Taxing the Ultra Rich

We’ve all heard of taxing the ultra-rich as the key to solving fiscal deficits around the world. Whether it be Bill Gates claiming that he should pay “significantly higher” taxes, or Warren Buffet advising that the government should “get serious about shared sacrifice”, taxing the ultra-rich at significantly higher rates has been debated throughout the last decade. But is it really the panacea for deficits … Continue reading Taxing the Ultra Rich

Capitalism and Social Welfare in Nordic Countries

As many advanced economies are struggling to balance changing demographic demand, inequality and free market capitalism, the Nordic countries – Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden – are often held out as examples of successfully balancing capitalism and the social welfare needs of their societies. This is often attributed to “The Nordic Model” – a system which combines free market capitalism with strong social welfare, … Continue reading Capitalism and Social Welfare in Nordic Countries

Testing for Convergence in HICs

Economic growth, most often measured by the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate, is the engine that propels nations from poverty to prosperity. It is the driving force behind rising living standards, the creation of new opportunities, and the expansion of human potential. Yet, the question remains as to how this varies between nations. Will the long-standing economic giants always be ahead or will less … Continue reading Testing for Convergence in HICs

Keynes in the Comments Section: Why Everyone Became Economists

A Century ago, economic discussion was limited to the confines of lecture halls and academic journals. Certainly, one would have been hard pressed to find a member of the public who could engage in some degree of literacy with you on the economic state of the country. Today, there has been a shift where these debates occur in real time across social media platforms, dinner … Continue reading Keynes in the Comments Section: Why Everyone Became Economists

Trumponomics

Since Donald Trump’s return to the presidency in January 2025, “Trumponomics” has redefined U.S. economic policy through a lens of protectionism and economic nationalism. Central to this strategy are aggressive tariffs, including a universal 10% tariff on all imports, effective April 5, 2025, and targeted rates as high as 245% on Chinese goods. By May 2025, these measures have catalysed a seismic shift in global … Continue reading Trumponomics

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