Blood Diamonds: The Brutality behind the Bling
Blood diamonds have in total caused 3 million deaths. The average blood diamond worker receives 5p per day. Statistics such as these, highlight the true socio-economic problems such as inequality and poverty that blood diamonds cause. Blood diamonds became a big issue in the 1990’s, when civil wars broke out all over Central and Western Africa, encouraging some of the governments and rebels within these … Continue reading Blood Diamonds: The Brutality behind the Bling
Education is the Remedy to UK Inequality
The 2017 Grenfell Tower Fire, which claimed 72 lives, served as a wake-up call to the inequalities in rich countries. Inequality, which is the variance in levels of wealth within a population, is globally measured using the Lorenz Curve. Figure 1: Lorenz curve for the UK (2018/19) In figure 1, the 45 degree line (red) represents perfect equality, and the more a Lorenz curve sags … Continue reading Education is the Remedy to UK Inequality
Should We Tax Wealth or Income?
Wealth and income inequality have become focal points of social and political contention and are often conflated together by politicians. However, the two must be addressed separately. Wealth is the value of an individual’s assets and is often difficult to assess, monitor, and tax. Income includes various streams of revenue that a household or person earns, and drives well being and standards of living. But … Continue reading Should We Tax Wealth or Income?
Calm Before the Storm: Falling House Prices in the UK
House Prices are Falling The UK’s current housing market might shock much of the British population, as high interest rates have led to house prices being down 3% nominally and 11% accounting for inflation since their peak in August 2022. (Bloomberg UK, 2023) However, this surprise is understandable as UK house prices have been a one-way bet for a long time, consistently rising since 2012, … Continue reading Calm Before the Storm: Falling House Prices in the UK
Chinese Economic Growth, Against All Odds
Today, China is an economic powerhouse with the second highest nominal GDP (after the USA) and the highest GDP PPP (when GDP is adjusted for prices in a country) in the world. Yet just over 40 years ago, in 1981, it had a nominal GDP lower than that of Canada, a country that had a population 40 times smaller than it. The nominal GDP per … Continue reading Chinese Economic Growth, Against All Odds
News Briefing – 12/06/2023
UK Economics and Business World Economics and Business UK Politics World Politics Written by Angus McIntyre and Nico Sesson Farre Continue reading News Briefing – 12/06/2023
Stresemann and the Dawes Plan
The years following the Great War saw Germany in economic and political which peaked by 1923. The country was plunged into a period of hyperinflation and high unemployment, while the government struggled to maintain order and stability. However, through the policies of Chancellor Gustav Stresemann, the economy was rejuvenated, bringing about the ‘Golden Age’ of prosperity in Germany. Stresemann’s most influential policy, the Dawes Plan, … Continue reading Stresemann and the Dawes Plan
Trickle Down Economics
“An economic recovery, like a rising tide, will lift all boats. For many, maybe even most, it will lift by painful inches. Some boats, however, may be lifted faster and higher.” So spoke President Ronald Reagan during his 1982 State of the Union address. He promised growth for all, stimulated by tax cuts for the top earning bracket, allowing for money to “trickle” down socio-economic levels … Continue reading Trickle Down Economics
The Impact of AI in Our Society
In recent times, Artificial Intelligence has become more prominent in our everyday lives. With the emergence of AI chatbots such as ChatGPT, which are able to answer questions and assist with tasks such as writing essays, our everyday lives have become much easier and more efficient. While AI has the potential to bring about numerous positive changes in society, it can also bring about risks … Continue reading The Impact of AI in Our Society
South Korea – Miracle on the Han River
The Korea of the early 20th century is unrecognisable compared to the South Korea we know today. During the first half of the 1900s the Korean economy was underdeveloped, lacking proper infrastructure, had limited industry, and was still an economy that was largely dependent on agriculture. The majority of the population was involved in farming, but they generally used outdated equipment resulting in low farming … Continue reading South Korea – Miracle on the Han River
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