Evidence here of the importance of a sound currency to a successful economy comes from Zimbabwe where the introduction of a new local currency has caused a degree of chaos.
Can kinder capitalism compete in ruthless retail?
This lengthy FT video clip looks at whether an employee-owned retail business, like John Lewis, can continue to thrive in an increasingly competitive retail market. But not only is the external...
The Fiscal Cost of High Interest Rates
Kenneth Rogoff writes an interesting piece here about the diminishing ability of government debt to help offer macroeconomic stability at a time of higher interest rates.
Economics Weekly Quiz | 03 May 2024
Here's our weekly economics news quiz covering stories from the UK and global economic events of the passed 7 days.
In the News Teaching Activity – is climate change a consequence of information failure? (May 2024)
Last month the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) published a report that found that the costs of not reaching net zero could be $38 trillion by 2050, far higher than the costs of...
Is China leading the electric vehicle race?
This BBC news clip looks at competition in the electric car market, with China leading the way, arguably because of high levels of government support. This clip looks at the concerns of the US and...
New post-Brexit customs checks have come into force, and represent yet another cost of Brexit. Higher prices and less consumer choice, exactly what Leave voters chose. Proof that turkeys sometimes...
Hot Topics for Paper 2 Macro in 2024
In this video, Geoff walks through a selection of important macro-economic issues that either haven't been tested fully in recent years or which are super-topical for questions on the UK and...
Hot Topics for Paper 1 Micro in 2024
In this new 8-minute video, Geoff walks through a selection of important Economic issues that either haven't been tested fully in recent years or which are super-topical for questions on market...
In the News Teaching Activity – what’s been happening to public finances? (Apr 2024)
Continuing the ‘update’ before exams, the ONS data for government borrowing and debt for the 2023-24 fiscal year has been published and the news is not that good for a government that may be...
Food versus Land - the debate about Solar
The centrality of the fundamental economic problem - scarcity - is illustrated by this Reuters clip looking at increased competition for land in the American mid-West. Increasingly, high quality...
A Médecins Sans Frontières clinical trial to develop a treatment for drug-resistant tuberculosis cost less than £30m, leading some to question the cost of such trials for pharmaceutical companies -...
Venice introduces peak-time tourist tax for access to the city
Venice becomes first city to charge tourist entry fee. Day-trippers are now required to pay €5 for access. It's purpose is to internalise the negative externalities arising from over-tourism, which...
Economics Weekly Quiz | 26 April 2024
Here's our weekly economics news quiz covering stories from the UK and global economic events of the passed 7 days.
The national museums in Wales have a significant shortfall in funding and may have to shed workers or, in the worst-case scenario, shut altogether.
How robots are taking over warehouse work
Here is an article that highlights innovation in retail, with the increased automation highlighting that capital and labour are substitutes in some senses, but also complements in others, in that...
Britain's Post-Brexit Trade Shifts Further Towards Services
Is Brexit accelerating the shift in UK trade towards services rather than goods? New data published by the ONS on UK trade shows that UK export growth has become increasingly dominated by services...
Surge in Chinese FDI into the Mexican Economy
This BBC article looks at the rapid growth of Chinese FDI into Mexico which - in part - is being driven by Chinese manufacturing firms wanting to by-pass US import tariffs and trade sanctions. It...
In the News Teaching Activity – what does the latest data tell us about the state of the UK macroeconomy? (Apr 2024)
For students heading into exams, it is always good to know the latest information about growth, unemployment and inflation. All three indicators were updated by the ONS last week.
New social science blog is launched - welcome to Pragmat!
Warmest congratulations to the student team at Pragmat for a successful launch. I've always encouraged students to build and curate their own narrative and Pragmat seems set fair for great things...