Category: International

Development, Finance and Markets, International, Podcast

Sovereign Wealth Funds: Asset or Liability?

A Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) is a fund managed by the state and comprised of income generated from the government’s surplus reserves. SWFs have been an important aspect of the economic landscape for almost two decades, and their numbers have increased dramatically since the 2008 Financial Crisis, with over 100 funds controlling nearly $8 trillion in assets globally. Many Sovereign Wealth Funds have enjoyed great … Continue reading Sovereign Wealth Funds: Asset or Liability?

Unknown's avatarSachin ThakrarLeave a comment
Bitcoin symbol
Business and Technology, International

Can Blockchain Technology and Cryptocurrencies save the Internet of Things?

The world of technology and science is mutable and ever-changing. Therefore, businesses and the structure of society adapt to these developments in order to maximise profits: they are closely interconnected. The future of the internet is the Internet of Things (IoT), which is defined as “the interconnection via the internet of computing devices embedded in everyday objects, enabling them to send and receive data.” For … Continue reading Can Blockchain Technology and Cryptocurrencies save the Internet of Things?

Unknown's avatarNoah DornLeave a comment
Collection of factory chimneys puffing out smoke
Environment, International

Warming Worries for Our Economy?

We’ve all seen the countless articles in the news over the past year: ‘2020 tied for warmest year on record,’ NASA; ‘Earth at risk of becoming a hothouse’, CNN; ‘Rising seas will erase more cities by 2050’, The New York Times. Rising temperatures have had grave effects on our planet; but what has this meant for the world economy and how could this impact our … Continue reading Warming Worries for Our Economy?

Unknown's avatarWilliam SteelLeave a comment
Oils rigs
Environment, International

Can We Survive Without Fossil Fuels?

The influential scientist and environmentalist James Lovelock provides a frightening view on the future of humanity: the Gaia hypothesis. It suggests that organisms interact in such a way so as to create a self-regulating environment. When an organism is in over-reproduction, the environment reacts by limiting its population. Lovelock insists that humans are no different. As our carbon footprint increases, the earth reacts with climate … Continue reading Can We Survive Without Fossil Fuels?

Unknown's avatarAlexis FairLeave a comment
Wooden blocks spelling the word debt
International

Good Debt or Bad Debt?

No one seeks to take on debt, or do they? The UK Financial Conduct Authority is urging 12m British borrowers to seek help from their local banks. However, contrary to the widely-held belief that debt is a last resort, it is a necessary liability for the majority of our population. From student loans to mortgages, debt is everywhere.  Loans give you control and, when used … Continue reading Good Debt or Bad Debt?

Unknown's avatarAlexis FairLeave a comment
Man with Umbrella outside International Monetary Fund Building
International

IMF’s Identity

The 1940s saw a changing world, one haunted by the spectre of the Great Depression, one ravaged by the ongoing World War, and one marked by a lack of economic consensus or structure. The solution to these problems which 44 nations agreed on was the 1944 Bretton Woods Agreement, a multilateral attempt to establish economic rules for the new world. The agreement was created with … Continue reading IMF’s Identity

Unknown's avatarJohn ChangLeave a comment
Economics, Environment, International

Natural Resources: The Never-Ending Supply

It is not because natural resources are finite that humanity will ever run out. Reverend Thomas Malthus’ warning in the latter parts of the 18th century on our planet’s inability to produce enough food to feed an ever-growing population has never materialised into a genuine concern. Nor has the US Bureau of Mines’ 1914 prediction that “The world will run out of oil in 10 … Continue reading Natural Resources: The Never-Ending Supply

Unknown's avatarJeremy Toussaint1 Comment
Present under tree
International

Cash for Christmas? The economics of gift-giving

It’s December. You are frantically searching the aisles for those last-minute Christmas gifts. You don’t quite know what to get anyone, so you buy a few scented candles and some fluffy toys for the kids and call it a day. Will they fully appreciate your gifts? Statistically, probably not. According to a 1993 paper by economist Joel Waldfogel, a recipient generally values their gift 10-30% … Continue reading Cash for Christmas? The economics of gift-giving

Unknown's avatarJoseph Menell1 Comment
International, Interviews

An interview with Elliot Harris: UN Chief Economist

Elliot Harris is particularly notable for his studies on the African Continent, but is also more generally a very successful economist from who we all have a lot to learn as he presented his opinions on a number of issues facing the world today. What role do you think international institutions should be playing in guiding foreign and domestic policy, especially as the 21st century … Continue reading An interview with Elliot Harris: UN Chief Economist

Unknown's avatarMaxwell DeLorenzoLeave a comment