Tag: Miscellaneous

Seemingly conflicting theories about economics and business may in fact just illustrate different aspects of an issue. It is often pointless to look for a single explanation of a successful business operation or economic behaviour in general. The post-modernist idea that scientific truths are not objective facts captures something very important about the nature of social science

Christmas Quiz (with full answers)

Can conventional economic theory be extended to understanding Christmas gifts? Maybe it can, but this would require a more subtle understanding of human behavour than the idea of rational economic man. This article shows that we do not simply value gifts in terms of the cost of the purchase.

Raising prices may seem an effective way to resolve a fuel shortage. But economists should learn to value solidarity.

Building a monopoly on the back of network externalities is possible, but only by ignoring the complex reality of human relations.

Water companies are unloved by their customers and by the market. The privatisation settlement was essentially flawed. Kelda's initial proposals have now been abandoned, but a version of them deserves to succeed.

A brief history of business in the 21st Century

A flavour of John's forthcoming book, 'The Truth About Markets'.

Here are a few resources related to some of the topics John's talks about. There are many more and if you have a suggestion,...

Step forward, corporate personality of the century.