If you live in one of the most economically deprived neighborhoods in your city, you might think the government is directing a smaller share of public funds to your community. And you would typically be right. This is the case even with programs that have been specifically designed to benefit low-income communities. Over the long […]
Nigeria’s minimum wage has never protected workers from poverty: here’s why
Wages have become the top issue for Nigeria’s organised labour movements in the past year. Reacting to recent increases in the cost of living, the labour movement has been calling for an upward review of the national minimum wage, currently N30,000 (US$24) a month. The Conversation’s Adejuwon Soyinka asks economics professor Stephen Onyeiwu if Nigeria’s […]
Economic growth tops the priority list for Canadian policymakers — here’s why
Canada is currently experiencing anemic economic growth, meaning there is a slowdown in the total production of goods and services per capita. The real GDP growth forecast for 2024 is 0.7 per cent. Despite this, American economist Tyler Cowen recently wrote that Canadians have nothing to worry about when it comes to the economy. While […]
Rishi Sunak wants to cut the cost of ‘sicknote’ Britain. But we’ve found a strong economic case for benefits
Prime minister Rishi Sunak has announced a crackdown on sickness and disability benefits in order to end a “sicknote culture” and “over-medicalising the everyday challenges and worries of life”, in part because he claims that “good work” can actually improve mental and physical health. He instead wants to focus on “what people can do with […]
Indigenous businesses are worth billions but we don’t know enough about them
Indigenous businesses generate about A$16 billion a year in revenue and employ more than 116,000 people – almost as many as the massive Coles retail group. But the contribution of these businesses to the Australian economy has long been underestimated. This is despite Indigenous businesses delivering, among other things, important culturally sensitive health and education […]
Does ‘virtue signaling’ pay off for entrepreneurs? We studied 81,799 Airbnb listings to find out
The next time you’re searching through Airbnb listings, you may find there’s more to consider than just amenities and price. To stand out from the competition, some Airbnb hosts tout their personal values – such as integrity, empathy and conscientiousness – in listings for their properties. This sort of display has been called “virtue signaling.” […]
The backlash against diversity, equity and inclusion in business is in full force − but myths obscure the real value of DEI
Few ideas in business are as misunderstood as DEI. While opposition to DEI – diversity, equity and inclusion – has a long history, it has picked up steam recently. In 2023, when Silicon Valley Bank collapsed, detractors claimed that the bank’s focus on DEI was responsible – rather than the bank overinvesting in bonds that […]
Silicon Valley and Shenzhen, China, will get all the growth from AI if other regions don’t invest now to compete
The 21st century has witnessed an unprecedented surge in technological advancements, with artificial intelligence emerging as a worldwide transformative force across the economy. The integration of AI-based technologies into regional economies through the manufacturing and design of goods such as smartphones and smart speakers has sparked significant changes, leading to increased efficiency, innovation and economic […]
Why Jersey girls − and guys − still don’t pump their own gas
New Jersey’s quirky reputation is hard earned, but one peculiarity stands out: It’s the only place in America where you can’t pump your own gas. Laws against self-service gasoline used to be common: In the late 1960s, nearly half the states in the U.S. had one. But as fuel dispensers became safer and credit cards […]
How the demise of gay nightlife has prompted a new underground queer scene – new book
Around the world and across the UK, gay nightlife is dying. Evidence of this demise and the ongoing threat of bar and club closures can be seen everywhere. In late 2023 the renowned London club G-A-Y closed its doors, as did many other bars and clubs, victims of an array of economic difficulties. These include […]