The Gig Economy: Navigating the New World of Work

In recent years, the traditional landscape of the world of work has shifted drastically owing to the rise of The Gig Economies. In the United States, a Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report in 2020 indicated that about 34% of the U.S. workforce participated in gig work in some capacity. Globally, a McKinsey report estimated that around 20-30% of the working-age population in the U.S. … Continue reading The Gig Economy: Navigating the New World of Work

Does the UK have a productivity problem?

The economist Paul Krugman said ‘A country’s ability to improve its standard of living over time depends almost entirely on its ability to raise its output per worker.” Since 2011 the UK’s productivity has  grown on average 0.6% per annum, whilst in the decade after 1997 it was growing at about 2% per annum. This is shown in the graph below. One of the reasons … Continue reading Does the UK have a productivity problem?

Friedman’s Negative Income Tax 

A modern welfare state typically provides both contributory and means-tested benefits. Contributory benefits are those which depend on individual levels of contribution to a social insurance programme. This is the principle behind Medicare and unemployment insurance in the US, or National Insurance and state pensions in the UK. Means-tested benefits, on the other hand, are only offered to those who meet specific income criteria.  Historically, … Continue reading Friedman’s Negative Income Tax 

Could the EU Collapse?

The European Union, since its creation in 1993, has always had to maintain a delicate balance between its control and the autonomy of its member states, to both uphold its rules and to allow a country’s culture and society to remain. Yet, it has so far delivered many benefits economically to its members states. However, with Brexit and the rise of right-wing, Eurosceptic parties across … Continue reading Could the EU Collapse?

Authoritarian Economics

An authoritarian government is one which favours obedience to authority over personal freedoms, political pluralism and democracy. Often, this involves the use of strong central power to maintain the political status quo, without meaningful checks and balances. Such regimes are often notorious for economic mismanagement, as they prioritise the interests of the ruling class over that of the general public. Yet while this has often … Continue reading Authoritarian Economics

The legalisation of Sports Betting, for better or worse?

In recent years, the landscape of sports has witnessed a significant shift with the widespread legalisation of sports betting in various regions including Brazil, Italy and Canada. Of course, this shift has come with problems, but the legalisation of sports betting has been able to fund public initiatives and stimulate economic activity throughout the globe. This article aims to cover the positive outcomes of legalised … Continue reading The legalisation of Sports Betting, for better or worse?

Can we solely rely on printed money?

Taxation is the most significant way in which a government receives its income. Last year, the UK government raised around £1,017 billion in tax revenue, accounting for approximately 40% of GDP. A similar trend is seen within governments worldwide, with tax revenue being the primary source of government income. Governments tend to rely so heavily on tax revenue, but it is necessary to consider other … Continue reading Can we solely rely on printed money?

AI and the Workforce

Imagine a world where robots and smart computers work alongside humans, changing the way we do our jobs. Well, that world may come sooner than we think with the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI). Ever since its invention in the 1950s, AI has been getting smarter and more common in our lives, to the point where it can now interact with humans, such as … Continue reading AI and the Workforce

Why is Saudi Arabia pouring billions into Sports?

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has made waves in the sporting world, signing numerous football superstars like Ronaldo and Neymar while also hosting golf icons on the LIV golf tour. The substantial salaries offered make these deals hard to resist. But what motivates these significant investments? Saudi Arabia’s influence on sport has sparked global controversy, with many claiming that all of this will ‘calm down … Continue reading Why is Saudi Arabia pouring billions into Sports?

The Trumps Strike Back, but why?

Populism – the ideology which divides most of an electorate against some ‘other’ elite – is primarily caused by economic marginalisation (the denial of an equal opportunity to participate in a domestic economy).  To justify this, I will explain how pertinentmacroeconomic trends throughout the turn of the millennium have exacerbated this issue.  Additionally, I will examine a panoply of additional theses for the rise of populism, and demonstrate why, although valid, they are not as pivotal as economic marginalisation in this regard. The best evidence … Continue reading The Trumps Strike Back, but why?