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Economics in the News : Archive for August 2006 The following articles on Economics in the News were published during August 2006 |
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| Capital spending in the UK is now rising more strongly according to new figures released by the Office for National Statistics. Business investment in the UK, which accounts for around 10 per cent of our GDP, rose by 1.7 pct in the second quarter from the previous three months. | |||
| A brief overview of the latest macroeconomic data for the UK. | |||
| The oil giant British Petroleum has launched Target Neutral, a website where motorists can calculate their CO2 output and then makes a donation which funds projects which reduce CO2 output by an equivalent amount - in other words, fund projects which encourage a neutral carbon footprint from the environmental damage inflicted by people using the roads. | |||
| This is a brief chart update on key trends in the UK housing market. | |||
| There is further evidence today of the surge in demand for broadband services in the UK prompting comment on how the expansion in broadband use is reshaping different markets. The You Tube and My Space generation are now firmly established as the broadband revolution continues to gather momentum. | |||
| A debate has opened up about the relative value of what some are calling softer subjects with the news that Cambridge University and the London School of Economics have published lists of subject options which are “less effective preparation” for entry for their degree programmes. | |||
| There is a really interesting example at the moment of a battle in bargaining power between trade unions and the management of a business in which, on the surface, the employees seem to have the dominant position. | |||
| Lots of coverage today of the latest batch of immigration figures for the UK and the implications of higher than expected inflows of economic migrants for the performance of the economy and for public policy. | |||
| The price of caffeine-rich robusta coffee beans has jumped to a seven year high and spiked up by 3 per cent yesterday to £926 per tonne for delivery in September prompting expectations that the price of instant coffee will head higher in the weeks to come. | |||
| A relatively new blog looks very promising for sixth form students interested in many different aspects of environmental economics. | |||
| Inspired by the American who started with a paperclip and ended up with a house, Chinese individuals and businesses are using the Internet to barter goods and services. | |||
| There is a really good report out today which makes the claim that the rate of inflation for older people living in Britain is persistently and significantly above that for the rest of the population | |||
| The Financial Times and other newspapers reports today that Dell is set to recall 4 million laptop batteries in what is believed to be the biggest safety recall involving the rechargeable power units. | |||
| Tim Harford’s new programme which uses economic principles to explain key personal situations and decisions begins this Friday (18th August) at 7pm on BBC2. | |||
| Backups in terminal buildings, aircraft setting off half full despite thousands of people in queues – not only are the tighter security arrangements in efficient, they are simply unsustainable going forward. | |||
| There was a good article in the Financial Times last week about the estimated effects of high oil prices on the British economy. | |||
| A House of Commons committee on carbon emissions from transport has recommended that the government consider introducing higher taxes on aviation as a tool to curb the take off of CO emissions from the UK transport industry | |||
| The Zimbabwean government has decided to introduce a three week price freeze in a bid to bring some semblance of control back to their economy. | |||
| Interest rates were raised by 0.25% last week as the Monetary Policy Committee decided to make a pre-emptive move to control signs of rising inflationary pressure in the UK economy. | |||
| Is coal about to make a comeback? After decades of what has seemed to be terminal decline and hundreds of thousands of job losses, and twenty one years on from the bitter end of the UK miners strike, UK Coal the UK's biggest miner, is expecting to go back into the black this year and there are signs that coal production is picking up. | |||
| The current hyperinflation in Zimbabwe is a good example of the havoc that can be caused when price inflation spirals out of control. The BBC reported on the 31st of July that the Zimbabwean government has decided to cut three zeros off its currency to make the figures more manageable amid hyperinflation. | |||
| It is twenty two years since British Telecom was privatised and throughout that time, the business has had its pricing options constrained by the controls of the industry regulator (formerly given the title of OFTEL but now known as OFCOM). On thr 1st of August these price controls came to an end because the regulator has decided that there is now sufficient real competition in the telecommunications industry for BT to be given more freedom and flexibility in the prices that it charges. | |||
| I have updated my recommended reading list, including a new book by Chris Anderson (The Long Tail) which is a fascinating and thoughtful insight into the changing economics of commerce and culture. I have also included a selection of good economics blogs - to be found at the bottom of the book list. | |||
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| Other essential economics resources: | |||
| econoMAX - the Economics Magazine for AS & A2 Economics | |||
| Economics Exam Technique - Guidance from the Examiners | |||
| The UK Economy in a Nutshell | |||
| The European Economy - New Free Resources | |||
| Economics - Student Discussion Board | |||
| GCSE Economics Revision Notes | |||
| AS & A2 Economics Revision Notes | |||
