economy where every action leaves a digital trail, every transaction is recorded. Within this short time, however, he managed to become one of the most controversial figures in european politics.
The former greek finance minister yanis varoufakis staked his political career on getting a deal with the european union and lost. Teams of software designers join spontaneously to create and. In an interview late last month with the library of economics and liberty, valve s former economistinresidence yanis varoufakis thats right, a video game company with a staff economist. Please forgive the poor sound quality courtesy of a low quality skype line.
An economy where every action leaves a digital trail, every. Greek finance minister yanis varoufakis ran valves ingame. As respected economist and scandalously disrespected greek finance minister yanis varoufakis explained, the company functions through a form of internal freemarket for the time and team allocations projects receive. Diem25 needs to explain to those drawn by trumpianbrexiterian simplicity why democratising europe matters to them. Former valve economist yanis varoufakis quits as finance minister. Were seeking collaborators who are the best at what they do. Our meeting came at the end of a tumultuous week in greek politics. Former valve economist yanis varoufakis resigns as finance. Having spent some time working with a video game company, valve. Hence why you may recognise the name yanis varoufakis.
Economics professor joins gaming company valve by afprelaxnews at tuesday, june 19, 2012 7. Ask yanis varoufakis, economistinresident at valve, because he recently had the opportunity to demo this futuristic technology, and he shared his experience in a greek paper lifo. Valve, a video game maker with few rules the new york times. Varoufakis s personal blog, which he fills with commentary on. Assuming that because of automation, governments will have to start funding household purchasing power, the injected money, apart from fulfilling its explicit purpose, i. How thucydides helps explain greeces problems with germany. It also represents a video game that was once sold without any microtransactions became a free platform which is constantly updated with new content, some created by the users themselves. He quit just hours after his government won in a referendum to reject a eurozone bailout that would have seen harsh austerity measures imposed on greeces already struggling economy. Ioannis yanis varoufakis is a greek economist, academic, philosopher and politician. The left must vote for macron by yanis varoufakis project.
What happened with greece in 2015, the crashing of our government and the refusal to negotiate with us, is simply symptomatic of the process of disintegration. Yanis varoufakis on valve, spontaneous order, and the. Inside the disenchanted world of left keynesianism. Valve has demonstrated imho that they have an interest in promoting longterm customer satisfaction, so they are also interested in maintaining happy customers. He has been secretarygeneral of mera25, a leftwing political party, since he founded it in 2018. Javais apprecie son attitude en 2015 quand jetais au gouvernement. Coming on to more important questions, varoufakiss book offers a decent presentation of the workings of the greek banking system and its role in the greek economy and crisis, though his explication of the crucial issue of credit expansion after the creation of the eurozone is somewhat lacking. Ian parker on yanis varoufakiss highstakes negotiations with european leaders in the days leading up to the july, 2015, referendum.
Not so fast, greek economist yanis varoufakis says. Teams of software designers join spontaneously to create and ship video games. However, he has now released a complete transcript of the interview on his own blog giving a fuller picture of what was said. Similar to eve online, which back in 2007 brought on eyjolfur guomundsson to advise it on in. May 04, 2017 yanis varoufakis is urging french, who voted for the farleft candidate, jeanluc melenchon and the socialist, benoit hamon to support emmanuel macrons bid for presidency. Former valve economist yanis varoufakis quits as finance. Its well worth checking out noted economist and author yanis varoufakis new valve economics blog. Comme je lai dit dans le passe, jai ou plutot javais une bonne relation personnelle avec lui.
You have read michael abrashs wonderful account of working at valve. Yanis varoufakis on valve, spontaneous order, and the european. His most explosive criticism was aimed at the treatment of greece by the troika the european central bank, the international. It all began with a strange email valve valve software. Ap yanis varoufakis, the former greek finance minister and outspoken political activist, believes that the historic vote by the united kingdom to leave the european union is a. But valve is in the business of selling software, and many other developers seek to sell their software through steam. Valve hires economist to manage economies around its games. Former valve economist resigns as greeces finance minister after just six months yanis varoufakis steps down from his post amid the greek debt crisis. Some are suggesting that this article could possible be a fiction. Team fortress 2 tf2 by valve software is a multiplayer firstperson shooters fps similar to halo. Why you should listen yanis varoufakis describes himself as a libertarian marxist, although, he says, it is not something that i volunteer to talk about much, because the very mention of marx switches audiences off. After almost deleting the original email from gabe newell, yanis varoufakis accepted the post as inhouse economist for gaming software powerhouse valve corporation.