A message from Macbeth, and Adam Smith
The invisible hand is the most widely used metaphor in economics. What did Adam Smith (or William Shakespeare, who coined the phrase) really mean?
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.
Too many polls are apt to harm a democracy
Following and trying to manipulate public opinion too closely can lead to a superficially participative democracy. As the recent example in California demonstrates, in this context the emergence of inspirational leaders is unlikely.
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.
Tax is bad enough without needless complexity
Sir Christopher Gent and a precinct of policemen provide some insights to our tax system.
Justice in trade is not simply a moral question
The trade justice day is an opportunity to reframe accurately the discussion on international trade.
Political decisions are not a matter of statistics
The report regarding the Chancellor’s five tests for joining the Euro might provide an impressive economic analysis; yet as we all know it will be a pointless one too