My Blog
From A&E waiting times to the Windrush scandal, beware bureaucratic targets
Last week, health secretary Matt Hancock signalled an important change of strategy. Accident and Emergency Departments have a target that
A tip for Dominic Cummings: Don’t hire anyone who fails to grasp the power of incentives
The job advert issued by Dominic Cummings for people to work in government has attracted a wide range of comments.
Creepy micromanagement won’t drive productivity — try trusting staff instead
Calling all employers: what was in your Christmas stocking? Did you find the latest gadget designed to enhance productivity? The
A lesson in cognitive dissonance for the Corbynites
Behavioural economics — which extends the ability of economics to explain the world — has become very fashionable. Richard Thaler,
Pension reform is political dynamite, but Macron’s attempt should be commended
It would take a heart of stone not to be amused by Emmanuel Macron’s current predicament. The French President is
For richer or for poorer? The economic case for marriage is worth remembering
An important piece of social news emerged last week. According to the Office for National Statistics, the divorce rate in
Labour’s rejection of conventional economic theory ignores important insights
One of the first tasks facing whoever becomes chancellor after the General Election will be choosing the next governor of
Celebrating Germany’s recession dodge? The data isn’t quite as solid as you think
Ardent Remainers had a rare bit of good news at the end of last week. The latest statistics for the
Today’s apologists for socialism still won’t acknowledge the lessons of the Berlin Wall
The media has been awash over the past week with stories about the thirtieth anniversary of the fall of the
From World War II to the financial crisis, our institutional memory is fading fast
The young contestants on Lord Sugar’s reality TV show The Apprentice sparked outrage last week. They appeared to have virtually
The economic impact of Brexit tariffs only tells us half the story
Brexit is about much more than the economic costs and benefits, but the idea that the former dramatically outweigh the
Until Scotland’s currency puzzle is solved, independence is economically delusional
The possibility of Scottish independence is back on the political agenda once again. And one question – which currency would
This year’s Nobel economics laureates have made the world a better place
This year’s Nobel Prize in economics, announced on Monday, was a ray of sunshine amid the prevailing media gloom. The
Forget ‘reparations’, scrapping subsidies is the way to help get Wales back on its feet
Get ready to put your hands deep into your pockets for the boyos and girlos of the Welsh Valleys. Adam
What kind of person crosses the Nevada desert to investigate UFO conspiracies?
Area 51 is a mysterious place. Located deep in the Nevada desert, it is home to highly classified US military
In such volatile times, the safest assets aren’t necessarily what investors think
Given the climate of intense uncertainty, the FTSE index remains remarkably resilient. It currently sits almost bang in the middle
Britain’s car industry could weather a storm of tariffs better than you’d think
The latest American Economic Review contains a timely paper. Keith Head and Thierry Mayer, at the University of British Columbia
Watch out fiscal conservatives – the mood has shifted and the spending taps are on
The Autumn Spending Review announced by the chancellor Sajid Javid barely raised a ripple last week. Yet the increase planned
Economic theory can offer a lesson to struggling football clubs
The expulsion of Bury FC from the English Football League last week continues to generate a huge amount of sound
Supply and demand at work, or just good bargaining? The reality behind CEO pay
A report published by Deloitte a couple of weeks ago will have enhanced the feeling of holiday wellbeing for many
