Finance and Markets, Geography, International

The Bretton Woods System

The Bretton Woods System: a Blueprint for a Globalised Economy The Bretton Woods System was a set of international economic and financial agreements established in July 1944 during a conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA, towards the end of WW2. The agreements intended to establish a renewed framework for the global economy, stabilise the international monetary system, and prevent economic conflicts such as protectionism … Continue reading The Bretton Woods System

EtonomicsMay 14, 2025May 13, 2025Leave a comment

Americas, International, Politics

Trump’s Tariffs: Short Term Protection or Long Term Economic Risk?

Note: This article was written in March/April 2025, when the initial set of tariffs had been proposed. Trump’s Tariffs: Short-Term Protection or Long-Term Economic Risk? Introduction On November 5th, 2024, Donald Trump was re-elected as President of the United States, triggering wide-spread impacts for the global economy. Almost immediately, he resumed his previous trade war with China and launched new tariff-based confrontations on Canada and … Continue reading Trump’s Tariffs: Short Term Protection or Long Term Economic Risk?

EtonomicsMay 14, 2025May 13, 20253 Comments

Geography, International

Low Fertility and its Economic Consequences

What are the causes and consequences of low fertility rates in advanced economies? How can we combat them? Introduction In this article, the aim is to explain and find ways to combat the main causes of low fertility rates in advanced economies: the cost-of-living crisis, the declining rates of child mortality and the empowerment of women, which encompasses both their higher education and the increased … Continue reading Low Fertility and its Economic Consequences

EtonomicsMay 7, 2025May 6, 2025Leave a comment

Finance and Markets, International

The Google Antitrust Cases

The contrasting antitrust challenges faced by Google in the EU and the US highlight the different regulatory approaches to addressing Google’s monopoly in the markets of online search and digital advertising, specifically in areas like search engine services, search text ads, and ad exchanges. In Europe, the company has encountered fines totalling billions, often linked to long-standing concerns over market abuse. However, the EU’s recent … Continue reading The Google Antitrust Cases

EtonomicsMarch 22, 2025March 21, 2025Leave a comment

Development, Economics, International

When Growth Fails

“Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell” – Edward Abbey, The Second Rape of the West, 1975. In the above quote, Abbey refers to the shrinking wilderness of his beloved Arizona, industrialised by resource extraction and urban expansion. However, such a statement goes far beyond wilderness: when economic expansion is the common goal, it damages the very foundations that … Continue reading When Growth Fails

William ParsonsMarch 22, 2025March 23, 2025Leave a comment

International

Chickens

Why did the chicken cross the road? To avoid a tax—but instead, it got an entire truck tariff named after it. Picture a situation in which a dispute over fried chicken led to a trade conflict that ultimately influenced the choices of vehicles people drove. Doesn’t that sound ridiculous? Ahh, trade policy. The U.S. imposed a 25% tariff on import light trucks in the 1960s … Continue reading Chickens

EtonomicsMarch 22, 2025March 21, 2025Leave a comment

History, International

The GameStop Short Squeeze

In early 2021, the stock market experienced one of the most dramatic short squeezes in history, involving the video game retailer GameStop (GME). This event highlighted the power of retail investors, the risks of short selling, and the influence of social media on financial markets. The GameStop short squeeze became a major topic of discussion in the fields of economics and finance, challenging traditional market … Continue reading The GameStop Short Squeeze

EtonomicsMarch 13, 2025April 22, 2025Leave a comment

Development, Economics, International

The Economics of Higher Education

Higher education refers to learning at universities or similar institutions, typically leading to a degree. It has long been a key driver of economic growth, offering individuals higher wages and better job security due to their higher perceived worth. However, with tuition fees rising and student debt reaching record levels, concerns are growing about whether a degree is still worth the cost. In the United … Continue reading The Economics of Higher Education

EtonomicsMarch 13, 2025March 12, 2025Leave a comment

Finance and Markets, International, UK

CBCDs and Digital Currency

Globally people are progressively shifting away from cash and adopting digital payments in their day to day life. In the last decade or so, the UK has seen a significant surge in mobile banking, contactless cards and fintech platforms such as Apple Pay and PayPal. However, the dependence on private businesses presents challenges of access as well as control. Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) are … Continue reading CBCDs and Digital Currency

EtonomicsMarch 13, 2025March 12, 2025Leave a comment

Behavioural, Economics, International

AI Phishing

As the World Locked Down, AI Went Phishing The latest data from the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG), a global organisation dedicated to cybercrime prevention, shows that the number of newly discovered phishing sites jumped tenfold between 2020 and 2023, before dipping somewhat by mid-2024. Even so, the total remains much higher than before the spike. Phishing, in simple terms, is when online thieves pretend to … Continue reading AI Phishing

EtonomicsMarch 7, 20251 Comment