An interview with Peter Diamond: Economics Nobel Prize Winner

I had the privilege of interviewing Peter Diamond, a professor at MIT and winner of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 2010. He is especially known for his analysis of US Social Security policy, serving as an advisor to the Advisory Council on Social Security in the late 1980s and 1990s. Nominated by Barack Obama in 2010 to serve on the Federal Reserve … Continue reading An interview with Peter Diamond: Economics Nobel Prize Winner

Maxwell DeLorenzoMay 6, 2020March 27, 2023Leave a comment

International

Rent Control: Housing populism meets economic reality

With rent prices increasing far faster than wages, the problem of affordable housing in many Western countries is at its highest level in years. Combined with a failure of low priced social housing to keep up with rising demand, it is not surprising that affordable living has become one of the most important voter issues to urban dwellers. One “solution” to this growing problem that … Continue reading Rent Control: Housing populism meets economic reality

Leiden BrueschkeMay 6, 2020March 27, 2023Leave a comment

International

Protectionism: The impact on a country’s development

Protectionist policies are typically exercised by countries in order to protect domestic industries from foreign competition. Protectionism is usually expressed in the form of tariffs on foreign imports, subsidies, regulatory blocks and import quotas, alongside other restrictions placed on foreign trans-national corporations. Governments often implement protectionist measures in order to protect domestic industries and firms. This is especially true when there are levels of high … Continue reading Protectionism: The impact on a country’s development

Rohan BattulaMay 6, 2020March 27, 2023Leave a comment

International

Explaining the Phenomenon Behind ‘Hypebeasts’

Supreme, Off-White, Palace, Nike – all part of a collection of “hypebeast” brands that have taken the world of modern fashion by storm through challenging the accepted value proposition of more conventional clothing brands. Supreme ‘bogos’, otherwise known as ‘box logos’ hoodies are an icon of streetwear which have online resell prices of over $500 even for the most basic models. So why are people … Continue reading Explaining the Phenomenon Behind ‘Hypebeasts’

Rob WebbMay 6, 2020March 27, 2023Leave a comment

Middle East and Africa

Nigeria: The key to African economic prosperity?

Nigeria sent shockwaves through the continent of Africa when it withheld approval for AFCFTA in March 2018. Nigeria’s decision surprised many as the country was one of the initial drivers of the single African market idea. The African Confidential Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) could be a massive economic step forward for the continent as it attempts to create a large single market for goods and … Continue reading Nigeria: The key to African economic prosperity?

Pammie EmefieleMay 6, 2020March 27, 2023Leave a comment

Development, Interviews

An interview with Aart Kraay: Acting Head of the World Bank

I was lucky enough to be able to have a brief conversation with Aart Kraay, the acting Head Economist at the World Bank. He is Director of Research in the Developmental Research Group, and an expert on international capital movements, growth and inequality, governance, and the Chinese economy. Our discussion was largely centered around a paper, published by the World Bank in January 2020, that … Continue reading An interview with Aart Kraay: Acting Head of the World Bank

Maxwell DeLorenzoMay 6, 2020March 27, 2023Leave a comment

Interviews

An interview with Jere Behrman: Professor of Economics at the University of Pennsylvania

I want to begin with your work in certain states in sub-Saharan Africa, where there is a preference towards having boys rather than girls. That is especially the case during famine – how can this be best resolved? The first thing is to distinguish between preferences and incentives – that is, if markets reward men more than women, parents will be incentivised into having boys. … Continue reading An interview with Jere Behrman: Professor of Economics at the University of Pennsylvania

Trevor ChowMay 6, 2020March 27, 2023Leave a comment