Search

High yields on government bond in many advanced economies are leading some to speculate about a looming debt crisis. Lessons from the Eurozone’s experience with Greece in 2010 suggest that while a full-blown drama is yet to unfold, the European Central Bank must stand ready to intervene if needed.

Managing inflation expectations is only part of today’s challenge for monetary policy-makers. In times of geopolitical tensions and repeated economic shocks, they must also ensure that their communications with households and financial markets keep uncertainty about future inflation under control.

American households with at least one user of GLP-1 weight-loss medications reduce their spending on groceries by 5.3% in the first six months of starting the treatment, with the biggest declines in snacks and sweets. But buying habits largely return to normal once consumers stop taking the drugs.  

Artificial intelligence may make many people redundant. But with enough preparation, these workers could help to address the growing care crisis. An effective solution would require wealth redistribution, proper training and reforms to ensure that care work is good work.

Good jobs exist everywhere in the UK – but the highest-paying roles remain heavily concentrated in London and the South East, and a small number of cities. Structural change has reinforced these patterns, raising difficult questions about how policy can help to spread opportunity more widely.

The UK’s financial system has been forged by economic shocks, political priorities and market changes. Over the past century, banks have come to play a bigger role, not least for firms looking to raise capital. Recent reforms seek to revive corporate equity and bond markets to support growth.

As the centenary of the General Strike, 1926 is an apt starting point for considering how the governance of UK labour markets has evolved. But 1979 was the moment when the industrial relations system of high trade union and collective bargaining coverage reached maturity before falling into decline.

There are several historical precedents for large-scale and sustained unemployment following technological change. Understanding these past experiences will help researchers and policy-makers to have a clear view of the potential effects of artificial intelligence on the labour market.

India ranks low globally for women’s labour force participation – a considerable constraint on its development ambitions. Tackling the shortfall requires better state-provided childcare and jobs that women can keep through marriage and motherhood to lower the churn that pushes them out of paid work. 

In considering a return to North Sea exploration, five arguments relate to climate and clean energy: one’s bad; two provide a genuine case for limited additional production; and two strengthen the case against it. On balance, they suggest that an open-ended programme of new drilling would be unwise.

New PM Andy Burnham has made the renaissance of high streets one of his top priorities for good reason. As well as being places for shopping, they are often the heart of a community, both physically and socially. Whenever pubs, cafes, bookshops or supermarkets close, there can be political fallout.

English domestic football returns this weekend with the opening games of the highest levels of non-league football. The likeliest division champions are Forest Green Rovers in the National League, Macclesfield in the National League North and Dagenham and Redbridge in the National League South.

El Salvador’s government overhauled the country’s security policy and ended gang violence, lifting what was thought to be the main constraint on the economy. There have been measurable improvements in such areas as emigration, exports and investment – but to date, growth has improved only modestly.

Managing inflation expectations is only part of today’s challenge for monetary policy-makers. In times of geopolitical tensions and repeated economic shocks, they must also ensure that their communications with households and financial markets keep uncertainty about future inflation under control.

The UK has some of the widest disparities in regional economic performance among advanced countries. Evidence suggests that health inequalities between different parts of the country are an important part of the explanation for the geographical variations in employment, inactivity and productivity.

The world has changed drastically over the two and a half centuries since the publication of what is widely seen as the founding text of economics. But its author’s core ideas – about specialisation, exchange and accumulation – continue to provide valuable insights for researchers and policy-makers.

The verdict on Manchester City’s financial rule-breaking will have wide-ranging effects. In terms of this season’s Premier League, whatever punishment the club receives will benefit other teams: a deduction of 20 points or more would give Arsenal an 83% chance of winning the title and Liverpool 12%.

Debates about globalisation and trade policy have deep historical roots. Patterns in the goods and services bought and sold by the UK have shifted over the past century, alongside the framework that governs world trade – but international commerce remains a defining feature of the nation’s economy.

Children today have better nutrition and access to clean water, sanitation and medical care than their counterparts a century ago. These improvements have led to falling rates of infectious diseases, and infant and child mortality – but new health concerns are emerging, including childhood obesity.

Attention shifts to cross-border competition in football this week, as the UEFA Champions League kicks off. Britain has long bucked the sport’s broader economic trends – and England is particularly dominant. The Premier League’s top clubs all look set to progress deep in this season’s competition.

In considering a return to North Sea exploration, five arguments relate to climate and clean energy: one’s bad; two provide a genuine case for limited additional production; and two strengthen the case against it. On balance, they suggest that an open-ended programme of new drilling would be unwise.

New PM Andy Burnham has made the renaissance of high streets one of his top priorities for good reason. As well as being places for shopping, they are often the heart of a community, both physically and socially. Whenever pubs, cafes, bookshops or supermarkets close, there can be political fallout.

The new prime minister has promised a cut in business rates for the country’s public houses as well as other social venues. Whether this helps pubs’ prospects of survival depends on how much of the pressures on these local institutions are really about costs, rather than changing consumer tastes.