Great Expectations and India’s Economy

In 1979, Deng Xiaoping announced China’s intention to “open up” to the world’s economy. It has been a pariah state to the west since its Communist revolution in 1949, and its later “Cultural Revolution”. The reforms, which involved opening Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in harbour areas like Shenzhen, dividing up collectivised farmland and allowing private businesses to operate, saw China’s GDP grow by over 9% … Continue reading Great Expectations and India’s Economy

The Economics of Procrastination

The Economics of Procrastination: Why You’ll Always Do Your Work at the Last Possible Second  You tell yourself you’ll write your essay tomorrow. But then it’s 4am, and suddenly you’re staring at a blank page. Procrastination isn’t just a poor decision, it makes no economic sense. Behavioural economics suggests we consistently prioritise the present over the uncertain rewards of the future. It encourages individuals to … Continue reading The Economics of Procrastination

JKP Entry: Can Austerity 2.0 Bring Back Growth?

Can Austerity 2.0 Bring Back Growth and Prosperity to the UK Economy? Introduction In October 2024, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a £40 billion tax increase, the largest since 1993, aiming to address the UK’s budget deficit and tackle the £22 billion ‘black hole’ from the Tories. Austerity refers to the policies aiming to reduce government deficits via spending cuts or tax hikes. Despite the Labour … Continue reading JKP Entry: Can Austerity 2.0 Bring Back Growth?

Technological decoupling

For most of the last hundred years, globalisation felt inevitable — driven by technology that appeared to bring the world closer together. With the onset of the internet, supply chains became more complex and tightly interwoven, even between countries that wouldn’t traditionally see eye to eye, something that was seldom achieved by precursory trade systems. But lately, that momentum has started to shift. A growing … Continue reading Technological decoupling

Lifting the German Debt Brake

Germany has a unique constitution. It was born from the ashes of the Second World War and is one of the only countries legally limiting government borrowing as a percentage of its Gross Domestic Product (the value of all the goods and services produced in a country in a year). Governments around the world spend a considerable amount of money every year on everything from health services … Continue reading Lifting the German Debt Brake

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?

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

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

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

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