The following is mostly extracted from Dr Yuval Noah Harari’s splendid book Sapiens – A Brief History of Humankind which is full of fascinating facts and consequences, and well worth reading We know energy is vital for economic growth But why do so many doomsayers, nowadays, keep alarming us by saying we’re running out of …
Category Archive: 21. Global
Feb 18
Protectionism is bad for you
“Economists are worried about international trade” according to Harvard Professor Gregory Mankiw in an article printed by the New York Times No less than Adam Smith, in his famous ‘Wealth of Nations’ made the case for free trade, arguing that trade among people is like trade among people: No one feels compelled to sew his …
Feb 09
Global recovery good for others too
According to Martin Wolf, the star FT (Financial Times) journalist, the world economy is enjoying a synchronised recovery which is good news not just for the G7 but emerging and developing countries too: Commodity prices have rebounded Trade volumes have recovered FDI capital flows to emerging countries have strengthened His conclusions are based on precise percentages …
Feb 09
NZ Productivity Commission slams their public sector
A new NZPC (New Zealand Productivity Commission) report slams parts of their public sector for inefficiency It says the private sector measures its productivity but the public sector falls short despite $40 billion being spent every year on such as health, education, justice, law and order and social welfare “The New Zealand government has been …
Jan 13
What do the East want from the West?
When we Westerners drop in to Asian countries nowadays, most are staggered by the modernity that confronts us – the numerous sky-scrapers, concrete flyovers, n-lane motorways – and millions of cars and motor-bikes with few of them old bangers Hong Kong, Jakarta, Bangkok, Tokyo, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur are but a few capitals where this applies …