Soaring prices have forced central banks in many developed countries to raise their interest rates in recent weeks. These organisations are in charge of attempts to rein in rising costs that are threatening to wreak havoc on household budgets in coming months. Western economies are currently experiencing two major shocks that are pushing up the […]
Labor gains clear Newspoll lead during Sydney lockdown, but will the economy save the Coalition?
This week’s Newspoll, conducted July 14-17 from a sample of 1,506, gave Labor a 53-47 lead, a two-point gain for Labor since the previous Newspoll three weeks ago. This is the biggest Labor Newspoll lead for this parliamentary term. Primary votes were 39% Coalition (down two), 39% Labor (up two), 10% Greens (down one) and […]
Recognizing the transformational potential of Indigenous-led conservation economies
Over the last decade, Canada has seen an increase in the number of initiatives to green or circularize the economy through sustainable development, as well as those that support and enhance Indigenous environmental leadership. Both projects are desperately needed given our rapid progress towards capitalist-driven climate catastrophe. Although there is interest in creating new economic […]
Swelling grocery bills are pummeling the poorest – who spend over a quarter of their incomes on food
CC BY-ND The cost of eggs and bread is soaring – a trend that’s particularly punishing for the poorest Americans. Average food prices climbed an annualized rate of 10.4% in June, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on July 13, 2022. The gains were driven primarily by the cost of groceries, which jumped the most […]
Americans spend more time and money filing their taxes than residents of other countries — but there are some benefits to a complex tax code
Tax Day falls on April 18 in 2023. But if you’re one of the 20%-25% of Americans who wait until the last minute to file, don’t panic – you still have time. The IRS estimates that the average taxpayer spends 13 hours to complete their return. If you own a business, the estimate increases to […]
Kenya’s election promises: an economist’s perspective
Kenya has four presidential candidates in the August 2022 general election. They recently launched their manifestos and one thing ties them together: the economy. In no other Kenyan election has the economy been such a key subject, not just for those seeking power, but for voters, too. There are two reasons: a maturing democracy and […]
How certainty helps immigrants integrate and contribute more to the local economy
Imagine Ania, a Ukrainian immigrant who arrived in Berlin, Germany in the spring of 2022 with her teenage son. At the moment, the 2001 Temporary Protection Directive provides them with the reassurance that they can stay for one year. If Ania ends up staying longer term, however, her career and economic success will depend on […]
Zimbabwe heads to the polls amid high inflation, a slumping currency and a cost of living crisis
Zimbabwe is facing a host of pressing challenges that voters dearly want the next president to address. Persistently high inflation, elevated interest rates, and a slumping and volatile Zimbabwe dollar have combined to fuel a cost of living crisis for households and battered business activity. These will be among the key economic concerns weighing on […]
I’ve spent years studying happiness – here’s what actually makes for a happier life
It’s one thing to know what makes people happy, but quite another to live a happy life oneself. I didn’t get a true taste of happiness until I quit my decade-long career as a happiness academic, packed all I’d need for many months onto a bicycle, and began meandering my way around the world to […]
2022 was a rough year for people everywhere – South Africa was no exception
Tough economic conditions meant that 2022 was a rough year for people everywhere in the world. South Africa was no exception. But this year’s crop of problems came on top of a legacy of poor economic performance. The country’s economic growth averaged 1% over the nine years to 2021, leaving the population poorer on average. […]