Blog and updates
-
3 Aug 2021
Pigouvian Taxes - Beyond Meat boss backs tax on meat consumption
Who would have thought that the CEO of a company producing plant-based meat alternatives would be in favour of a tax on meat consumption.
-
2 Aug 2021
Labour Markets - Where have all the workers gone?
Here is a really interesting article about the impact of coronavirus on the labour market, and the nature of the recovery.
-
2 Aug 2021
Scarcity and resource use - finding answers to the world's drinking water crisis
This article features basic economics: scarcity and resource use. Factor in a little bit of technology and what's not to like.
-
29 Jul 2021
Anti-competitive behaviour - CMA fines pharma firm over pricing of crucial thyroid drug
The Competition and Markets Authority has the pharmaceutical sector firmly in their sights judging by news that they have levied a fine of £100 million on the owners and manufacturers of thyroid...
-
28 Jul 2021
State ownership - Sheffield Forgemasters is nationalised
Sheffield Forgemasters, a leading supplier of steel to the UK Ministry of Defence is to be taken into state ownership.
-
28 Jul 2021
Labour markets - Tesco offers lorry drivers £1,000 signing-on fee due to shortage
Every little helps! Tesco's £1,000 signing on bonus for HGV drivers is a natural market response to the chronic shortage of drivers that threatens to impede recovery from the pandemic.
-
27 Jul 2021
Theory of the Firm - Moonpig profits double as Covid pushes spending online
Here is a great example of a business whose revenues and profits have benefitted from the shift to online spending during the pandemic.
-
23 Jul 2021
Theory of the Firm - Unilever expects flat profit after being hit by rising costs
Here is a good example of how higher input costs are cutting the profit margins of one of the world's largest consumer goods firms.
-
22 Jul 2021
Education economics - should government intervene to mandate lower tuition fees for local students?
Record numbers of students have applied for university places this according to data published by UCAS, the university admissions administrator.
-
21 Jul 2021
Regional economics - Seaside poor health overlooked
Economic and social deprivation suffered by many in UK coastal towns is highlighted in a report from England's chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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!
-
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...
-
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?
-
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.
Get email updates
Subscribe to our email updates and we’ll let you know whenever new content we think you’ll find useful is added.