Month: December 2025

The Logic of Choice: Navigating Microeconomics in 2025

For our latest deep dive on iversonsoftware.com, we move from the “Global OS” of macro-trends to the “Local Logic” of the marketplace: Microeconomics. If macroeconomics is the study of the entire network, microeconomics is the study of the individual agents—the households and firms—whose decisions and interactions determine the allocation of scarce resources.

At Iverson Software, we believe that every complex system is built upon simple, fundamental rules. Microeconomics is the study of those rules at the granular level. It explores how prices are set, how consumers maximize utility, and how businesses optimize production. In 2025, this field is being transformed by real-time data and algorithmic decision-making, making the “Invisible Hand” more visible than ever before.

1. The Core Protocol: Supply, Demand, and Equilibrium

The fundamental “syntax” of microeconomics is the relationship between Supply and Demand.

  • The Law of Demand: As the price of a product increases, the quantity demanded by consumers generally decreases.

  • The Law of Supply: As the price increases, producers are willing to supply more of the product to the market.

  • Equilibrium: This is the “Stable State” where the quantity demanded equals the quantity supplied. In 2025, we are seeing Dynamic Equilibrium—where prices for everything from cloud compute to ride-shares fluctuate in milliseconds based on real-time demand spikes.

2. Marginal Analysis: The “N + 1” Decision

In microeconomics, we don’t just ask “Should we produce this?” We ask “Should we produce one more of this?” This is called Marginal Analysis.

  • Marginal Benefit (MB): The additional satisfaction or revenue gained from consuming or producing one more unit.

  • Marginal Cost (MC): The additional cost incurred by that extra unit.

  • The Optimization Rule: A rational agent continues an activity as long as MB > MC. The moment MC exceeds MB, you have reached the point of diminishing returns.

3. Elasticity: The System’s Sensitivity

How much does a 10% price increase affect your sales? The answer lies in Elasticity.

  • Price Elastic (High Sensitivity): If a small price change leads to a large change in demand (e.g., a specific brand of coffee), the product is elastic.

  • Price Inelastic (Low Sensitivity): If demand stays relatively constant regardless of price (e.g., life-saving medicine or specialized software licenses), the product is inelastic.

  • 2025 Update: Companies are now using Hyper-Elasticity Models to predict exactly how sensitive different “User Segments” are to price changes, allowing for highly personalized pricing strategies.

4. Market Structures: The Competition Architecture

The “Environment” in which a firm operates determines its power and pricing strategy:

  • Perfect Competition: Many small firms selling identical products (e.g., agricultural commodities). No single firm has “Admin Access” to set the price.

  • Monopolistic Competition: Many firms selling similar but differentiated products (e.g., the smartphone app market).

  • Oligopoly: A few large firms dominate the market (e.g., the AI LLM providers). Here, Game Theory becomes essential, as every firm’s move depends on the predicted reaction of its rivals.

  • Monopoly: A single provider with total market control.

Why Microeconomics Matters Today

  • Resource Optimization: Understanding your “Marginal Cost of Acquisition” (CAC) allows you to scale your marketing or production without “crashing” your budget.

  • Strategic Pricing: By identifying the elasticity of your product, you can find the “Sweet Spot” that maximizes revenue without alienating your user base.

  • AI and Agency: In late 2025, we are seeing the rise of AI Purchasing Agents—software that automatically negotiates micro-transactions on behalf of users. Microeconomics provides the theoretical framework for how these digital agents should “behave” to achieve the best outcome.

The Global OS: A 2025 Macroeconomic Year-In-Review

For the final 2025 deep dive on iversonsoftware.com, we are zooming out to the “Global OS”: Macroeconomics. While microeconomics examines the behavior of individual “nodes,” macroeconomics analyzes the performance, structure, and behavior of the entire network. On this December 31st, we look back at a year defined by high-stakes “policy patches,” supply-chain refactoring, and a surprisingly resilient global output.

At Iverson Software, we view the economy through the lens of system stability. Macroeconomics is the study of the “Total Throughput” of a nation or the world. It tracks the massive variables—GDP, Inflation, and Unemployment—that determine whether the “Social Operating System” is thriving or crashing.

1. The Telemetry: 2025’s Key Indicators

To judge a system’s health, you need real-time telemetry. In 2025, the data revealed a paradox: an economy that grew faster than the “spec sheets” predicted, but with persistent “background noise” in the form of inflation.

  • GDP (The Throughput): Despite early-year fears of a “system crash” (recession), the U.S. economy solidified in Q3 2025 with a real GDP increase of 4.3%. Globally, India emerged as the “High-Speed Processor,” officially surpassing Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy.

  • Inflation (The Heat Sink): 2025 was the year of “Sticky Inflation.” While price increases slowed from their 2022 peaks, headline CPI remained stuck around 3.0% through September. Supply-side shocks—like the “Liberation Day” tariffs—introduced new “thermal pressure” on consumer prices.

  • Unemployment (The Capacity): The labor market remained “Low Hiring, Low Firing.” In the U.S., the unemployment rate ticked up slightly to 4.3%, reflecting a labor force adjusting to new immigration protocols and the rapid integration of AI-driven automation.

2. The Policy Levers: Fiscal vs. Monetary

Managing a macro-economy requires two distinct sets of administrative tools. In 2025, these two “Control Panels” often worked in different directions.

  • Monetary Policy (The Central Bank): The Federal Reserve spent 2025 in “Insurance Mode.” After initial rate cuts in late 2024, the Fed paused for much of 2025 to assess the impact of new tariffs. By December, the target range sat between 3.25–3.50%, a “neutral” setting intended to keep the system from overheating without triggering a shutdown.

  • Fiscal Policy (The Government): On the fiscal side, 2025 was defined by the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA). This provided a significant “Stimulus Patch” to the economy through deregulation and targeted tax refunds, though it contributed to a federal deficit that reached $1.9 trillion (roughly 6.2% of GDP).

[Image comparing the tools of Fiscal Policy (Taxing & Spending) and Monetary Policy (Interest Rates & Money Supply)]

3. The 2025 “Feature Update”: Tariffs and AI

Two major “External Drivers” rewrote the economic logic this year:

  • Protectionism as a Protocol: The re-introduction of aggressive tariffs (the “Tariff Firewall”) forced a massive “Supply Chain Refactoring.” While intended to boost domestic manufacturing, the “Latency” (cost) was passed on to consumers, keeping inflation above the Fed’s 2% target.

  • The AI Productivity Boost: If there was a “Hardware Upgrade” this year, it was AI. Capital expenditure (capex) in AI infrastructure was a primary driver of Q3 growth. Economists are now debating whether this signals a “New Era of High Productivity,” where output-per-hour finally breaks its decade-long stagnation.

Why Macroeconomics Matters to Our Readers

  • Predictive Planning: For businesses, macro trends are the “Environment Variables.” Knowing that the Fed is likely to hold rates steady helps you plan your “Debt Architecture” for 2026.

  • Market Resilience: Understanding the “Opportunity Cost” of high deficits allows you to hedge against long-term interest rate volatility.

  • Global Context: In a multipolar world, recognizing the rise of the BRICS+ network is essential for anyone building software or services for a global user base.

How to Start Your Own Paper Recycling Business

Starting a paper recycling business is far simpler than most people imagine. With nothing more than a truck, a storage space, and a bit of organization, you can turn discarded newspapers, cardboard, and office paper into steady income. Paper is everywhere — homes, offices, stores, warehouses — and most of it gets thrown away. By setting up regular collection routes and partnering with schools, civic groups, and local businesses, you can build a reliable supply network that grows week after week. The real secret is visibility and consistency: once people know you collect paper, they’ll start saving it for you automatically.

Starting a paper recycling business is one of the simplest and oldest ways to earn extra income — and today, it’s more profitable than ever. With minimal equipment and no special training, you can build a steady, respectable income by collecting and selling waste paper to local recycling centers.

Why Paper Recycling Works

Paper is everywhere. Americans use more than 200 million tons of it each year, and at least half of that ends up in the trash. Nearly all of it can be recycled. That means billions of dollars’ worth of recoverable material is thrown away annually — and anyone willing to collect it can turn that waste into profit.

Some independent paper recyclers earn over $100,000 a year. If they can do it, there’s no reason you can’t.

What You Need to Get Started

The startup requirements are minimal:

  • A pickup truck, trailer, or even a sturdy pushcart
  • A dry storage area (garage, shed, or rented mini‑warehouse)
  • Basic signage and business cards
  • A willingness to organize routes and build relationships

Old newspapers, cardboard, and office paper are the most common materials. Prices vary by region, but typical rates include:

  • Newspapers: around $85 per ton
  • Cardboard: around $20 per ton
  • High‑grade office paper: up to $65 per ton

These numbers fluctuate, but the potential remains strong.

Building Your Supply Network

Your own household won’t produce enough paper to make a real profit — but your neighborhood will. Start by collecting from:

  • Friends, relatives, and neighbors
  • Local businesses
  • Schools, colleges, and civic groups
  • Clubs, scouts, and community organizations

Offer to pay a small amount per ton (usually $25–$30 when you’re earning $50). Many groups will gladly participate, especially if they can use the money for fundraising.

The goal is simple: get as many people as possible collecting paper for you.

Creating Collection Routes

In the beginning, you may need to knock on doors yourself. A simple sign on your vehicle — “Joe’s Paper Recycling Service” — is enough to get started. As you build trust, set up regular collection days so residents know when to leave paper out for pickup.

Once your routes are established, hire students or part‑time helpers to collect paper for you. A small crew can gather several tons in just a few hours, freeing you to focus on expanding the business.

Setting Up a Local Drop‑Off Depot

As your operation grows, consider opening a neighborhood drop‑off center. A vacant service station or small lot with a shed works well. You’ll need:

  • A scale
  • A storage area
  • A simple office setup
  • Clear signage announcing that you buy paper

Most depots pay around 2 cents per pound for newspapers. At $50 per ton resale value, that leaves you about $10 profit per ton — and volume adds up quickly.

Expanding Into Commercial Sources

Businesses and warehouses generate huge amounts of cardboard and office paper. Many will give it away just to avoid disposal fees. Others may require a small payment. Either way, commercial pickups can fill a truck in minutes.

Don’t forget:

  • Offices with heavy printing
  • Print shops
  • Retail stores
  • Warehouses
  • Shipping departments

Bring “Save‑a‑Tree” boxes to offices and ask them to toss all waste paper inside. A full box can weigh 35–45 pounds.

Marketing and Visibility

A recycling business grows through visibility and community involvement. Effective strategies include:

  • A Yellow Pages listing
  • Classified ads (especially Thursday–Saturday)
  • Speaking at civic clubs and community events
  • Partnering with schools and nonprofits
  • Running contests for the most paper collected
  • Hosting special “Senior Days” with bonus payouts

Local newspapers, radio stations, and TV outlets often welcome stories about recycling efforts, community cleanups, and environmental initiatives.

Why This Business Works

Paper recycling is profitable because it benefits everyone:

  • You earn money
  • Participants earn money
  • Communities reduce waste
  • Businesses cut disposal costs
  • The environment benefits from reduced logging and landfill use

With organization, consistency, and a bit of hustle, you can build a comfortable income — and a business that grows as fast as you’re willing to expand it.

Temple Rubbings: An Unusual and Accessible Art Opportunity

There’s a quiet thrill in lifting a sheet of paper from an old carving and seeing centuries‑old lines appear as if they’ve been waiting just for you. Temple and gravestone rubbings turn weathered stone into living art, preserving textures and stories that time is slowly erasing. With nothing more than a crayon, a steady hand, and a bit of patience, anyone can create a piece of history they can hold.

Temple and gravestone rubbings offer a rare chance to create striking artwork without needing traditional artistic talent. This craft has deep historical roots and remains a unique business opportunity for travelers, history enthusiasts, and creative entrepreneurs.

A Brief History

Rubbing techniques date back to ancient China (around 300 BC). Emperors had their laws and proclamations carved into stone, then reproduced onto parchment by applying colored wax or pigment over paper laid on the carvings. This method became an early form of mass communication long before the printing press.

Over time, artisans began carving images specifically for rubbing. Today, several Asian cultures still produce large “temple rubbings,” often mistakenly called batiks. True batik is a wax‑resist dyeing technique on fabric, not a rubbing, but the term has become loosely associated with these artworks.

What Can Be Used for Rubbings?

Although stone and metal reliefs are the most common sources, almost any raised design can produce an interesting rubbing:

  • Architectural details
  • Medals and coins
  • Leaves and natural textures
  • Historical plaques
  • Cultural or commemorative markers

Churches, courtyards, and old cemeteries are especially rich sources. Many gravestones are themselves works of art, and rubbings preserve their designs long after the original stone begins to weather.

Why Gravestone Rubbings Matter

Genealogists and family historians often seek rubbings of ancestral markers. Some older stones—especially limestone—are deteriorating, and rubbings or photographs may eventually be the only surviving record. A well‑made rubbing from an ancestor’s tomb can be both a sentimental keepsake and a valuable historical artifact.

Tools You Need to Get Started

Beginning this craft requires only simple, inexpensive tools:

  • A dry sponge, foam pad, or soft brush to clean the surface
  • Paper or fabric to capture the design
  • A rubbing medium such as a lumber crayon or flat‑sided school crayon
  • Tape or twine to secure the paper
  • Optional: a kneeling pad for comfort

For practice, white butcher paper works well. Once you’re confident, experiment with more distinctive materials such as marbled paper, textured wallpaper, or custom‑dyed fabrics. The fabric and frame should complement the rubbing for the best presentation.

Creating Your Own Rubbing Tools

Some artists prefer to make their own applicators. One method:

  1. Cut a 3″ circle of thin plywood.
  2. Glue a powder puff to one side and attach a handle to the other.
  3. Cover the puff with ¼” foam rubber and tie it off behind the handle.

Dip this pad into pigment (such as burnt umber) and apply it in smooth, circular motions for a soft, even finish. Adjusting pressure, color, pad size, and fabric type will produce a wide range of artistic effects.

How to Make a Rubbing

  1. Choose a dry day and clean the surface gently. Vinegar can help remove moss—just let it dry completely before rubbing.
  2. Place your paper or fabric over the design and secure it firmly.
  3. Using the flat side of your crayon or pad, begin rubbing lightly from the center outward.
  4. Reverse direction and gradually increase pressure until the design appears with the desired contrast.
  5. Inspect your work before removing the paper. Once the fabric shifts, the impression cannot be corrected.

Some artists intentionally shift the fabric slightly and apply a second color to create a subtle 3‑D or highlighted effect.

Respecting Property and Culture

Always obtain permission before making rubbings—especially in foreign countries, religious sites, or private cemeteries. Cultural, religious, or legal restrictions may apply, and courtesy goes a long way toward avoiding misunderstandings.

Turning Rubbings Into a Business

Finished rubbings can sell anywhere from $10 to $1,000, depending on:

  • Subject matter
  • Artistic quality
  • Presentation and framing
  • Rarity or historical significance

High‑end pieces are typically framed under glass with coordinated fabrics and borders. Unique subjects—especially unusual epitaphs, historic markers, or foreign temple carvings—can command premium prices.

Travelers and expatriates often have access to remarkable rubbing opportunities abroad, but there are countless fascinating subjects in local cemeteries and historic districts as well.

Supplies and Resources

  • The Kelsey Co. – Printing and relief materials
  • Dick Blick – Art, sculpture, and craft supplies
  • El Do Plastics – Sponge rubber pads and related tools
  • Meyers Publishing – Art Business News magazine
  • Fabric Finders – Wholesale fabrics
  • JAPS – Picture framing supplies
  • Picture Art Industries – Wholesale framed artwork
  • Communications Channels, Inc. – Art Material Trade News
  • Dover Publications – Clip art, stencils, and design books
  • Quill Corporation – Office supplies
  • Swedco – Rubber stamps and business cards

The 2025 Audit: Public Policy and Administration Year-End Wrap-Up

As we close the final chapter of 2025 on iversonsoftware.com, we look back at a year that functioned less like a routine update and more like a total System Refactoring of the public sector. From the halls of Washington to local municipalities, Public Policy and Administration in 2025 was defined by a shift toward radical efficiency, digital sovereignty, and the dismantling of legacy bureaucratic structures.

At Iverson Software, we track the protocols of power. This year, the “Social Operating System” underwent a series of high-stakes deployments. As a new administration took the helm in the U.S. and global alliances shifted toward a multipolar architecture, public administrators were tasked with maintaining service delivery amidst a climate of unprecedented regulatory change.

1. Administrative Modernization: The “Unified API” Era

One of the biggest technical wins of 2025 was the long-awaited modernization of the IRS. After decades of “spaghetti code” and fragmented databases, the Unified API Layer project finally launched, streamlining compliance and enabling the agency to cut $2 billion in wasteful IT contracts.

  • GovTech Maturity: Governments moved beyond simple digitization to Proactive Service Design. Instead of citizens searching for benefits, systems now use “Integrated Eligibility” protocols to push services to users based on real-time data life-events.

  • AI Integration: Generative AI is no longer a pilot program; it is the “Front-end” for public inquiries. AI-driven agents now handle thousands of routine tasks, from benefits eligibility checks to license renewals, allowing human administrators to focus on high-complexity “Edge Cases.”

2. Policy Disruption: The “Zero-Based” Regulatory Shift

2025 saw a massive overhaul of federal policy through a series of “Executive Patches” (Executive Orders) that significantly altered the administrative landscape:

  • The Efficiency Mandate: A new focus on “Government Efficiency” led to the dismantling of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) offices across the federal workforce, with the administration citing a need to reduce “System Overhead.”

  • Tariff Protocols: The “Kuala Lumpur Joint Arrangement” and reciprocal tariffs on Mexico and China redefined trade as a security protocol, creating a “Firewall” around domestic manufacturing but introducing significant “Latencies” (inflationary pressures) in the consumer market.

  • Immigration Hardening: Enhanced enforcement and the termination of programs like DACA represented a major “Permission Reset” for the national border, impacting workforce availability in key sectors like agriculture and tech.

3. Operational Realities: The “Silver Tsunami” and Talent Gaps

While the tech was updated, the “Human Hardware” faced a critical shortage.

  • The Workforce Gap: The public sector continues to struggle with the “Silver Tsunami”—the mass retirement of long-serving experts. Recruitment has become a competitive “Bidding War,” with agencies struggling to match private-sector salaries.

  • Connected Compliance: To handle the increased regulatory speed, compliance teams have adopted “Intelligence-led” models. These systems use AI to scan for fraud and improper payments in real-time, preventing billions in “System Leakage” before checks are even cut.

4. Global Interoperability: The BRICS+ Network

Beyond U.S. borders, 2025 marked the formal expansion of the BRICS+ alliance. This shift created a “Parallel Global Network,” challenging the dominance of Western financial protocols. Public administrators now have to navigate “Multi-source Data Ecosystems” where different regions operate under vastly different legal and semantic standards.

Looking Ahead to 2026: The Resilient State

As we enter 2026, the theme is Resilience. The goal is no longer just “Efficiency,” but “Interoperability”—ensuring that local, state, and federal systems can talk to each other while remaining secure against expanding cybersecurity threats. At Iverson Software, we will continue to provide the “Reference Documentation” you need to navigate these shifting structures.

The Student Support Stack: Navigating School Psychology in 2025

For our final deep dive into the human systems that power our institutions on iversonsoftware.com, we are exploring the “Optimization Layer” of the education system: School Psychology. While teachers provide the “Content Delivery” and administrators manage the “Network Infrastructure,” school psychologists are the systems engineers who ensure the individual “End-User”—the student—is functioning at their highest potential.

At Iverson Software, we recognize that even the most advanced learning environment can fail if the individual’s “Social-Emotional Hardware” isn’t supported. School Psychology is the field that applies clinical and educational psychology to help children and youth succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. As we wrap up 2025, the profession is moving beyond simple testing toward a comprehensive, data-driven “System-Wide Support” model.

1. The Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS)

In modern school psychology, the “Support Architecture” follows a tiered approach to ensure resources are allocated where they are needed most.

  • Tier 1 (Universal Support): School-wide prevention programs, such as Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), that benefit 100% of students.

  • Tier 2 (Targeted Support): Small-group interventions for students showing early signs of “Performance Lag.”

  • Tier 3 (Intensive Support): One-on-one “Debugging” and specialized education plans (IEPs) for students with significant learning or behavioral challenges.

2. 2025 Trend: The AI Integration and Ethics

As of late 2025, Artificial Intelligence has officially entered the counselor’s office. School psychologists are now managing new “Digital Tools”:

  • Predictive Behavioral Analysis: AI models are being used to identify early indicators of academic failure or social withdrawal before they become critical errors.

  • Personalized Learning Paths: Psychologists collaborate with tech leads to ensure AI-driven tutoring systems are “Accessible and Culturally Responsive” for diverse learners.

  • The Human Firewall: The school psychologist’s primary role in 2025 is to ensure that AI use in schools doesn’t lead to “Dehumanization” or privacy breaches, maintaining the ethical “Source Code” of student support.

3. The 2025 Shortage: Managing System Load

One of the most pressing “Maintenance Issues” in the field today is the nationwide shortage of professionals.

  • The Capacity Gap: While the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) recommends a ratio of 1 psychologist per 500 students, the 2025 data shows many districts are running at 1:1,000 or worse.

  • The Result: This has led to a shift from routine “Assessment Administration” to high-level Strategic Leadership. School psychologists are increasingly acting as “Mental Health Coordinators,” training teachers to handle lower-tier issues while they focus on high-complexity crisis response.

4. Holistic Development: “Finding Your Path”

The theme for National School Psychology Week in November 2025 was “Finding Your Path.” This emphasizes that “Student Success” isn’t a binary (Pass/Fail) outcome.

  • Resilience Protocols: Psychologists are focusing on building “Mental Durability” in students, teaching them to navigate the stress of a hyper-connected, digital world.

  • Beyond the Test: Modern evaluations look at the “Whole Child”—not just their IQ, but their social skills, emotional regulation, and home-school connectivity.

Why School Psychology Matters to Our Readers

  • Future Workforce: The students supported by school psychologists today are the developers, engineers, and leaders of 2035. Investing in their “Psychological Firmware” ensures a more stable future society.

  • Leadership Skills: The techniques school psychologists use to manage conflict and encourage growth are the same “Soft Skills” needed to lead high-performing tech teams.

  • Ethics and Inclusion: By advocating for students with disabilities, school psychologists set the standard for “Inclusive Design” in both physical and digital spaces.

The Source Code of Power: Navigating Political Theory

For the final deep dive into the “System Design of Society” on iversonsoftware.com, we examine the ultimate architectural blueprint: Political Theory. While Political Science studies the current “runtime” of governments, Political Theory is the “Source Code”—it investigates the fundamental ideas, values, and justifications that allow a society to function.

At Iverson Software, we believe that every robust application starts with a clear set of requirements. In the world of governance, Political Theory is the branch of social science that asks the “Big Questions”: What is justice? Who has the permission to lead? And what are the rights and obligations of the end-user (the citizen)? By studying these concepts, we can understand why our modern “social operating systems” are configured the way they are.

1. The Legacy Code: Classical Political Thought

The earliest “system documentation” for politics comes from Ancient Greece. Thinkers like Plato and Aristotle weren’t just philosophers; they were the original system architects.

  • Plato’s Republic: Imagined the “Ideal State” as one governed by “Philosopher-Kings”—highly trained experts who understand the “Forms” of justice.

  • Aristotle’s Politics: Took a more empirical approach, analyzing hundreds of different city-states to find the most stable “Mixed Constitution” (Polity). He believed that a middle-class “buffer” was essential to prevent the system from crashing into tyranny or anarchy.

2. The Operating Systems: Major Ideologies

In the 18th and 19th centuries, we saw the deployment of several competing “Social Operating Systems.” These ideologies provide the logic for how resources should be distributed and how much “admin access” the state should have:

  • Liberalism: Prioritizes individual liberty and “Private Permissions” (property rights). It treats the government like a service provider that should stay out of the user’s way.

  • Conservatism: Values “Legacy Stability.” It is skeptical of radical “updates” to the system, preferring to maintain established institutions and traditions that have passed the “test of time.”

  • Socialism: Focuses on “System Equity.” It argues that the means of production should be shared across the entire user base to prevent the accumulation of “Power Buffers” in the hands of a few.

3. The 2025 Beta: Contemporary Challenges

As we navigate the final day of 2025, the “Theoretical Infrastructure” of the world is facing a series of “Zero-Day Vulnerabilities.” Political theorists today are focused on:

  • The “End of Democracy” Debate: With global democracy scores in decline, theorists are asking if the “Western Model” needs a total re-factoring to handle the pressures of hyper-polarization and economic inequality.

  • Algorithmic Authority: As we outsource decision-making to AI (from credit scores to legal sentencing), who is accountable? We are currently drafting the “Ethical Documentation” for how power should be exercised in a machine-augmented world.

  • Digital Sovereignty: The rise of borderless digital entities is challenging the traditional “Westphalian Protocol” of the nation-state.

Why Political Theory Matters to Our Readers

  • Uncovering Assumptions: Reflection on political theory helps us realize that our current “way of doing things” isn’t an objective fact—it’s a choice based on specific philosophical premises.

  • Building Better Communities: Whether you are managing an open-source project or a local non-profit, understanding “Justice” and “Obligation” helps you create more sustainable and fair internal policies.

  • Future-Proofing: By studying the “Theory Disasters” of the past, we can better anticipate where our current digital and social systems might fail.

The Global Network: Navigating International Relations in 2025

For our final “system update” of the year on iversonsoftware.com, we are zooming out to the largest possible scale: International Relations (IR). If domestic politics is the internal logic of a single server, IR is the complex, often chaotic networking protocol that connects every nation-state on Earth.

As of December 31, 2025, the global “source code” has been rewritten. We are no longer living in the post-Cold War “monolith”; we have officially transitioned into a highly fragmented, multipolar architecture.

At Iverson Software, we analyze how power is “routed” across the globe. International Relations is the study of how states, intergovernmental organizations, and non-state actors interact. In 2025, the primary challenge isn’t just “keeping the peace”—it’s managing a world where the old “central server” (Western hegemony) is being challenged by decentralized regional clusters.

1. The Transactional Reboot: US Foreign Policy in 2025

The return of the Trump administration has introduced a “Transactional Kernel” to US diplomacy.

  • The “America First” Protocol: The US has shifted from a global security provider to a “pay-to-play” model, demanding higher defense spending from NATO allies and prioritizing bilateral deals over multilateral treaties.

  • The Tariff Firewall: Trade is no longer just about economics; it’s a security tool. The use of aggressive tariffs (up to 60% on China) has “air-gapped” certain sectors of the US economy, forcing a massive rewiring of global supply chains.

2. The Multipolar Cluster: The Rise of Middle Powers

The “G7” is no longer the only administrative body that matters. We are seeing the rise of Multi-aligned States—nations like India, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia that refuse to “ping” only one superpower.

  • BRICS+ Expansion: With its new members, the BRICS block now represents a significant portion of the world’s GDP and energy reserves, creating a “Parallel Network” to the Western financial system.

  • Regional Autonomy: From the African Union to the Gulf Cooperation Council, regional hubs are now writing their own “Local Protocols” for security and trade, rather than waiting for instructions from the UN or the US.

3. The New Frontlines: Tech and Resource Sovereignty

In the 20th century, IR was about “land and sea.” In 2025, it’s about “Minerals and Models.”

  • The Biotech Frontier: As seen in recent trade disputes, biotechnology has become a new “Geopolitical Chokepoint,” with nations racing to control the patents and data required for next-gen healthcare.

  • Critical Minerals: Control over lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements is the new “Oil.” Diplomacy in 2025 is largely focused on securing the hardware necessary for the energy transition.

  • Space Security: With the “Year in Review” showing record space launches, the lunar surface and orbital paths are becoming contested “Real Estate,” leading to the first formal “Outer Space Traffic Protocols.”

4. The Climate Pivot: From “Planet” to “Competitiveness”

Following the limited progress at COP30 in Brazil, the international “Climate Logic” has changed.

  • Industrial Decarbonization: Climate policy is no longer framed as a moral obligation but as a “Competitive Edge.” Nations are subsidizing green tech not to save the world, but to ensure their industries aren’t “deprecated” in the new global market.

  • The Carbon Border: We are seeing the first widespread implementation of “Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms”—essentially a “Compatibility Tax” on products coming from nations with lower environmental standards.

Why International Relations Matters Today

  • Market Stability: For global businesses, IR is the “Environment Variable” that determines everything from shipping costs to regulatory hurdles.

  • Security Awareness: With 59 active military conflicts globally—the highest since WWII—understanding the “Realpolitik” of these regions is essential for managing risk.

  • The Future of Cooperation: Despite the fragmentation, “Global Problems” (like pandemics and AI safety) still require “Global API Calls.” Understanding how to navigate a multipolar world is the only way to build a sustainable future.

The Comparative Logic: Navigating Global Systems

For our latest entry on iversonsoftware.com, we step away from the specific “source code” of American politics to examine the entire “Global Repository”: Comparative Politics. If political science is the study of power, comparative politics is the methodology of A/B Testing the world’s governments to see which architectures perform best under different environmental conditions.

At Iverson Software, we know that no single program works for every user. In the same way, no single political system works for every nation. Comparative Politics is the branch of political science that systematically analyzes the differences and similarities between countries. It moves beyond just “knowing facts” to finding the underlying patterns that explain why some states thrive, some fail, and some transition from one regime type to another.

1. The Comparative Method: The Social Science Debugger

How do we know if a specific policy (like a universal basic income or a carbon tax) actually works? We use the Comparative Method.

  • Method of Agreement: We look at very different countries that share one common outcome (e.g., high economic growth) to find the single shared variable that might be the cause.

  • Method of Difference: We look at very similar countries that have different outcomes to isolate the one variable that changed.

  • The Goal: To move from “Correlation” to “Causation,” helping us understand the “System Requirements” for stable governance.

2. Regime Types: The Environments of Power

In our “Systems Architecture,” the Regime is the overarching environment in which politics happens. In 2025, we categorize these into three primary “Builds”:

  • Liberal Democracies: Systems with high “User Permissions” (civil liberties), regular elections, and a strong Rule of Law.

  • Authoritarian Regimes: Systems where power is centralized in a single “Administrator” or party, with restricted user access to the decision-making process.

  • Hybrid Regimes: The “Beta Versions” of governance. These systems may have elections (the UI of democracy), but they lack the underlying “Background Processes” of a free press or an independent judiciary.

[Image comparing presidential and parliamentary systems of government]

3. 2025 Trends: The Great Fragmentation

As we close out 2025, the comparative landscape has shifted significantly. Modern political scientists are currently tracking three major “Systemic Updates”:

  • The Populist Surge: Across Europe and Latin America, traditional “Centrist” parties are losing market share to populist movements that promise to “reboot” the system. We are seeing a global rise in anti-establishment sentiment driven by economic inequality.

  • The Return of Coalitions: In countries like India and Germany, the 2024-2025 election cycles have forced dominant parties to govern through complex coalitions. This moves the system from a “Single-Process” model to a “Distributed Power” model.

  • Digital Sovereignty vs. Globalism: Comparative politics is now analyzing how different states “firewall” their digital borders. While the EU focuses on security and regulation, emerging powers in the BRICS+ block are building alternative financial and data architectures.

4. Case Studies: Testing the Hardware

To understand the theory, we look at the “Case Studies”—the specific implementations of power:

  • The UK vs. The US: Comparing the Parliamentary system (where the executive is part of the legislature) to the Presidential system (where they are separate).

  • The Chinese Model: Analyzing how a system can achieve high economic “Throughput” while maintaining an authoritarian “Permission Structure.”

  • The Nordic Model: Evaluating how high-tax, high-service “Social Democracies” maintain high levels of user satisfaction and social stability.

Why Comparative Politics Matters Today

  • Policy Benchmarking: By looking at what other “Users” are doing, we can import successful “Modules” (like successful healthcare or education systems) into our own domestic frameworks.

  • Risk Assessment: For global businesses, comparative politics provides the “Threat Analysis” needed to understand which regions are stable and which are prone to “System Crashes” (revolutions or coups).

  • Intellectual Empathy: Understanding why a country chose a parliamentary system over a presidential one helps us realize that our own “Default Settings” aren’t the only way to run a society.