Category
In the News
Booking.com still duping customers says industry watchdog
This might get you thinking about the importance of perfect information in markets, and how Booking.com failing to act to ensure perfect information results in sub-optimal outcomes and exploits...
Why industries should fear Amazon
How great is the competitive threat from Amazon facing businesses in markets such as food delivery, retail pharmaceuticals and commercial banking? This FT video is business economics gold-dust...
Are we moving to more worker-owned firms?
This article looks at the notion of increased worker ownership of firms - with the Left looking at the idea in both the UK and the US. Of course, European firm ownership is already predicated upon...
Are we still worse off than in 2008?
The latest New Economics Foundation research offers an interesting take on the standard of living in the UK. It says that contrary to official statistics, the average Briton is still worse off in...
Road transport emissions up despite efficiency gains
A really interesting piece here that highlights the fact that despite improved miles per gallon, and a decline in emissions from individual cars, the level of road transport emissions has risen...
Aldi plans to open one new store a week
Lovely theory of the firm article: is Aldi a profit maximiser, as neoclassical theory would suggest? This BBC piece suggests not - profits have fallen but the German discounter is committed to more...
Economics Weekly Quiz 13 September 2019
Here's this week's economics news quiz. Good luck!
Think tank urges increase price of alcohol in supermarkets.
This piece of Social Market Foundation research suggests that increasing taxes on supermarket alcohol would be a good way of creating a level playing field for pubs.
California legislates to protect gig economy workers
Uber has responded to California's new law designed to protect workers in the gig economy, suggesting that it's not going to hurt its business.
Economics Weekly Quiz 6 September 2019
It's back! A new term sees the return of our weekly quiz on news stories related to the UK economy. So here's this week's quiz, including a 'Classroom mode' for teachers wishing to deliver the quiz...
Salary caps are rationalities responses to cost maximisation in professional sport
The expulsion of Bury FC from the English Football League last week continues to generate a huge amount of sound and fury.
Argentina imposes currency controls
The Argentinian economic crisis continues, and the central bank has imposed currency controls to try and stop the further depreciation of the peso. The country remains in deep recession, and price...
Externalities of Festivals - Is there a case for a new tent tax?
Campaigners are calling for a £25 “tent tax” for summer festivals as thousands of festival-goers continue to leave behind their Uber-cheap supermarket tents (and whatever detritus lies inside them)...
Information failure - supermarkets still offering dubious deals
Here is a timely example of how imperfect information reduces market efficiency and distorts markets, getting them acting in producers' and not consumers' best interests, by subverting consumer...
Costa Rica at forefront of drive to a carbon neutral future
The right to a healthy environment is enshrined in the Costa Rican constitution and 99% of the country’s energy already comes from renewable sources.
Could this underwater farm be the future of food?
Is this the future of farming? Can we use the oceans more successful to increase global food output and what would it mean for our eating habits. All of these issues are addressed in this World...
What does a cashless future mean?
Here is a short video from the Economist on the seeming rush to get rid of cash. What are some of the economic and social repercussions of this shift towards a cashless future?
Are we heading for a global recession?
Ben Chu reports for Newsnight on the risks of a global economic recession with a follow up discussion with Professor Joseph Stiglitz.
A-Level Economics Results for 2019
Here are some data charts analysing some key features of the A-Level Economics results for 2019.
National Grid is getting a kicking in the aftermath of last Friday’s electricity blackout. Potential explanations swirl around both social and mainstream media. The system cannot cope with too much...