Two heads facing each other made from cogs

Why IP Laws Should Be Weakened

Intellectual property (IP) laws have gathered a lot of press recently, specifically in relation to the cost of drugs and healthcare, as well as the US-China trade war. There is much debate over their purpose and success. This article will explore what IP laws are, what they aim to achieve, how they might be failing and how they can be improved. IP rights are a … Continue reading Why IP Laws Should Be Weakened

Astronaut in space waving

Space Tourism: Ready for Lift-off?

When most people think of space, they picture an inaccessible vastness that stretches further than they can fully comprehend. They think of Neil Armstrong, the International Space Station and NASA; or Soyuz and Yuri Gagarin. What could unite our perception of space though, is that it is primarily the domain of nation states, not individuals or companies. That may be about to change. In the … Continue reading Space Tourism: Ready for Lift-off?

Should Big Tech Be Broken Up?

The Big Four. GAFA – Google, Amazon, Facebook and Apple. These are the four companies that make up Big Tech. They have been dominating the technology industry, and you would be hard-pressed to find someone who hadn’t heard of every one of them.  They have a combined worth of nearly $3.5 trillion, and the gap between them and mainstream media is widening. At the end … Continue reading Should Big Tech Be Broken Up?

Consequences of the Coronavirus

For the people of China and neighbouring regions, the end of January each year typically has a special place in their hearts, for Lunar New Year beckons. Yet this year, which has already been tainted by many a tragedy (such as Iran’s shooting down of a Ukrainian passenger plane), the dawn of February sees Asia captivated in a much scarier circumstance. Coronavirus, deriving from a … Continue reading Consequences of the Coronavirus

Negative Nominal Interest Rates

Central banks in developed economies face a strange monetary reality. Since the Global Financial Crisis, much of what economists thought they understood about inflation and economic growth no longer applies. The apparent link between low unemployment and inflation seems to have disappeared and the prolonged low interest rates of the past 12 years have been futile in promoting inflation. This unprecedented situation has resulted in … Continue reading Negative Nominal Interest Rates