We have paved the way for the next financial crisis December 6, 2018 Optimists believe that the last decade of roiling financial crisis and austerity is behind us, and that current fears of trade war, Brexit, populism, and market crashes are overblown. They hope for a global economy poised for many years of growth, increasing personal wealth and prosperity, and political stability. Sadly, hope is never a strategy. Realists, [...]
Tariff man Trump is the most economically illiterate President in US history December 6, 2018 America and China may have called a truce in the trade war, but nobody seems to have told the President. On Tuesday, Donald Trump tweeted: “I am a tariff man. When countries come in to raid the great wealth of our nation, I want them to pay for the privilege of doing so.” I don’t have [...]
Chris Tremlett: Jofra Archer can become world-class – his availability is a huge bonus for England ahead of important year December 5, 2018 Jofra Archer is one of the most talented young cricketers in the world, so the fact he will be eligible to play for England next year is very exciting. The England and Wales Cricket Board have sped up the process from seven years of residency to three, meaning Archer, who was born in Barbados but [...]
Three simple answers to the UK’s productivity puzzle December 5, 2018 With political and policy attention focused almost entirely on one complex puzzle, it is easy to forget that there are others requiring urgent attention. Today's Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Beis) select committee report is a timely reminder that government action on the productivity puzzle is long overdue. Britain’s growth in productivity lags behind our [...]
Hong Kong Horse Racing Tips: It could pay to be Loyal to Cruz’s pair at Happy Valley December 5, 2018 REGULAR readers of this column won’t need reminding, alongside thousands of disgruntled bettors, that when red-hot favourites Country Star and Red Warrior lined up at Happy Valley three weeks ago, both went home empty-handed. The John Size duo had previously made successful excursions to the inner-city track and looked like ‘penalty kicks’ to complete hat-tricks [...]
Hong Kong Horse Racing Tips: Lunar Zephyr can bring Ryan Moore HK success December 5, 2018 HAPPY Valley hosts its most prestigious event of the year this afternoon with the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship. A dozen riders, including the likes of Ryan Moore, Hugh Bowman and Christophe Lemaire, will compete in four races, with the winner taking home a valuable £50,000 in prize-money. It’s hard to imagine a more spectacular venue, [...]
The EU has hit a home run with the most one-sided treaty in history December 5, 2018 In baseball, a game unfamiliar to many in the UK, when a player hits a home run it is normally considered good manners – and a sign of respect for your opponent – not to gloat, but to run the bases quickly without admiring the ball as it clears the fences, and certainly without making [...]
DEBATE: In light of the ongoing court case, should ‘ethical veganism’ count as a protected belief? December 5, 2018 In light of the ongoing court case, should “ethical veganism” count as a protected belief? Beth Hale, technical director at CM Murray, says YES. It is likely that Jordi Casamitjana, the claimant in this case, will be successful in persuading the tribunal that “ethical veganism” is a protectable belief under the Equality Act 2010. Provided he can show [...]
From Northern Rock to lunch tables, no one is immune from the herd mentality December 5, 2018 The Bank of England and Federal Reserve held a two-day conference last week in London on big data and machine learning. All very interesting stuff. There was an intriguing vignette as we emerged from the conference room for the frugal lunch on the first day. Straight ahead was a table with sandwiches, fruit and the like. [...]
Let’s look beyond Brexit to a world of British opportunities December 5, 2018 Today, we assume our positions leading Britain’s £40bn maritime sector and count ourselves among its 1,000,000 employees. Britain is an island, a maritime nation, and our sector fuels trade with the rest of the world – some 95 per cent of imports and exports, worth over £500bn. For almost three years, national debate has been [...]