Blog and updates
-
28 Jan 2023
Forward Vertical Integration: Wholesaler Bestway takes stake in Sainsbury's
Is more change afoot for the UK retail grocery sector?
-
28 Jan 2023
Flybe Collapses and WizzAir Posts Strong Profits - A Tale of Two Airlines
For the second time in recent years, FlyBe has gone into administration and ceased trading. In contrast, the low-cost carrier Wizz Air seems to be thriving and has posted over Euro 30 million in...
-
28 Jan 2023
Circular Economy - How recycled polyfloss keeps refuge shelters warm
Here is a lovely example of the circular economy with the use of waste plastics to construct a polyfloss plastic that can serve as insulation to keep the most basic refuge shelters warm.
-
27 Jan 2023
UK car production collapses to lowest for 66 years
Wow! 2021 was a bad year for UK car production and 2022 has proved to be even worse!
-
27 Jan 2023
Sunk Costs - HS2 may not run through to central London
The ill-fated HS2 might be on the point of another blow - with rumours that the London end of the line might not be destined for central London but may stop in Ealing - in the suburbs.
-
27 Jan 2023
Is carbon offsetting a model with dangerous flaws?
There's nothing more painful than watching closely held opinions being challenged. But this Guardian article suggests that the carbon offsetting market is fundamentally flawed. Who would have...
-
26 Jan 2023
Is the UK government planning to raise the pension age (again)?
The UK state pension age may rise to 68 in 2030s according to reports. Teachers of a certain age might want to look away now!
-
26 Jan 2023
Economic Growth and Development - Vehicle Manufacturing in Rwanda
Rwanda would be one of my choices of developing countries to study ahead of the 2023 Economics papers. James Hall (Reuters) reports below that auto production in Rwanda is expanding rapidly. By...
-
26 Jan 2023
New Post-Brexit Farm Subsidy System Revealed
If you are teaching or studying the economics of subsidy, then details of the new arrangements for farm subsidies in the UK in a post-Brexit environment might be worth checking.
-
26 Jan 2023
Is Levelling Up more than just a catchy slogan?
The metropolitan mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham writes here in the Guardian about the prospects for levelling up, noting that Germany has actually done a remarkable job of levelling up...
-
24 Jan 2023
Wind of Change - Bill Gates backs Australian start-up targeting cow burps
Innovation and Microsoft-owner backed investment as an Australian firm looks to reduce the methane emissions from livestock (i.e. cow burps and farts) by introducing red seaweed into their diets.
-
24 Jan 2023
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.
-
24 Jan 2023
Tourism and Development: Thailand tourism up but still below pre-pandemic level
Good news for Thailand in that tourism revenues are recovering, although still below pre-pandemic levels, because this represents an injection into the circular flow of income and it will trigger a...
-
24 Jan 2023
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.
-
23 Jan 2023
Brazil and Argentina start talks on a common currency
This is likely a fair way off but what a story to start the economics week! Brazil and Argentina are set to announce that they are starting preparatory work on a common currency, in a move which...
-
23 Jan 2023
Should the Government Bail Out the UK Steel Industry?
The decision to grant British Steel another £300 million in rescue funding demonstrates the dangers of subsidising failing businesses. Having already intervened, if the government withdraw funding,...
-
23 Jan 2023
Stiglitz on the Case for 70% Tax Rate on High Income Earners
Joseph Stiglitz argues here that there should be higher taxes for the super-rich suggesting that there's a case for an income tax rate of around 70% and a 2-3% wealth tax to reduce inequality. In...
-
20 Jan 2023
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...
-
20 Jan 2023
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...
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.