Mark Tercek

Washington, D.C., United States

Writer at The Instigater Newsletter

family man focused on environmental stuff -

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Articles

See the Future, Visit the Past

2 weeks ago | marktercek.substack.com | Mark Tercek

Summer is here, and our readers are asking for book recommendations. Not surprisingly, Instigators have a particular interest in CliFi, i.e., novels that help us envision the reality of a climate-stressed world, or—even better—inspire action to address the challenge. I just finished a great novel that fits the bill: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley. It’s a fun book written in a hip style and raises very provocative questions. The novel spins a clever, genre-bending tale.
A Simple Proposal for Higher Ed

3 weeks ago | marktercek.substack.com | Mark Tercek

The House just passed a budget bill that, for those of us who care deeply about higher education, feels like a gut punch: a 21% tax on the earnings of many college and university endowments. Endowments aren’t just rainy day funds for the ivory towers. Generally, more than half of endowment investment income goes directly to financial aid. And the remainder funds things we should all want—innovation, discovery, and the public good.
Trump’s Tariff Chaos Returns

1 month ago | innerself.com | Alex Jordan |Thomas Piketty |Mark Tercek |Jonathan Adams

What did Trump announce about new tariffs and letters to trade partners? Why are American consumers seeing higher prices again? How many trade deals have actually been completed? What are the true economic effects of Trump’s tariff strategy? Who pays the price—corporations or everyday Americans?
Green New Deals

1 month ago | marktercek.substack.com | Mark Tercek

Trade deals are back on the table. And while the commentary seems mostly focused on whether or not the deals will close, or how ambitious they will be, or what can be done with China, let’s consider another angle. Could these deals include provisions that address environmental challenges like climate? Let’s take stock. Thanks for reading The Instigator! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. The White House is under pressure to close the deals (even if they deny that).
Notes from Underground

2 months ago | marktercek.substack.com | Mark Tercek

More than a decade ago, I wrote a book called Nature’s Fortune: How Business and Society Thrive by Investing in Nature. Its central thesis was that investing in nature not only protects the environment for us, other species, and future generations, but it also produces enormously useful outcomes at very low cost. Things we may take for granted, like clean water, healthy food, protection from storms, outdoor areas to enjoy, habitat for biodiversity, and so on.
The Untold Story of Public Service

2 months ago | marktercek.substack.com | Mark Tercek

In this week’s fusillade of crazy headlines, here’s one we shouldn’t forget: Layoffs of 10,000 Government Health Workers Begin. This is . . . not good. What’s worse is how these civil servants are finding out their years of service have come to an end—-with deactivated badges when they try to open the building door. Thanks for reading The Instigator! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This isn’t new of course.
The Coming State Funding Crisis: Who Pays the Price?

Mar 20, 2025 | innerself.com | Robert Jennings |Thomas Piketty |Mark Tercek |Jonathan Adams

Please subscribe to our YouTube channel using this link. What essential services are at risk as federal funding disappears? Can states raise taxes without triggering mass wealth migration? Why will regressive taxes hit lower-income residents hardest? Which states will fare better under this new reality? Could we see a "race to the bottom" in state taxation?
Trump’s Economic Plan is a Disaster-Here’s the Real Solution

Mar 17, 2025 | innerself.com | Robert Jennings |Thomas Piketty |Mark Tercek |Jonathan Adams

Why Trump’s economic plan is based on nostalgia, not reality. How tariffs and tax cuts won’t fix America’s economy. The real economic crisis: climate change and infrastructure decay. A WWII-style mobilization is the only path forward. Why climate investment will benefit everyone—even the wealthy. by Robert Jennings, InnerSelf.comDonald Trump’s economic plan isn’t just outdated—it’s dangerous.
Trump’s Canada Tariffs: Economic Sabotage or Political Stunt?

Mar 13, 2025 | innerself.com | Alex Jordan |Thomas Piketty |Mark Tercek |Jonathan Adams

How American policies affect Canadian consumersThe power of consumer boycotts as political statementsKey U.S. industries that dominate the Canadian marketChallenges and alternatives to an American boycottDoes economic resistance actually work? by Alex Jordan, InnerSelf.comCanada’s economy is deeply intertwined with that of the United States. From retail giants like Walmart and Amazon to fast-food chains and entertainment conglomerates, American companies dominate Canadian markets.
It’s Not Us. It’s Them.

Mar 9, 2025 | marktercek.substack.com | Mark Tercek

Our heads are spinning. Each day brings a barrage of bad news about the new administration’s haphazard and harmful decisions. As we’ve written, that’s their strategy. You know what else is part of the strategy? Getting us to turn on one another, arguing about direction, while they plow forward. Thanks for reading The Instigator! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Many organizations we care about—including NGOs and universities—are in the fight to address these wrongs.