Economics Weekly Quiz w/e 17 January 2020
Here's this week's economics news quiz. Good luck!
What Happens When Economics Doesn’t Reflect the Real World?
A superb short talk on real competition and markets and the actual behaviour of agents.
Does a higher minimum wage necessarily cost jobs?
This is a topical debate in the UK following ion from the 6 per cent hike in the legal pay floor due to take effect this spring.
Responsible capitalism: Greggs has been doing it for decades
This FT article glows about the commitment to social impact by a leading poster child for entrepreneurship in the North East - Greggs
Economics Weekly Quiz w/e 10 January 2020
Happy New Year! Here's the decade's first economics news quiz. Good luck!
Finance & Financial Crises (Ha-Joon Chang)
In this lecture in INET’s “Economics For People” series, Ha-Joon Chang explains finance and financial crises.
Unintended consequences: Does a plastic ban harm the environment?
One for the file marked Law of Unintended Consequences: this BBC article highlights that banning all forms of plastic packaging could see firms opting for higher carbon alternatives.
Why Are Some Countries Rich and Others Poor? (Ha-Joon Chang)
In this lecture in INET’s “Economics For People” series, Ha-Joon Chang looks at international inequality.
Calling all employers! What was in your Christmas stocking? Did you find the latest gadget designed to enhance productivity?
What Is Wrong With Globalisation? (Ha Joon Chang)
In this lecture in INET’s new “Economics For People” series, Professor Ha-Joon Chang from the University of Cambridge explains the backlash to globalisation.
The changing nature of the UK's electricity generating capacity is highlighted in this Guardian article, with the rise of renewables quantified.
Who has really benefited from Liberia's miracle oil?
This is a fantastic Guardian exploration of the impact of palm oil on the Liberian economy, and those that produce it. It highlights the 'promise' of higher incomes for Liberian farmers and the...
US imposes ban on flavoured e-cigarettes
A good example here of how a ban can impact on demand for a product but also lead to some possible unintended consequences.
Rail fares by 2.7% - fair for rail users?
The annual raise in rail fares, as people return to work, is always a prompt for plenty of navel gazing regarding the state of the railways and whether or not the rise is 'fair'.
Price mechanism in action - tobacco farmers chasing a sweeter crop
This BBC article looks how Greek tobacco farmers have switched to the production of stevia, a zero calorie, sugar substitute (natural sweetener).
News here that Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries is going head-to-head with Amazon in the online retail sector, with the soft launch of JioMart.
Development Economics Success Stories from 2019
Students spend plenty of time dissecting and discussing development traps. Here is a glass-half full selection of positive development stories from 2019.
UK national living wage to rise by 6.2% in 2020
The UK National Living Wage (formerly known as the minimum wage) is set to rise by 6% in April 2020 following a recommendation from the Low Pay Commission.
CMA probes Amazon over plan to buy Deliveroo stake
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is still concerned about Amazon's proposed purchase of a stake in Deliveroo.
How the US-China trade war has changed the world
The BBC looks here at how the US-China trade war has changed the global trading environment, identifying three main themes - the end of multilateralism, across a range of issues; a splintering of...