On climate change, good economics sadly does not make good politics January 30, 2019 Economists, of all people, should understand the power of specialisation. They are taught early that prosperity is founded on the division of labour: individuals becoming more productive in specific tasks. Yet when dispensing policy advice, they seem to ignore that lesson, presuming that they know better than politicians about good politics. Economists frequently claim that [...]
AI has not yet spurred a productivity boom, but just you wait January 30, 2019 Nobel laureate Bob Solow pronounced 30 years ago that “you can see the computer age everywhere but in the productivity statistics”. At the start of the 1980s, the world entered the digital age. Fax machines transformed communications. The introduction of personal computers made high-powered computing available to all. But it took time to work out [...]
Hong Kong Horse Racing Tips: Smart Leader Cruz can continue his HK winning streak January 29, 2019 LEGENDARY trainer Tony Cruz produced a personal milestone at Sha Tin last Sunday when saddling his 1200th winner in Hong Kong. The likeable and charismatic 62- year-old watched his International HK Vase victor Exultant follow up with an easy win in the G3 Centenary Vase, which puts him second behind John Moore in the all-time [...]
Hong Kong Horse Racing Tips: Wings can soar to victory at the Valley January 29, 2019 HAPPY Valley punters will be hoping to accumulate some dollars for the start of the three-day Chinese New Year Festival next week, which signals the ‘Year of the Pig’. Chinese New Year always highlights good fortune, prosperity, luck, wealth and happiness – and bettors will be hoping for a welcome combination of each at the [...]
Trevor Steven: Gonzalo Higuain can save Chelsea’s top four hopes, Ivan Perisic is the boost Arsenal need and Tottenham’s inactivity is mystifying January 29, 2019 Smart signings are possible in the January transfer window, such as Tottenham’s purchase of Dele Alli from MK Dons in 2015 and Leicester’s recruitment of Riyad Mahrez from Le Havre in 2014, but they don’t tend to be big names. Chelsea’s loan deal for Gonzalo Higuain is one of the few; it’s rare to get [...]
Is Chris Evans ushering in an ad-free future? January 29, 2019 According to the media and people hipper than me, we’re going through a bit of a 90s revival in music and fashion. As if on cue, Chris Evans’ new breakfast show on Virgin Radio kicked off earlier this month. “I just press buttons… musicians play songs,” Evans said at the start of the show, before [...]
We’re all bored of Brexit, just as things start to get interesting January 29, 2019 This week will be crucial for Brexit as Theresa May sets out how she intends to take the departure process forward after her initial withdrawal agreement was defeated. But as Westminster gets to grips with the Brexit process, and the media pores over the ramifications of parliamentary votes on proposed amendments to the deal, most [...]
With just a dash of flexibility, the Brexit endgame is in sight January 29, 2019 In 1982, three years into Margaret Thatcher’s first term, a monograph was published about the government’s economic progress bluntly titled: “Could do better”. Was it published by the Fabian Society, with its close affiliation to the Labour party? Or perhaps it was released by the recently established Social Democratic Party, formed by people on the [...]
The Eurozone is at risk of renewed crisis in 2019 – and this time it’s all about Italy January 29, 2019 After a dismal 2018, December brought further bad news for the Eurozone in the form of the European Commission’s economic sentiment indicator. Despite hopes that last year would see an escape from the ongoing repercussions of the 2011-2013 euro crisis, confidence across sectors has taken a hit, with only retail trade remaining a bright spot. [...]
DEBATE: With the top taxpayers revealed, is there a case for lowering the highest rate of income tax? January 29, 2019 With the top taxpayers revealed, is there a case for lowering the highest rate of income tax? Kate Andrews, associate director at the Institute of Economic Affairs, says YES. With the tax burden at a 50-year high, there is almost always a case to be made for lowering whichever tax is up for discussion. This [...]