The risks of Railtrack
Lessons can be learnt from Railtrack’s failure. The government should re-appraise how projects should be financed and managed in the future.
Knowing the unknowable
Historians and insurers will both have to re-write their books following the terrorist attacks on America.
On John Kay’s Bookshelf – Archive page
Books that John has reviewed in the past...
Food for thought
Have you ever wondered why kangaroo burgers don't feature widely on British menus? The answer is that just as countries’ economies have developed differently, so have their national cuisines
A valuable lesson from fish and forests
Some economists argue that establishing clear property rights to resources is a key to economic success. But the Indonesian state’s attempt to reform ownership of the country’s forests has led to environmental catastrophe.
Choice as control
We are told that corporations are becoming ever more powerful; a match even for national economies. Before getting too concerned it is worth considering the nature of this authority.
Insiders calls the tune
Treating the value of share options as a cost makes a dramatic difference to the reported profits of many technology companies. And it points to a broader issue. In the knowledge economy, the distinction between employee remuneration and shareholder return is fundamentally changed
A poor view of poverty
Many people wish there was a nicer model of economic development than captalism. In reality, the best thing they can do is encourage Western firms to raise their standards.
The roots of pluralism
Dominant companies may confer marginal benefits to consumers that are difficult, if not impossible, to estimate. However, antitrust authorities will do little wrong if they stick to the underlying principles of competition policy.