Author: Etonomics

Development, Economics, Finance and Markets, Long Read

Emerging Markets: Is the Risk Worth the Reward?

When considering a country’s economy there are two types: emerging and developing. An emerging economy is characterised by transition in the economy of a nation from a pre-industrial, underdeveloped economic environment into an industrially competitive one which exhibits some, but not all, of the characteristics of a well-developed economy. The term ‘emerging market’ was first used by Antonie Van Agtmael of the International Finance corporation … Continue reading Emerging Markets: Is the Risk Worth the Reward?

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Behavioural, Economics

Nash’s Equilibrium and Dating

The Dating Game and Nash Equilibrium: Why Most Don’t Find the Perfect Match  Love, Logic, and the Inevitable Bad Match:  Dating, as simple as it sounds, should be for people to meet, like each other, and form a perfect match. Reality, however, is rather messy—it is governed by strategic decision making and inefficiencies similar to those found in ‘game theory’.  Dating at Eton is one-sided and … Continue reading Nash’s Equilibrium and Dating

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Americas, Development, Economics, Latin America, Politics

Cuba’s Currency Crisis

How a dual system distorted the economy  For decades, Cuban people lived with two different currencies in their pockets: the CUP (Cuban National Peso) and the CUC (Convertible Peso). However, it was not always this way. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the CUC was introduced in order to stabilise the economy—but at what cost? Whilst the implementation of the CUC helped stabilise the … Continue reading Cuba’s Currency Crisis

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Asia, Behavioural, China, Economics

The Economics of Chinese New Year

“The Economic Impact of Chinese New Year: Growth, Disruptions, and Opportunities”  The Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year, just took place. It is not only a time of cultural celebration but a period of great economic activity in China. The impact on its economy is huge, affecting tourism, retail, manufacturing and also transportation.  The Spring Festival is one of the most celebrated annual … Continue reading The Economics of Chinese New Year

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Development, Economics, Finance and Markets

The Paradox of Progress

The Paradox of Progress – Why Technological Advances Aren’t Boosting Wages  Introduction  Technological advances have always been the main driver of economic growth and prosperity; major historical events such as the Industrial Revolution (1760-1830), and –more recently – the rise of the internet have brought around higher productivity, and with that, higher wages. However, although events past the 1980’s (such as the rise of artificial … Continue reading The Paradox of Progress

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Finance and Markets, International

The Google Antitrust Cases

The contrasting antitrust challenges faced by Google in the EU and the US highlight the different regulatory approaches to addressing Google’s monopoly in the markets of online search and digital advertising, specifically in areas like search engine services, search text ads, and ad exchanges. In Europe, the company has encountered fines totalling billions, often linked to long-standing concerns over market abuse. However, the EU’s recent … Continue reading The Google Antitrust Cases

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Book Reviews

Book Review: The Deficit Myth

Stephanie Kelton’s The Deficit Myth: Modern Monetary Theory and How to Build a Better Economy (2020) is a provocative challenge to the macroeconomic paradigm of the past century that sees persistent elevated budget deficits as a failure of fiscal management. Kelton, a former economic advisor to progressive US Senator Bernie Sanders, argues that the political aversion to deficits is based on a fundamental failure to … Continue reading Book Review: The Deficit Myth

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Finance and Markets, International, UK

CBCDs and Digital Currency

Globally people are progressively shifting away from cash and adopting digital payments in their day to day life. In the last decade or so, the UK has seen a significant surge in mobile banking, contactless cards and fintech platforms such as Apple Pay and PayPal. However, the dependence on private businesses presents challenges of access as well as control. Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) are … Continue reading CBCDs and Digital Currency

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