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The UK government is proposing regulatory reforms of the financial services sector as part of its agenda for boosting economic growth. The main focus is on encouraging domestic investment by pension funds and relaxing household access to credit. The chances of success are highly uncertain.

Recent increases in the UK government’s cost of borrowing have sparked debates about the public finances and the direction of economic policy. Some analysts have made misleading comparisons to the adverse bond market reactions to the previous government’s mini-budget of 2022.

UK film and TV studios are producing blockbuster hits and generating billions in revenue. But changes in the sector – including the rise of streaming, falling ad revenues and episodes of industrial action – pose challenges, with the effects felt most by small independent firms and freelance workers.

If you’re in search of Christmas gifts or a good book for yourself to read over the holidays, look no further than recommendations from the Economics Observatory.

President-elect Donald Trump has promised tax cuts in the United States. Research indicates that corporate payout policy (dividends and share buybacks) shapes firms’ financial decision-making and, in turn, the wider economy. But there are trade-offs as changes affect public spending and debt levels.

The UK’s gaming industry has boomed over the past two decades, driving job creation, export growth and technology benefits spilling over to a range of other key sectors. Continued government support could pay off handsomely in terms of tax receipts and industrial competitiveness.

Productivity performance has long varied across the nations of the UK – and it has continued to do so since the devolved administrations were established a quarter of a century ago. Devolution allows for tailored policies to boost productivity, focused on human capital, innovation and investment.

The quality of jobs in the UK is generally good: by many measures, it has even improved over the last five years. But there are a number of concerning trends that could lead to more mediocre jobs, and away from enriching work and employees who are happy and fulfilled.

The UK economy faces numerous problems, including low productivity, high public debt and wide regional disparities. The new government’s first budget is an opportunity not only to respond to immediate pressures, but also to present a blueprint for a more balanced, inclusive and resilient economy.

Institutions that have been in place for centuries and cutting-edge new technologies both have big effects on society. Daron Acemoglu, co-recipient of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, talks to Graeme Roy about how we can harness institutions and technologies for the common good.

Successive UK governments have struggled to promote economic growth in the aftermath of the global financial crisis of 2007-09. In an interview conducted in late 2023, former business secretary Vince Cable talks to John Turner about some of the persistent challenges for policy-makers.

The Venezuelan economy has suffered from decades of disastrous economic policies – and more recently, from economic sanctions. The country has seen the largest ever decline in living standards outside war, revolution or the collapse of the state.

Paris hosted the 2024 Summer Olympic Games – the 30th of the modern era. Memories will be dominated by great sporting moments, including athletes winning their countries’ first ever medals. But the mega-event also highlighted issues around representation, equality, cost control and home advantage.

Recent increases in the UK government’s cost of borrowing have sparked debates about the public finances and the direction of economic policy. Some analysts have made misleading comparisons to the adverse bond market reactions to the previous government’s mini-budget of 2022.

The new UK government is pursuing an approach towards China that promotes cooperation but challenge where needed. While increased trade with the world’s second biggest economy may bring benefits, economic opportunities with the European Union and the United States are likely to be greater.

Twenty-first century housing markets have had their ups and downs, but prices continue to rise. It’s win-win for the property-rich. Yet as corporate landlords and intermediaries open the door to institutional investors, it’s unclear where the route is to a fairer housing future.

The widespread closing of youth clubs during the 2010s, driven by government austerity measures, led to falling educational performance and increasing rates of youth offending. The long-term financial implications – through reduced lifetime earnings and higher crime-related costs – are also stark.

Kenya’s government faces the challenge of meeting its debt obligations, while avoiding further unrest. President William Ruto must find ways to raise money, manage the economic recovery from Covid-19 and respond to the threat of climate change.

Caps on the numbers of visitors allowed at certain destinations aim to relieve pressure on hotspots of overtourism. Their introduction presents an opportunity for other places to attract more tourists and students, boost their economies and promote a more sustainable and equitable tourism industry.

Faced with the threat of climate change and other environmental damage, some say that the solution is a reversal of our collective commitment to continued economic growth. But the idea of degrowth has a range of definitions – and reviews of research on the topic reach contrasting conclusions.

Institutions that have been in place for centuries and cutting-edge new technologies both have big effects on society. Daron Acemoglu, co-recipient of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, talks to Graeme Roy about how we can harness institutions and technologies for the common good.

Successive UK governments have struggled to promote economic growth in the aftermath of the global financial crisis of 2007-09. In an interview conducted in late 2023, former business secretary Vince Cable talks to John Turner about some of the persistent challenges for policy-makers.

Buying tickets for big music events like the Oasis reunion or Taylor Swift’s Eras tour is a hassle. That’s because fixed supply and fixed price are incompatible. Improvements to the system could be made – perhaps by using a ballot or flexible pricing, as airlines do – but nothing is perfect.