Blog and updates
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21 Jul 2021
Supply and demand in action - surging demand for tents brings supply shortage
Some good context here on changing demand factors in the market for outdoor camping equipment.
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20 Jul 2021
The "pingdemic", self-isolation and short run aggregate supply
As the 3rd wave of the coronavirus pandemic sweeps through the UK, the need for close contacts to self-isolate is becoming a significant economic issue.
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19 Jul 2021
Retail and the pandemic - should debts of smaller shopkeepers be written off?
The UK's small shopkeepers collectively are struggling under a £1.7 billion mountain of debt according to a new report.
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19 Jul 2021
Sustainable growth - can beer go green for the planet?
It seems that the brewing sector is an unlikely pioneer in greening the industry, with five brands leading the way.
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18 Jul 2021
Development Economics - Cameroon's fish farmers shaking up the market
The rise of fish farming in Cameroon offers developmental opportunities and an increased supply of domestic fish to the market, something that's likely to benefit the economy as a whole.
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17 Jul 2021
Competition Policy - Biden signs anti-monopoly executive order
“Capitalism without competition isn’t capitalism, it’s exploitation." said Joe Biden last week as an executive order was signed curbing the market power of a raft of businesses and sectors.
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16 Jul 2021
Teaching Activity - Alien Abduction!
If you're looking for a fun activity for start or end of term, try this 'Alien Abduction' Powerpoint game!
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16 Jul 2021
Economics Weekly Quiz - 16 July 2021
Here's our last economics news quiz of this extraordinary academic year! Which company has become the UK's most valuable tech firm? What was the inflation rate in June? What has the BoE become...
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16 Jul 2021
Water nationalisation - should England's water monopolies be nationalised?
Phillip Inman makes a case herefor renationalising the water industry, noting that the sector is publicly owned in Scotland and Wales. Is it time to take water back under state control?
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15 Jul 2021
Anti-competitive behaviour - UK drug companies fined £260m for inflating prices for NHS
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has fined a UK drug company £260m for inflating the price of hydrocortisone tablets for a decade.
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15 Jul 2021
Health Economics and Market Failure - Food strategy calls for £3bn sugar and salt tax to improve UK’s diet
The UK National Food Strategy has outlined proposals for a levy on sugar and salt to tackle the perceived obesity crisis.
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15 Jul 2021
Regional Economics - former coal town Blyth leads the race for clean energy
This superb video from the FT looks at how the clean energy revolution is changing the landscape of the north-east coastal town of Blyth.
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15 Jul 2021
Development economics - West Africa looks to create a regional electricity market
West Africa is looking to increase its energy security, by creating a regional electricity market to facilitate regional trade in power.
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15 Jul 2021
Vertical integration - Cigarette manufacturer bids to buy an inhaler business
Philip Morris, one of the world's largest tobacco companies, is bidding to acquire UK asthma drugmaker Vectura which manufactures inhalers and nebulisers.
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14 Jul 2021
Market failure and government failure - Southern Water dumped raw sewage into sea for years
It is difficult to think of a more egregious example of how cost-cutting by privatised, profit-seeking corporations can lead to such damaging effects on the environment.
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13 Jul 2021
Regional economics - what does levelling up mean and how can it be achieved?
In his latest blog post, Paul Ormerod argues that successful levelling up will require both experimentation and risks to be taken with public funds.
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12 Jul 2021
UK sees first mid-recession wealth boom since the mid-1940s
According to new data from the Resolution Foundation, the UK is experiencing the first mid-recession wealth boom since the 1940s.
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12 Jul 2021
ECO - Free Magazine from the Economics Observatory
The opening edition of ECO - a magazine published and made freely available by @EconObservatory is a terrific read.
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11 Jul 2021
Labour market reforms - Four-day week 'a success' in Iceland
Does cutting the working week help to improve productivity? Here is a good story to link to your study of labour market economics.
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10 Jul 2021
Economic uncertainty - we are not returning to normal
Stephen King argues in this short comment piece that economic uncertainties remain pervasive.
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