Economics Weekly Quiz - 16 July 2021
Here's our last economics news quiz of this extraordinary academic year! Which company has become the UK's most valuable tech firm? What was the inflation rate in June? What has the BoE become...
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.
This superb video from the FT looks at how the clean energy revolution is changing the landscape of the north-east coastal town of Blyth.
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.
In his latest blog post, Paul Ormerod argues that successful levelling up will require both experimentation and risks to be taken with public funds.
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.
ECO - Free Magazine from the Economics Observatory
The opening edition of ECO - a magazine published and made freely available by @EconObservatory is a terrific read.
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...
Contestable markets - why is digital so disruptive?
In the 2021 Royal Economic Society Annual Public Lecture, Professor Diane Coyle explores some of the "winner takes all characteristics" of many of the superstar digital businesses.
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.
Economies of scale, the role of research and increasing capital intensity of production are key features of this short video which pays a visit to the Navigator paper company in Portugal.
Will China continue to become the centre of the world economy? Or will the global economy fragment into a regionalised rather than a unified global system?
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.