Category: US

International, US

How can governments make economic sanctions more effective?

Less than five years after sanctions were lifted from Myanmar, army generals conducted a violent coup that shattered democracy in the region.  World leaders were shocked at this sudden turn of events and reinstated sanctions, which immediately received accusations of only being symbolic.  This has recently become a common criticism against sanctions: according to the Peterson Institute for International Economics, only 34% of sanctions are partially successful, … Continue reading How can governments make economic sanctions more effective?

Unknown's avatarSean TanLeave a comment
International, US

The future of the Penny

In a decimalised economy like the UK, one pence coins are often regarded as useless, and rarely spent on goods. Instead, they are given as change for products. In the 1950s, these pennies were important on a daily basis, providing the means for transactions such as buying milk and eggs, which roughly cost 3p and 8p respectively. This utility has been lost today due to … Continue reading The future of the Penny

Unknown's avatarAlliaume Chouteau1 Comment
International, US

Chaebols of South Korea

South Korea’s economy has a highly developed mixed economy. By nominal GDP, the country has the 4th largest economy in Asia and the 10th largest globally. However, there is something special about the South Korean economy that distinguishes it from others: it is dominated by chaebols. Understanding these chaebols is a necessity for anyone who aims to understand South Korean capitalism and society.  The word … Continue reading Chaebols of South Korea

Unknown's avatarAmeya PatkarLeave a comment
International, US

Marijuana: an economic high?

Weed? Pot? Ganja? These are familiar terms for some people, but less well known is the fact that marijuana sales account for more than $120 billion each year in tax revenue and create 1.6 million new jobs in the US alone. The legalisation of cannabis would see it officially become America’s largest cash crop and many people seem to be rooting for it, with only … Continue reading Marijuana: an economic high?

Unknown's avatarEtonomicsLeave a comment
International, US

Colombia’s Cocaine War: the industry that pays

Colombians earn more from the drug trade than any other nationality in the western hemisphere. Since 2000, the United States has devoted part of its $11.6 billion in Colombian aid to eradication programs in an attempt to reduce the amount of processed cocaine reaching US shores. Despite this, cocaine has been getting cheaper in the United States, coca fields keep expanding, violence continues to worsen, … Continue reading Colombia’s Cocaine War: the industry that pays

Unknown's avatarCharlie RolloLeave a comment
International, US

Does Free Trade Cause Unemployment?

The relationship between international free trade and employment has long been controversial.  Some economists argue free trade affects efficiency but has no effect on total employment in the medium and long term, whilst others argue that there are increased job opportunities due to a rise in exports.  There are several reasons why a country would want to participate in foreign trade. Most obviously, one may … Continue reading Does Free Trade Cause Unemployment?

Unknown's avatarEtonomics1 Comment
Finance and Markets, US

The US National Debt Crisis 

The U.S. national debt has amounted to $29 trillion by running annual deficits, with the last surplus being 20 years ago in 2001. Reacting to the Covid-19 pandemic that has gripped the globe, the U.S. government has accelerated the buildup of debt in an effort to keep households and firms afloat. Shortly after the pandemic outbreak (November 2019), the Trump administration issued an emergency stimulus … Continue reading The US National Debt Crisis 

Unknown's avatarTorsai KiernanLeave a comment
International, US

The Regulations in NYC’s Taxi Market

In 1937, New York City introduced the taxi medallion. Taxi industries in cities have long been closely regulated, as people fear that without official standards, taxi drivers would either face unreasonable job insecurity, or taxi companies would be able to act as price discriminating monopolists, thereby reducing consumer welfare derived from taxis to zero. The taxi medallion is a licence to operate in New York … Continue reading The Regulations in NYC’s Taxi Market

Unknown's avatarEtonomicsLeave a comment
WW2 bombers in sky
Economics, US

Bust to Boom: How the American economy thrived during WWII

The USS Gerald R Ford, the USA’s latest aircraft carrier, took more than eight years to build. In contrast, by 1945, the US Navy finished the production of an aircraft carrier every week. The US was the only allied country to emerge from the war with its economy not only intact but thriving, and the only economy which saw an expansion of consumer goods despite … Continue reading Bust to Boom: How the American economy thrived during WWII

Unknown's avatarPhilip WeaverLeave a comment
Finance and Markets, US

The Fed vs. Santa

In the run-up to last year’s festive period, many stock investors were eagerly anticipating their annual gift from Father Christmas – the Santa Claus rally.  This refers to a seasonal upwards trend in the US stock market during the last five trading days in December and the first two in January.  According to the Stock Trader’s Almanac, the S&P 500 historically tends to rise by an … Continue reading The Fed vs. Santa

Unknown's avatarMarco Bulat1 Comment