In 1978 Dr Paul Krugman wrote a paper entitled The Theory of Interstellar Trade, supposedly to cheer himself up. Yet despite the self-described “silly” nature of the work, it contained serious analysis, and since being written has inspired several more works on the economic implications of interstellar travel. The chief issue that economists have grappled with is that of time dilation. In short, Einstein’s theory … Continue reading Interstellar Economics
Covid-19 has necessitated the reinvention of numerous sectors, with transport being particularly affected. No longer can millions of office workers and students crowd onto trains and buses for their commute, as social distancing rules mandate limited capacity. Instead, the UK is being encouraged to pursue active travel, with numerous schemes aimed at incentivising people to start cycling. The highway code is being updated, new cycle … Continue reading Pedal for Growth: Cycling and the Economy
Ever since the dawn of mankind, pandemics have been a threat to our survival. From the Justinian Plague to the Polio epidemic, one only has to look back through history to see examples of devastating diseases ravaging populations. Now, in the 21st century we face another pandemic: Covid-19 has killed thousands and disrupted the lives of billions more, and there is extreme uncertainty about the … Continue reading Can Past Pandemics Predict the Future?
All over the world, schools have closed down as part of strict lockdown measures designed to slow the spread of Covid-19. According to UNESCO, over 90% of the world’s pupils have been affected by these closures. Yet for such drastic action, the supporting evidence is at best dubious. Studies have shown that school closures will do little to halt the spread, with UCL calling it … Continue reading Lost Potential: School closures’ devastating effects
For a country to sustain its population the fertility rate must be at least 2.1. That is to say, each female member of the population must have on average 2.1 children. Today the European Union’s rate sits at only 1.6, with the highest fertility rate being in France at 1.9. Together with rising life expectancy, these statistics help explain Europe’s most pressing issue: an ageing … Continue reading Is it Too Late for Europe to Solve its Population Problem?
When most people think of space, they picture an inaccessible vastness that stretches further than they can fully comprehend. They think of Neil Armstrong, the International Space Station and NASA; or Soyuz and Yuri Gagarin. What could unite our perception of space though, is that it is primarily the domain of nation states, not individuals or companies. That may be about to change. In the … Continue reading Space Tourism: Ready for Lift-off?
We are frequently subjected to news detailing the awful consequences of climate change if we don’t prevent it, from cities flooded by melting ice to animal species becoming extinct. Yet it is very rare to see anything about how much flooded cities would damage the economy, and it is even rarer to hear about how much climate change is costing us already. Aside from the … Continue reading The Cost of Climate Change
etonomics.com 