Should HS2 Have Been Scrapped?
High Speed 2, aka HS2, was conceived in 2009 as plan to build a rail line between London and the North of England to reduce the North/South economic divide in the country. Construction was planned in phases with London to Birmingham being Phase 1, Birmingham to Crewe being phase 2a and Crewe to Manchester being phase 2b. Phase 1 was planned to open by 2026 … Continue reading Should HS2 Have Been Scrapped?
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?
To what extent are drafted sports leagues fair?
Sports leagues across the world are structured into several different forms, with one of the most notable being leagues with a draft. Predominantly found in the US, draft leagues involve the selection of up and coming university players by professional teams once a year. The team who finished last in the previous year is given the first pick from the player pool and thus end … Continue reading To what extent are drafted sports leagues fair?
News Briefing – 10/03/2024
UK Economics World Economics UK Politics World Politics Written by Edgar Brown, Keshav Hajarnavis and Shreyas Veturi Continue reading News Briefing – 10/03/2024
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
Gaming Economics: Fortnite
Fortnite, developed by Epic Games, has had a profound economic impact on the modern gaming industry, disrupting traditional revenue models and breaking many records. As the most popular ‘battle-royale’ game, which is a last person standing multiplayer competition, Fortnite has achieved immense success. In 2019, Epic Games generated $3.7 billion and $5.5 billion in 2022 despite the most popular platform only being released in September … Continue reading Gaming Economics: Fortnite
Gaming Economics: FIFA
“EA Sports… it’s in the game.” You may recognise that iconic line which is heard as you reload FIFA – perhaps after a frustrating rage quit from a difficult round of FUT Champs! Since its kickoff in 1993, FIFA has firmly established itself as a global sports gaming sensation. Whether you’re a devoted football fan, a casual player, or someone uninterested in the sport, you … Continue reading Gaming Economics: FIFA
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?
Are the Glazers finally going?
In November 2022 the Glazers finally announced the potential sale of Manchester United Football Club. A year later, has much changed? What is the issue? The Glazer family bought Manchester United Football Club in 2005 for £790m. The club is now valued at approximately £4.8bn, with the family having profited greatly by paying themselves dividends worth a whopping ~£20m per year from 2015-2022, the only … Continue reading Are the Glazers finally going?
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