Category
Topic updates
Demography and Growth - Japan on the Brink as Birth Rate Falls
The slowing birth rate in Japan poses a significant supply-side threat to the economic fortunes of a nation not renowned for it's ability to assimilate immigrants.
UK Business and Economics Update (Jan 2023)
There has been a flurry of business and economic policy stories floating around recently. Here is a quick take on them plus links for student reading.
Roubini on mega-threats for the world economy
Nouriel Roubini - aka Dr Doom - has never knowingly been overly optimistic; at least he's consistent here, arguing that the super-elite at Davos seem to be blind to the extent of the mega-threats...
How to make poor areas richer
This excellent video clip from the Economist looks at regional inequality and the theory behind levelling up. I think that the first truth spoken is the fact that the political classes have no idea...
A crisis for Labour as real wages drop and working poverty climbs
Some interesting articles have appeared in recent days about the squeeze on real wages and the growing incidence of working poverty.
The True Cost of our Obsession with Superfoods
Business Insider looks at so-called 'superfoods' in this half hour clip looking at how the production of three commodities - açaí,, avocado and durian fruit - are not as straightforward as they...
Trouble ahead for the UK Economy
Some great applied macro from the Guardian and BBC news in recent days. Here is a selection of articles to enjoy as we head into what promises to be a tough New Year on many fronts. The article...
Four Reasons to Expect Falling House Prices in 2023
The UK housing market has defied economic gravity for many years now, but 2023 is likely to be a period when average property prices drop. In this short video, I explore four reasons to expect a...
Human Development Index - 2022 Update
The data for the 2022 Human Development Index is now available and Switzerland has overtaken Norway to claim top spot in this composite indicator of development. However, for the second year in a...
How a worker exodus is hitting growth in the UK
The House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee have published a report looking at the state of the UK economy, noting that the loss of half a million workers from the UK economy poses an existential...
Is cyclical unemployment starting to rise in the UK economy?
Students need to have a clear understanding of the different types and causes of unemployment. Cyclical (or demand-deficient) unemployment is one of them. In this short revision video, we look at...
Explaining the difference between Disinflation and Deflation
Fears of price deflation now seem a distant memory with CPI inflation in the UK economy climbing to 11% during 2022. Students often confuse disinflation with deflation, so we have produced a quick...
Non-price competition - does it matter where beer is brewed?
This article about the nature of global brewing, and the production of 'foreign' beer in the UK, for the British market. Does it really matter where a beer is brewed?
Development Economics - How Much is the Cost of Corruption?
This World Bank clip looks at the costs of corruption to developmental objectives - and the insidious nature of corruption in developing economies: eroding social capital, reducing trust in public...
Planetary Boundaries: What are they and why shouldn't we cross them?
Here is a short but important primer from the Financial Times on Planetary Boundaries and their significance for sustainable growth. It could be used as a excellent bridging video when teaching and...
Revising Consumer Surplus
Here are three short revision videos covering consumer surplus.
Revising the Multiplier
We've just added two short revision videos on the multiplier to our reference section. We cover the formulae for the simple and extended multipliers and work through some example calculations.
Economics of Autarky - Should Countries Try to do Everything Themselves?
Put simply. No. Autarky isn't the way forward and the static and dynamic benefits of trade are, to most people, self-evident.
The World Bank are concerned by the fact that next year the world's poorest economies are going to see their debt interest payments rise by 35%.
How Competitive is the UK Economy?
I've just published a short revision video on key indicators of international competitiveness. Whilst exchange rates and relative inflation rates are important, in the video I look at some of the...