A gentle nudge over the green rubicon: How to change social norms and make your business greener January 17, 2017 According to a government report, some 71 per cent of UK citizens are “very or fairly concerned” about climate change, while nearly the same percentage believe that it poses a high level of risk to people’s health and wellbeing. In our daily lives, concerns we may have are infrequently matched by our actions – especially [...]
Donald Trump’s business meddling: Crony capitalism to a Tea January 17, 2017 To understand why many large businesses and pro-market US policy wonks are anxious about a Donald Trump presidency, one has to understand the lessons of the Tea Party. No, not the recent grassroots phenomenon caricatured in the UK media. I’m talking about the Boston Tea Party of 1773 – in which American colonists, belonging to [...]
How to earn passive income: 22 ways to create multiple streams of income January 16, 2017 Making money while you sleep. Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? After reading books like "Rich Dad Poor Dad" and "4 Hour Work Week," I became interested obsessed with making passive income. Whenever someone needs additional income, the stereotypical suggestion offered is to “get a part-time job.” But what if you don't have [...]
Post-trust society: We now trust algorithms more than politicians, journalists or business leaders January 16, 2017 In the aftermath of the Brexit vote, many Remain types pointed to "post-truth" – but new research suggests the UK is more post-trust, after the public's faith in politicians, business and the media plummeted. Edelman's trust barometer showed public trust in the government fell 10 percentage points between 23 December and 9 January, from 36 per cent [...]
Goodbye Piccadilly: A short history of the Piccadilly Circus advertising billboards January 16, 2017 On only a handful of occasions in its 100-year history has the hotchpotch of billboards at Piccadilly Circus been intentionally switched off during peacetime. Most famously, when Winston Churchill died, and later, Princess Diana. The advertising space, recognisable around the world, is symbolic of the national mood; it wears black when we mourn. But today, minus [...]
Mumsnet’s Justine Roberts talks community, the value of debate, and bursting the filter bubble January 16, 2017 Time poverty is clearly an issue for Justine Roberts. I have just 40 minutes on the phone with the Mumsnet founder and chief executive to disseminate a lifetime of achievement: PPE student at Oxford, a stint in the City, a journalist with a sports beat and, most recently, a recipient of a CBE for services [...]
Brexit and beginners: Why the City must step up and support the next generation January 16, 2017 The City of London Corporation hosted its annual London Government Dinner last week. Central to the event was the topic of Brexit, in which the London mayor Sadiq Khan was vocal on how devolution would play a critical role in supporting Britain’s capital after Brexit. The lord mayor’s speech covered a different but equally important issue; [...]
Leading bookmaker hits out on government plans, warning of “consequences for the sector” January 14, 2017 One of Britain's largest bookmakers has criticised government plans to take 10 per cent of gambling firms horse racing profits to fund the sport. Ladbrokes Coral, which runs over 4,000 betting shops across the UK, said the proposals "will have consequences for the sector". The department of culture, media and sport today announced an amendment to laws dating [...]
Why banks could actually prove a less stressful part of your portfolio January 13, 2017 Market consensus tells us the banking sector remains a risky place for investors to put their money. After all, the prevailing wisdom runs, banks are cyclical, poorly capitalised and in lousy shape for the next downturn, as and when it comes. Of course, as contrarian investors, we believe market consensus and prevailing wisdom primarily [...]
Out-of-depth traders among reasons for the seriousness of last year’s sterling flash crash January 13, 2017 The bank for central banks has today pointed the finger at inexperienced traders as one of the causes of last October's sterling flash crash. On 7 October last year, sterling plummeted around nine per cent against the US dollar in the early hours of trading in Asia, although it bounced part way back again quickly [...]