Category: Business and Technology

Americas, Business and Technology, Latin America

Havaianas: A Symbol of Brazilian National Identity

Havaianas is a Brazilian flip-flop brand, owned by Alpargatas S.A. – a Brazilian textiles manufacturer. As most people will know, Havaianas manufacture the world’s most popular rubber soled sandal, which has been worn from sandy beaches to fashion show runways. What is particularly fascinating about Havaianas is the extent to which it embodies Brazilian national identity and a more carefree way of life that is … Continue reading Havaianas: A Symbol of Brazilian National Identity

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Americas, Business and Technology, Latin America

Peru’s Invisible Workforce

Across the streets of Lima, informal vendors, unregistered taxi drivers and cash-based micro-businesses form a familiar part of everyday life. Their presence illustrates a wider pattern: 68-72% of Peru’s labour force operates outside the formal economy. The informal economy can be defined as a set of economic activities carried out by workers and productive units that do not comply with the regulations established by the … Continue reading Peru’s Invisible Workforce

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Business and Technology, Development, Economics

AI and the Labour Force

When the steam engine transformed industry in the 19th century, economists redefined how they measured growth and economic productivity. Today, two centuries later, artificial intelligence poses a similar challenge, except now the developments and changes come from AI algorithms and not machinery or infrastructure. The world of AI automation is growing rapidly and is enabling people to fully automate tasks that were once performed by humans. … Continue reading AI and the Labour Force

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Asia, Business and Technology

Op-Ed: Rebalancing the Lion: The Reforms Temasek Needs

(After the article was written, the fund mentioned (Temasek) made the reform Sean directly suggested) Introduction  With omnipresent skyscrapers and dazzling city lights, Singapore has long been synonymous with financial excellence. A cornerstone of this success has been Temasek, the state-owned multinational investment firm that has deftly managed a significant portion of the government’s reserves for the past half-century. As of 2024, it boasts a net … Continue reading Op-Ed: Rebalancing the Lion: The Reforms Temasek Needs

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Business and Technology, Europe, UK

The Economics of Concorde

Concorde. It dominated the skies for over a quarter of a century, and was the first, and for now, only, commercial supersonic jet. But in late 2003, still a technological marvel, Concorde left the sky for one last time. Even today, Concorde is put alongside the Apollo missions as one of the most technologically advanced projects this world has ever seen. Yet, despite halving the … Continue reading The Economics of Concorde

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Business and Technology

The Economics of Subscriptions

You may not realise how many things you are subscribed to. There’s Netflix, Amazon, Spotify, iCloud, your mobile data plan, and that is just the beginning. Nowadays, many companies are shifting to subscription plans as payment. But why? There are many psychological hooks deeply rooted in these monthly commitments, but people also find them extremely convenient. Are we getting our money’s worth, or are we paying more than we should without noticing?   Subscriptions are more … Continue reading The Economics of Subscriptions

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Business and Technology, Finance and Markets, History, US

Trump and Bitcoin

Trump and Bitcoin: How his policies and influence shape the Crypto market  INTRODUCTION:  Bitcoin is a popular cryptocurrency created in 2008 by Satoshi Nakamoto (whose actual identity remains unknown). It is the first decentralised cryptocurrency, based on a free-market ideology. Put simply, when you buy Bitcoin, the transaction is noted in the blockchain, which is a digital ledger that ensures transparency and verification of transactions. … Continue reading Trump and Bitcoin

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Asia, Business and Technology, China, International, Politics

The TSMC and a Chinese Invasion of Taiwan

Chinese military action against Taiwan seems to grow increasingly likely by the day; the US intelligence community’s latest estimate believes a potential invasion of Taiwan could occur as early as 2027. The implications of military action in Taiwan would be devastating to US national output, because Taiwan houses much of the manufacturing capacity of a company that is key to the US economy: Taiwan Semiconductor … Continue reading The TSMC and a Chinese Invasion of Taiwan

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Business and Technology, International, Middle East and Africa, Sport

LIV Golf

The world of professional golf has witnessed a seismic shift in recent years, marked by the emergence of LIV Golf—a breakaway professional golf league funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). Initially called the ‘Premier Golf League’ in 2021, the name was later changed to LIV, 54 in Roman Numerals, signifying the number of holes played at each tournament: a shorter, seemingly easier to … Continue reading LIV Golf

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Business and Technology, Sport

The Economics of Sport

Sports. We all love them – whether we are watching them, playing them or shouting at the TV like we can do any better. While most of us focus on the action itself, we often ignore the huge economic impact it has on the world. Obviously, the players are well compensated, with the ten highest-paid athletes in 2024 raking in a cumulative 1.38 billion USD. … Continue reading The Economics of Sport

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