Category: International

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
WW2 bombers in sky
International

Why we’re Living in the Golden Age of Peace

War and violence. Topics that, until the pandemic, we seemed to have been hearing more and more about day by day. The Syrian Civil War drags on, the insane barbarity of ISIS continues, and the Israelis and Palestinians continue to slug it out. It seems that we’re living in an ever more vicious world. However, this is a distorted reality: the truth is that we … Continue reading Why we’re Living in the Golden Age of Peace

Unknown's avatarJakub Biszczanik1 Comment
CDO spelt from a one dollar bill
Finance and Markets, International, Podcast

CDOs: The genius idea that destroyed the World Economy

What are they? Collateralized debt obligations (CDO), initially created by the Drexel Burnham Lambert bank, are instruments which are formed by pooling together cash-generating assets such as mortgages, loans and other forms of debt. They are made up of various ‘tranches’ based on their respective level of credit risk. Supposedly, one diversifies their risk when buying a CDO as they have portions of high, medium … Continue reading CDOs: The genius idea that destroyed the World Economy

Unknown's avatarOllie WeldonLeave a comment
International

The Impact of COVID-19

The COVID-19 outbreak is having a severe impact on the global economy. China had its slowest year of economic growth last year off the back of the trade war with the United States. The timing of the virus could not have been worse, slowing China’s economy even further with their quarterly growth rate dropping to negative 6.8% from 6% in the previous quarter, seeing the … Continue reading The Impact of COVID-19

Unknown's avatarLeo KoutsabeloulisLeave a comment