George Osborne: has he reached his own targets?
There will be many assessments of the economic record of the Coalition government in the run up to the 2015 election. Not many people read the Independent (it has a daily circulation of under...
Corruption in Nigeria
This news report from Channel 4 news (broadcast in March 2015) focuses on the scale of corruption in Nigeria. Claims of massive corruption loom over Nigeria's 2015 general election, with the...
2015 IMF review of the Indian economy
A useful primer on the IMF view of prospects for the Indian economy. The Indian economy has bottomed out and is on a revival path, with growth strengthening, helped by positive policy actions that...
GDP Bonds and Greek Debt
If smaller eurozone countries get into debt difficulties without a fiscal union, it is difficult for Europe to help. Could GDP-linked bonds be the answer in the long run to addressing a country's...
Infrastructure – Africa's sticking point?
The level of infrastructure spending in Africa remains well below the levels required to sustain rapid rates of economic growth. The annual level of capital spending on core infrastructure is...
Here's a short, engaging lesson starter looking at some of the economic differences of the regions in the UK. This resource looks at pay levels, regional output, regional productivity and...
John Van Reenen on Austerity
It is likely that there will be tax increases after the election - whoever wins, according to 'Austerity' by John Van Reenen in this new short video assessing the state of the UK economy ahead of...
Petrobras corruption scandal rocks Brazil
Corruption is a persistent and endemic problem in many countries but the Petrobas bribery and kickback scandal in Brazil is a great one to use when looking for contextual examples of the impact of...
Launch of the Apple Watch
The long awaited announcement of the launch of the Apple Watch came on March 9th. In a classic and pertinent example of price anchoring, the prices for the watch will begin at $349, with a 18-carat...
Can we escape the grip of secular stagnation?
Are we doomed to secular stagnation, to permanently low rates of economic growth? The debate was sparked off nearly a decade before the financial crisis by the top American economist Robert Gordon....
Arthur Lewis and Development Economics
On the centenary of Arthur Lewis's birth, LSE Deputy Director and Provost Professor Stuart Corbridge discusses the Nobel laureate's contribution to development economics at LSE and the world at large
China's growth target for 2015 is shaved to 7%
The Chinese government has shaved their real GDP growth target for 2015 to 7% as a gathering slowdown in economic growth becomes more apparent by the day. Corruption, deep social concerns about...
The Invisible Hand of the Ticket Tout
How much would you pay to hear your favourite band play live, to watch your team play at Wembley, or to see Benedict Cumberbatch play Hamlet at the Barbican Theatre? If you couldn't get tickets...
Immigration and the UK Labour Market
New analysis shows that there is no evidence of a negative impact of immigration on jobs, wages, housing or the crowding out of public services. The research is summarised in a new report from the...
CMA targets pay day lenders and comparison websites
A neighbour recently asked me (starting his question with the dreaded phrase "You're an economist…") what was all this fuss about payday lenders? Surely they are providing a valuable service to...
Popular culture is the driving force of inequality
The Oscars have come and gone for another year. Winning an Oscar is very often the basis for either making a fortune, or turning an existing one into mega riches. Jack Nicholson has an estimated...
Practice Data Response Unemployment and Inflation
Suggested answers to a practice data response question on unemployment and inflation (AS Macro)
Election 2015- Economic data and Joyflation
There is a very useful article written by Douglas Fraser of BBC Scotland on the key economic issues pertinent to the next election.
Social costs and Tesco’s retreat
Deaths from air pollution
This World Bank report cites evidence that several million people each year might be dying from illnesses directly related to air pollution.