Shaking the money tree: a Universal Basic Income?
Having featured in several high-profile trials across the world over the last few years, what is a universal basic income and could we ever see its implementation? Continue reading Shaking the money tree: a Universal Basic Income?
If the cap fits, should we wear it?
With wage bills in the English Premier League beginning to spiral out of control, there has been lots of talk as to whether a team-based salary cap should be implemented to regulate the inflation. This discussion was prompted by the revelation that teams such as Crystal Palace and AFC Bournemouth are spending 78% and 76% of their annual revenues respectively on their wage bills in … Continue reading If the cap fits, should we wear it?
Modern Monetary Theory: Miracle Solution or Recipe for Disaster
Modern Monetary Theory, or MMT, is a growing macroeconomic theory amongst members of the Democratic Party in the USA, such as Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. As MMT begins to rear its head in other nation’s political discussion, it is important to understand whether it is truly a miracle solution or an ideological fantasy. Despite the name, MMT rejects the common consensus that interest rates should … Continue reading Modern Monetary Theory: Miracle Solution or Recipe for Disaster
The Future of Work
About six years ago a study from Oxford University made the startling prediction of how in the next fifteen to twenty years 47% of US jobs are at risk of automation. With only nine to fourteen years left, will half of society’s jobs be stolen by AI? Or rather, is this just a product of our larger fear that “the robots are coming for us … Continue reading The Future of Work
Bringing it Home: The Rise of Onshoring
Moving manufacturing jobs out of the US in search of lower labour costs dates back to the 1960s when several firms extended operations abroad to Mexico and China. Despite the increase in transport and shipping costs this caused, labour costs were reduced by up to 50% – thus supporting the case to offshore labour. The years to come would see further technological improvements in the transport elements of the supply chain … Continue reading Bringing it Home: The Rise of Onshoring
The Cobra Effect: When it all goes wrong
Incentive schemes can solve difficult problems – or fail spectacularly. Continue reading The Cobra Effect: When it all goes wrong
Nudges: Will they work forever?
As has been well-documented in academic research, people are by no means rational. In their book ‘Nudges’, Thaler and Sunstein famously describe two types of thinking: system 1 and system 2. The former is a more automatic method involving quick judgement calls which are more prone to irrationality, while the latter is much more deliberate, and less prone to external influences. From the moment we … Continue reading Nudges: Will they work forever?
Weed Legalisation: The Green Rush
Embracing recreational marijuana use is a growing trend amongst countries. However, beyond the rubicon of legalisation, is the grass really greener? Continue reading Weed Legalisation: The Green Rush
The End of the World Wide Web?
Growing nationalist sentiment and fears over security are giving rise to an internet broken between borders. It could spell the end for the world wide web as we know it. Continue reading The End of the World Wide Web?
The Natural Resources Curse
Natural resources have long been regarded as a curse to development. New initiatives to encourage better governance are starting to change that. Continue reading The Natural Resources Curse
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