All hands to the pumps
Raising prices may seem an effective way to resolve a fuel shortage. But economists should learn to value solidarity.
Clusters, connectivity and Kevin Bacon
Building a monopoly on the back of network externalities is possible, but only by ignoring the complex reality of human relations.
Water companies not built to float
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.
Omens brightening in India and China
A brief history of business in the 21st Century
Forthcoming book – a summary
A flavour of John's forthcoming book, 'The Truth About Markets'.
ECONOMIC RESOURCES ON THE INTERNET
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, feel free ...
The star that stayed at the top of the tree
Step forward, corporate personality of the century.
Invisible hand or chaos
Perhaps the invisible hand of Adam Smith is not as important in free market economies as the freedom for unsuccessful experiments to fail.
Economists and Economics in Business
Most businessmen think that the role of economists is to produce macroeconomic forecasts. Since modern business strategy is, however, increasingly based on economic foundations - largely through resourced based theories - it might be time they reconsidered.
Institute for Fiscal Studies (anniversary piece): April 1999
John recalls his experience in setting up the Institute for Fiscal Studies, one of the UK's most respected economic think tanks.