When natural resources are a curse
It is in human, rather than natural resources, that the origins of material prosperity are to be found. John describes why natural resources may be a burden rather than a blessing for some developing countries.
The public always comes last in trade talks
What went wrong at Cancun? The core problem is that industrial pressure groups have gained too much influence on economic policy.
Imperial China fell prey to a lack of pluralism
Unravelling one of the great puzzles of economic history - why did economic development take off three centuries ago in North West Europe, not South East China?
When the heat is on the cool places still prosper
The connection between a country’s climate and its wealth can prove elusive.
Vive la différence in the local market
A walk on Menton's marché municipal reveals how the conclusions regarding differences in productivity among countries, can be both obvious and meaningless.
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.
Justice in trade is not simply a moral question
The trade justice day is an opportunity to reframe accurately the discussion on international trade.
Migration ins and outs
Our understanding of the effects of immigration is often distorted by emotive political arguments. An economic analysis uncovers some interesting questions.
Anti-capitalism books: May 2002
John surveys the latest wave of books attacking capitalism.
The great paradox
Large companies often incur the wrath of anti-globalisation protesters. But these firms suffer most from the increased competition globalisation itself bring.