Category
Topic updates
Cracking the Cashew Conundrum: Ghana’s Battle for Value Addition
This article from BBC news provides an in-depth look at Ghana’s cashew processing struggles through the lens of economic theory, making it an essential read for students of development economics.
Electricity Sparks Change in a Senegalese Village
Manna from heaven for those people studying development economics, with this fantastic World Bank video clip highlighting the transformative power of electricity. The connection of the Senegalese...
From Stockbots to SmartShops: The Economics of Retail Automation
Automation is sweeping through UK retail like a tidal wave, with self-checkouts, robot bag packers, and AI-powered cameras popping up in stores nationwide. At first glance, these changes seem like...
UK Unemployment 2025: What’s Next? | UK Economy Update
Welcome to another episode of the UK Economy Update series. In this video, we explore the latest trends and projections for UK unemployment as of January 2025. With forecasts indicating a potential...
Fuel Poverty in the UK: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions
Fuel poverty is a growing issue in the UK, impacting millions of households. In this video, Geoff Riley dives into the causes, consequences, and potential solutions for fuel poverty. Discover how...
By challenging old narratives and exploring new evidence, VoxDev has illuminated the complexities of development economics, helping policymakers and researchers rethink their approaches to some of...
From Burden to Opportunity: Côte d’Ivoire’s Debt-for-Development Revolution
Côte d’Ivoire is blazing a trail in economic innovation, becoming the first country to use the World Bank and IMF’s new debt-swap framework to fund development projects. This pioneering initiative...
Economics Education’s Missing Link: The Crisis in Teacher Supply
Economic literacy is essential in today’s world, equipping young people with the tools to understand the systems shaping their lives. Yet, despite its importance, the UK faces a critical barrier to...
Will VAT on Private School Fees Reshape UK Education?
Join Geoff as he dives into the critical debate on Labour's decision to impose VAT on private school fees starting January 2025. This policy could generate £1.51 billion annually but also bring...
Is the UK Headed for Recession in 2025?
Is the UK economy on the brink of another recession? In this video, we break down the key risks facing the UK economy as we head into 2025. From stagnating GDP and fragile consumer confidence to...
Exporting Care, Importing Knowledge: The Dual Benefits of Nurse Migration
For decades, the migration of skilled professionals from developing to developed countries has sparked heated debates among policymakers and economists. Often seen as a classic example of "brain...
Africa’s Digital Divide: How Tariffs Are Holding Back Growth
Digital goods—from advanced machinery and computing technology to software—are the lifeblood of modern productivity. For developing economies, access to these goods isn’t just important; it’s...
Case Study: The Economics of Tourist Taxes
Tourist taxes, also known as transient visitor levies, are taxes imposed on accommodation or other services used by tourists. Governments across the world implement these taxes for various...
Case Study: The Geographical Pattern of UK Trade in 2023
In 2023, the UK demonstrated varied trading relationships globally, reflecting a shift in the balance of its economic ties. This case study explores the UK's trade data to evaluate the role of key...
Normal and Supernormal Profits Explained - A-Level Economics Mastery
In this video we look at the important difference between normal and supernormal profit and then link both concepts to different market structures.
Brick Walls: Why the UK Housing Market is Out of Reach for Most
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal a sobering truth: the average home in England is now affordable only to the richest 10% of the population. For everyone else,...
Shocks and Shields: How Resilient Is the UK Financial System in 2024?
The Bank of England’s latest Financial Stability Report (November 2024) serves as a masterclass in understanding the delicate balancing act of safeguarding a nation’s economy. Beneath its...
Navigating the Crossroads: UK Economy Outlook 2024 and Beyond
In a new video, Geoff discusses some of the key data on the UK economy in the aftermath of the October 2024 Budget and the election of Trump as US President. Can the UK economy break out of a...
The Economics of Loyalty Pricing: Are Discounts Worth the Data?
Supermarket loyalty pricing, where members pay less than non-members for certain products, is becoming ubiquitous in the UK, accounting for a whopping £5 billion in revenue over just three months...
The Undead Economy: Lessons from a Hypothetical Zombie Outbreak
Imagine this: a bad batch of beer turns into a full-blown zombie outbreak, plunging the UK into chaos. Beyond the gory drama, this scenario—modelled using the National Institute Global Econometric...