By Pete Dawson The FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international men's football (soccer) championship is upon us again but not at the time of year we are typically used to. This is the first championship to take place outside of the traditional months of May, June, and July (when most domestic leagues, certainly those in … Continue reading It’s not coming home (for now)!
Sunakianism or Trussonomics: The Logic of Drug Legalisation?
By Duncan Watson Introduction Britain, on tenterhooks, waits. The reign of Boris Johnson is over; who will be its next Prime Minister? In a distinctively British attempt at impersonating 'democracy', a mere 180,000 Conservative members will get to decide between two candidates. We will see either Rishi Sunak or Liz Truss promoted from Johnson's Government. … Continue reading Sunakianism or Trussonomics: The Logic of Drug Legalisation?
Its Economics 101! The case for increasing military spending.
By Duncan Watson 1. Introduction It's been 6 months since Putin commenced Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine, or 'war' for those appreciative of more accurate vocabulary. Like all wars, innocent victims of death and destruction continue to ratchet up. Seeing such conflict misery has sharpened outlook and schooled political demand. The Daily Express, apparently … Continue reading Its Economics 101! The case for increasing military spending.
Can we nudge our way to healthier living?
By Lizzy Mayes (BSc Economics) A Big Fat Problem Obesity is rampant in England right now and it’s causing terrible damage. In 2019, 28% of adults in England were classified as obese while 64% of adults were in the overweight or obese category (Baker, 2022). These numbers keep rising, with the percentage of obese adults … Continue reading Can we nudge our way to healthier living?
The problem of plastics and what the UK government can do to help mitigate the issue
By Anton Shapland (BSc Economics) [This essay was written for the Government, Welfare and Policy third-year undergraduate module. Students were tasked with writing a blog-style essay on a topic linked to a group poster project. Topics were chosen by students and reflect their own interests. The essay gave them experience of writing content in an … Continue reading The problem of plastics and what the UK government can do to help mitigate the issue
April Cruel Day: Does the Ofgem price cap really protect us from ‘unfair’ prices?
By George Barham (BSc Economics & Finance) [This essay was written for the Government, Welfare and Policy third-year undergraduate module. Students were tasked with writing a blog-style essay on a topic linked to a group poster project. Topics were chosen by students and reflect their own interests. The essay gave them experience of writing content … Continue reading April Cruel Day: Does the Ofgem price cap really protect us from ‘unfair’ prices?
ECO Students Define Economics
By Duncan Watson 9 am, 1991; Keynes Lecture Theatre. The Scottish lecturer, still smarting at the result of the English Rugby Grand Slam, asks: 'What is economics?'. Well trained, our hands shot up: ‘The study of scarcity; understanding money; consumer and producer theory’. Fast forward to 1997. Panic stricken as I give my first ever … Continue reading ECO Students Define Economics
Authoritarian Drift
By Duncan Watson Introduction I’m a “child of Margaret Thatcher”. Schooled in the 1980s, I was fed the ‘limited government’ supply-side narrative: Free market good; coercive state bad. As I sought economic knowledge, the scholarly foundations for this morality tale were revealed. We can thank the great Economist Friedrich von Hayek for the construction of this … Continue reading Authoritarian Drift
Participating in the “Connect the World” Event on Environmental Economics and International Trade
By Iram Akhter (BSc Business Economics) Summary Last December, through my involvement in the module International Trade & Integration, I participated in an important international collaboration opportunity (also known as COIL) which brought students together from Germany, Japan, Romania, Taiwan and the UK. Running from 7th December 2021 to 27th January 2022 and led by … Continue reading Participating in the “Connect the World” Event on Environmental Economics and International Trade