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In the News
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?
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.
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.
West Africa is looking to increase its energy security, by creating a regional electricity market to facilitate regional trade in power.
Philip Morris, one of the world's largest tobacco companies, is bidding to acquire UK asthma drugmaker Vectura which manufactures inhalers and nebulisers.
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.
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.
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.
Economic uncertainty - we are not returning to normal
Stephen King argues in this short comment piece that economic uncertainties remain pervasive.
Economics Weekly Quiz - 09 July 2021
Which political party is encouraging us to 'buy British'? Which manufacturer launched its last ever petrol-fuelled car? Why have house prices fallen? All these questions and more in this week's...
Labour supply - lorry driver shortage threatens to cause a surge in cost-push inflation
The estimated shortage of 100,000 HGV drivers makes for a superb introductory economics lesson.
Here is a good example of ancillary revenues for businesses. Transport for London has experienced a steep decline in the advertising revenues they get from a huge estate of bill-boards, posters and...
Derived demand - surge in sales of white vans
Thousands of us who have suffered from the road rage associated with white van drivers may be disturbed to see that demand for medium sized white delivery vans continues to surge.
Economics Weekly Quiz - 02 July 2021
When is the UK government planning to end the generation of electricity using coal? Which indirect tax came to the end of its 'holiday'? What type of clothing has seen a huge surge in demand at...
Economics Weekly Quiz - 25 June 2021
The government announced that it is to ban advertising of what product before 9pm? Who features on the new £50 note? What's the BoE's prediction for inflation in 2021? All these questions and more...
Is tax avoidance actually legal?
Not much in the way of economic theory here but a fascinating insight into the nature of the language associated with tax avoidance.
Why concentration of wealth makes the US economy fragile
Robert Reich argues here that Americans should be concerned by rising inequality, of both income and wealth, and the structural problems that this implies.
Can countries pay back pandemic debt?
This BBC clip looks as the debt incurred by government's over the course of the coronavirus pandemic, and wonders how nation's can pay back the accumulated national debt.
Economics Weekly Quiz - 18 June 2021
What proportion of global streams of music originate from the UK? How many adults use their phones to pay for purchases? Which companies are being investigated by the CMA because of their market...
Economics Weekly Quiz - 11 June 2021
With which Scandinavian country did the UK sign a trade deal this week? What's the average house price in the UK? The CMA have opened an investigation into which airlines? All this and more on our...