Category
In the News
New online sales tax being considered as high street struggles
The accelerated shift from high street to online shopping has prompted the Treasury to consider introducing an online sales tax to slow the decline of brick-and-mortar stores.
Housing economics - turning 'generation rent' into 'generation buy'
Larry Elliott's column looks at the state of the UK housing market and notes that despite the state of the economy, house price growth remains strong.
Economics Weekly Quiz - 5 Feb 2021
Test your knowledge of the week's economic-related stories with the new Economics Weekly Quiz!
Botswana must curb diamond reliance
Here is a brief clip from Reuters, which highlights the danger of depending upon primary product exports.
UK Scotch whisky exports suffer due to US tariffs
This article in the Guardian explores how retaliatory import tariffs imposed by the US, as a result of EU support given to Airbus, has resulted in £500mn in lost Scotch whisky exports.
FTSE 100 firms have no black executives in top three roles
The latest analysis of boardroom ethnicity highlights the fact that, for the first time since the data was collected in 2014, no FTSE 100 firm has a black executive.
Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) intervenes in Viagogo's takeover of StubHub
This is a great example of UK competition policy in action to protect consumers from higher prices resulting from less competition after mergers and acquisitions.
The government's review of UK gambling laws could cause betting firms serious problems, but also risks worsening market failures already in existence.
How much is an elephant worth?
$1.75mn, apparently. This is a great article about how economists and ecologists can work together to place a value on 'ecosystem services' - whether it be whale or a wetland.
Economics Weekly Quiz - 29 January 2021
Test your knowledge of the week's economic-related stories with the new Economics Weekly Quiz!
Asymmetric information: Apple pledges to improve transparency on how consumers' data is used by tech industry
To mark Data Privacy Day, Apple have released a report that explains how our personal data is monetised by the $227bn-a-year data industry.
Non-tariff barriers - British shoemaker faces Brexit's hidden costs
Here is an example of the costs of Brexit affecting British firms, in this case, British shoemaker, Tricker's despite the much-heralded free trade deal.
Is K the new U? How economic recovery may be K-shaped
The rising profits of firms such as Amazon and Nike throughout 2020 shows that strong firms may be getting stronger, whilst smaller firms and hard-hit industries will struggle to recover.
Should young people be paid to get vaccinated?
Economics, like epidemiology, is an inexact science. But It can still tell us useful things about the world, writes Professor Paul Ormerod.
Plastic waste - are supermarkets doing enough?
Greenpeace has suggested that the UK's supermarkets are still doing relatively little to reduce waste plastics, contrary to what they would have us believe.
Business growth - Shell buys electric car-charging company ubitricity
Is the post-pandemic era a watershed for the electric car?
China replaces the US as the number one recipient of new foreign direct investment
A sharp fall in the amount of new foreign direct investment (FDI) into the US last year compared to 2019 propelled China to become the number one recipient of new foreign investments in 2020.
Sustainable Growth - The Cumbrian Coal Controversy
Cumbria Council have approved a plan to sink a new coal mine under the Irish Sea, and it's not been well received.
Sustainability - How Bioplastic Is Made From Avocado Waste
This Business Insider clip looks at the increasing popularity of avocados, and the possibility of using avocado pits (i.e. seeds) to make bioplastics that are more environmentally friendly than a...
Avoiding the sunk cost fallacy - Alphabet abandons Loon
Alphabet has decided to scrap its balloon company Loon, designed to increase internet access through launching giant balloons to beam the internet to remote areas.