As we approach the 18th edition of the Warwick Economics Summit, let’s take a look back at the history of this conference and see how it has grown to become one of the largest of its kind in Europe.
WES: Through the Ages
The failure of ‘trickle down economics’
The IMF has published a research paper (Diez et al. 2018) stating that an increase in markups does not lead to an increase in investment, as has been hypothesised in classical economic theory. Rather, in industries with a higher concentration of monopoly power, they just lead to higher profits.
Romania: Bringing Europe into the future or holding it back?
2019 marks a momentous year for Romania’s past, present and future. Three decades ago, the Berlin wall was torn down, opening the iron curtain and beginning the country’s rapid modernization process. January 1st this year, Bucharest kicked off its 6-month presidency of the European Council, drawing the spotlight to the uncertain state of its domestic democracy and rule of law. And yet, as a leader in technology and cybersecurity, Romania could prove itself a crucial asset to NATO and the EU’s future as the upcoming European elections make the prospect of Russian cyber attacks ever more likely.
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Behavioural Economics: The Most Effective Tool for Policymakers
In 2010, the UK’s Prime Minister, David Cameron, founded The Behavioral Insight Team (BIT) – popularly known as the Nudge Unit – with a simple but impossible mission: Transform the approach of major government departments and deliver a tenfold return on its cost.
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The Dire State of Press Freedom: Khashoggi, Technology and Fake News
The recent disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi has raised interesting questions about the current state of press freedom.
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How WhatsApp got Bolsonaro elected president in Brazil
Jair Bolsonaro’s campaign tactics sounded familiar to anyone who has been exposed to Donald Trump’s own election trail: he promised to return to “traditional values”, to rid the country’s political system of corruption and uplift the economy out of a long and suffered economic slump. He held rallies and televised ads, and his presence on the major social media platforms was evident. What is less known to the international crowd is how the messaging platform ‘WhatsApp’ might have helped the far right candidate spread falsehoods and embolden his political momentum.
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Binge watching is about to get more expensive
Be prepared.
Nearly every major film production company is vying for Netflix’s top spot in the streaming industry. This competition, surprisingly, is expensive for consumers.
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Race to One Trillion: Amazon’s Affairs in Washington
This is the second part of our analysis of Amazon’s rise to 1 trillion. Today, we look at the changing relations between Amazon and the US political circles.
When a company registers £178 billion revenue and employs 560,000 people, it does not go unseen in Washington’s, London’s or Brussels’ corridors of power. Amazon is no exception. The online retailer’s relation with politics is complex, being alternatively cooperative or detached, but is always functional to profit maximisation. Continue reading “Race to One Trillion: Amazon’s Affairs in Washington”
The ‘sharing economy’: Is it too good to be true?
Consumer trends are slowly shifting from ownership to experience. The rise of this ‘sharing economy’ has transformed market landscapes with the massive growth of companies like Uber and Airbnb. Now, it’s possible to rent out your ride, your apartment, your workspace, and even your luxury clothing. In this rapidly-changing setting, the focus has shifted to assessing its newly-born risks.
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