Economics
How the Crisis Unfolds
Economically speaking, we are in a pickle. The blame-game is in full flow in its search for scapegoats. The most obvious culprit is, of course, the Covid virus, but it would be a huge mistake [more…]
Emile Woolf
Business
Economic consequences – always ask: Who benefits?
Things don’t just “happen”. Everything in the passing parade of phenomena is the result of something that preceded it: this is the world of cause and effect. Those appointed to hold the levers of power [more…]
Economics
Where we are – and where we might have been
More than six months have elapsed since the devastating lockdown measures were first imposed on the nation, since when we have been shrouded in a fog of confusion and ineptitude. The authorities may have been [more…]
Economics
International Trade: The Currency Effect
The tenacity with which certain economic fallacies persist is truly remarkable. Take the notion that the euro currency is too strong for certain countries, notably Greece, Spain, Portugal and Italy, causing their exports to be [more…]
Business
Basic Principles: More Than Meets The Eye
Every primer on economics cites the familiar factors of production, land, labour and capital, as prerequisites for productive activity. Sometimes entrepreneurship is added to represent the gifted brain who brings the other three together in [more…]
Business
Facing Economic Reality: Painful but Avoidable
“When the tide goes out you discover who’s been swimming naked”. Thus spake the sage of Omaha, Warren Buffet. When government ministers are floundering, manifestly out of their depth, you know, despite all official protestations, [more…]
Business
Reform & Real Reform
Those of us struggling to get a grip on Chancellor Sunak’s latest relief-measures should note the terminology. He seeks to revive the Covid-stricken economy with a series of tax “giveaways”. When anyone in government talks [more…]
Economics
The Risk Factor: Time for an Honest Assessment
As the spread of Covid begins to wane we should consider afresh whether, for example, a shopkeeper who travels to work to open his business is in fact acting irresponsibly. This comes, as ever, down [more…]
Business
Macroeconomics? The highway to collectivism
It is noticeable that the Covid-inspired devastation has brought out a sizeable crop of (apparently) sane economists who claim that we should stop worrying because it’s all OK, really. The Treasury should carry on printing [more…]