Lessons from the data: How can countries avoid a second Covid wave? June 29, 2020 The Economist Intelligence Unit recently launched an index to rank the quality of the policy response to coronavirus across 21 OECD countries. Countries are assessed against three “quality of response” criteria: number of above-average excess deaths, number of tests, and provision of non-Covid-19 healthcare. Three mitigating criteria adjust scores to take pre-existing risk factors into [...]
Let’s build back green, not grey June 29, 2020 Despite the tragedies of the last few months, we have not been short of the rays of hope and human courage that often come to define crises of these kinds. As cliched as it may now be to say, the weekly showering of applause for our keyworkers shows that even when facing the greatest adversities, [...]
China has miscalculated — India will be the big winner of this new world order June 29, 2020 My friend, the Indian diplomat and politician Shashi Tharoor, once wisely said: “Everything in India is recycled, even dreams.” And now in our new era, India’s rightful pride in its fabulous history — and perennial fervent desire to return to the top table in global politics — is about to at last be realised. Delhi [...]
Indo pacific cooperation June 27, 2020 The Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, and rising inflation are challenges that affect every part of the world, demonstrating how closely we are interconnected. Global problems need international as well as local solutions, as countries work together towards common goals. This week I am visiting two of our trading allies – Indonesia and Japan –as part [...]
The failure of the track and trace app is the least-worst thing about it June 27, 2020 Last week, the UK government announced a radical change in direction in its track and trace programme. Its contact-tracing app, first announced in early May and once promised as a “world beating” solution, was pulled from development. The NHSX app was abandoned because Apple and Google refused to yield on personal privacy restrictions that are [...]
DEBATE: Will a fall in house prices be good for young people? June 26, 2020 Will a fall in house prices be good for young people? Matthew Addison, chief executive at StepLadder, says YES. Given that we still aren’t building enough homes to satisfy demand as a nation, it is incredibly important for this finite supply to be allocated in a way that works equitably. This hasn’t been the experience [...]
Trump versus Biden: The battle of the brands June 26, 2020 Politics should always be about policies. But in this “post-truth” era, US politics in particular has become disconnected with policy. Instead, the 2020 presidential showdown is about brands: Brand Trump versus Brand Biden. In a normal election year, the presidential race would be up and running right now, with polling numbers over analysed, policies and [...]
The proposal to scrap jury trials is an assault on the cornerstone of our justice system June 26, 2020 You might have missed it in the outpouring of excitement over the reopening of pubs next weekend, but coronavirus could be about to claim a new victim: trial by jury. On Tuesday, while the Prime Minister was unveiling a mass relaxation of lockdown restrictions, justice secretary Robert Buckland was informing MPs that legislation to dramatically [...]
Reassuring pension savers in these turbulent times June 26, 2020 Millions of pension savers across the country are concerned about the state of their finances. Since lockdown began in March, the government’s protective measures have supported both employers and employees through a difficult time. As these measures begin to be eased back, there may be a higher possibility of company insolvencies, and thus reduced financial [...]
The office is about to be transformed, not eliminated June 25, 2020 Are we seeing the demise of the office? Since lockdown measures spurred a working from home revolution in March, many commentators have predicted that this trend is here to stay. But offices are more than bricks and mortar. They play a vital role in forming the very ethos of a business and help shape the [...]