America’s vibrant networks leave it ideally placed to fend off rising China August 14, 2012 THE last three Olympics have seen a titanic battle between the US and China to head the medals table. If you combine the total of the last three Games, China stands just ahead, with 121 golds to the United States’s 116. But, the US topped the table in both 2004 and 2012, while China edges [...]
Whistleblowing is a career gamble even if successful August 14, 2012 IF THE reports of irregular payments by the defence contractor EADS turn out to be true, Ian Foxley’s name will soon stand alongside that of the former Olympus chief executive Michael Woodford. Whistleblowing is the name of this game, but what are the lessons for employees that want to spill the beans? The City has [...]
Is Sir Roger Carr right that government must design an industrial strategy for UK growth? August 14, 2012 YES Ian Mulheirn Sir Roger Carr is right to highlight the symbiotic relationship between government and the market economy. But developing an industrial policy to boost the UK’s competitive edge is difficult. What seems like the wave of the future can quickly become a damp squib. We also need to be clear on the ground [...]
Rapid Responses August 14, 2012 Defending UK aid [Re: British aid policy is harming those it seeks to rescue, yesterday] Alan Oxley clearly has precious little grasp of British government aid policies. Far from ignoring innovation, as he asserts, last weekend’s hunger summit called for new and innovative ideas to tackle chronic hunger. We work closely with private companies like [...]
London 2012 proved the absurdity of restrictions on Sunday shopping August 13, 2012 THE economy is in a mess. Business confidence is low, unemployment remains high and underemployment means that many who are officially in work are struggling to get by on a part-time wage. The entire country is engaged in a hunt for growth. And yet, in some circumstances, businesses are forced to shut their doors in [...]
Drunk in charge: Outsourcing responsibility doesn’t make better judgement August 13, 2012 I WAS recently waiting at the port of Dover and noticed that the newsagents were advertising road safety equipment. I’ve driven in France before, and already have a first aid kit, emergency warning triangle and high visibility vest. But they were now advertising breathalysers. My immediate instinct – as a law-abiding adult – was to [...]
British aid policy is harming those it seeks to rescue August 13, 2012 TO TOP off a successful Olympics, David Cameron put London’s time in the global spotlight to good use by hosting a Hunger Summit at Downing Street, with the aim of tackling malnutrition in the developing world. Unfortunately, yet again, Cameron’s government failed to go the distance. Sunday’s outcome gave no indication of any shift in [...]
Is the Bank of England’s Adam Posen right to suggest expanding QE beyond gilt purchases? August 13, 2012 YES Will Straw Last year, Adam Posen stood alone on the Monetary Policy Committee in predicting that Britain’s recovery was faltering. Now we’re back in recession, his advice on unconventional quantitative easing (QE) should be heeded. QE has been a modest success in preventing the economy from slipping into a depression. And, despite siren warnings, [...]
Rapid Responses August 13, 2012 Running from tax [Re: Olympic champion Usain Bolt shuns London over tax fears, yesterday] With the closing ceremony ringing in our ears, so too is Usain Bolt’s concern about competing in the UK due to tax. The OECD model tax treaty allows the income of sports people from “personal activities” to be exempted from tax. [...]
London 2012 must be the starting gun in a race for a stronger Britain August 12, 2012 WITH the closing ceremony bringing the stupendously successful Olympic Games to an end, we should recognise what the Games has taught us about our national character. The Games have taught us something about ourselves that we never dared believe. The combined power of the British people, who embraced the Games, and our Olympians who have [...]