Thinking outside the blue box on recycling
In response to receiving a brown bin, blue box and some green bags, John writes a letter to Cherwell District Council questioning the rationale of recycling paper and calling for more practical environmentalism initiatives.
Why the future is not quite what it used to be
Business gurus, management consultants and journalists are eager to exaggerate the pace of technological change and ignore lessons of the past. Don’t believe everything they say – 747s and nylon shirts are still around today.
Obliquity
Strange as it may seem, overcoming geographic obstacles, winning decisive battles or meeting global business targets are the type of goals often best achieved when pursued indirectly. This is the idea of Obliquity. Oblique approaches are most effective in difficult terrain, or where outcomes depend on interactions with other people.
Economic forecasting will never be an exact science
John explains why reliable economic forecasting is, in principle, impossible
Why the world is not on Britain’s side
John explores one of the most enduring questions of all Englishmen abroad. Why do foreigners drive on the wrong side of the road?
Global warming? Leave it to human ingenuity
In this article John explains how human ingenuity is the most likely answer to environmental concerns in the future as it has been in the past.
Why those who seek popularity lose their authority
The market truly values advisers it can trust; subsequently the effort to impress may have the opposite results.
There’s a lot of money in the chit-chat
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is being read because it is being read; and indeed this makes sense.
Vodafone triumphs, Britain picks up the bill
So farewell, Sir Chris. The imminent departure of Sir Christopher Gent calls for an examination of the rise of Vodafone.
A little empathy would be good for economics
In this second part of the letter to his niece, Professor Kay discusses the gender bias that is prevalent in economics.