Category Archives: Economics

Football Review: Manchester City vs Real Madrid 17th May 2023

Posted on May 22, 2023 by odeboyz

Expectations were sky high. Two giants of European football playing in the semi-finals of the Champions League. What could possibly go wrong? Real Madrid froze. The anticipated titanic match between “galácticos” became a mismatch. Real relied on their world class … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Review, Sport | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Premium Bonds Ride Again

Posted on April 13, 2023 by odeboyz

Premium Bonds were introduced by Harold MacMillan in 1956.1 His insight was inventing a gamble where you could get your stake back, in full: Neo-gambling, as it were. MacMillan’s Premium – note the word – Bonds had monthly ‘prizes’ instead … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Finance, Politics, statistics | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The meaning of money: Buddhism

Posted on April 3, 2023 by odeboyz

The dollar bill is only a dollar bill, as opposed to a bookmark, because the United States Treasury so designates it. Buddhist Philosophy (p. 27). Oxford University Press. Kindle Edition. Buddhists believe that nothing has any meaning outside a specific … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Religion | Leave a comment

Book Review: Oliver Bullough ~ Butler to the World: How Britain became the servant of tycoons, tax dodgers, kleptocrats and criminals (2023)

Posted on March 27, 2023 by odeboyz

The ‘City of London’ is short-hand for financial wizardry and is, allegedly, the ‘powerhouse’ of Britain. What the ‘City’ wants the ‘City’ gets in terms of legislation and government assistance. They are free-market warriors until things go sour. Once the … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Politics | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Bertrand Russell on saving money: 1932

Posted on March 16, 2023 by odeboyz

One of the commonest things to do with savings is to lend them to some government. In view of the fact that the bulk of the expenditure of most civilized governments consists in payments for past wars and preparation for … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Humour, Politics, War | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jacob Rees-Mogg: Selected Quotes

Posted on February 27, 2023 by odeboyz

On Paid Holidays and other employment benefits TUC’s Nicola Smith: “Paid holiday, paid rest breaks, rights for time off if you’ve got kids and your kids are unwell, protection from discrimination when you’re pregnant”….  “I [Rees-Mogg] don’t support all these … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Philosophy, Politics | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Rishi ‘Robin Hood’ Sunak strikes again

Posted on January 16, 2023 by odeboyz
Posted in Economics, Humour, Politics | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Britain’s Fantasy Economics 1530-2016: a short history

Posted on December 8, 2022 by odeboyz

British governments from Henry VIII to David Cameron funded unaffordable aspirations by using other people’s money. This tactic is increasingly difficult to achieve as time passes. British politicians, nonetheless, are addicted to sources of revenue which are unconventional. They believe … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, History, Politics, Religion | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Patrick Radden Keefe ~ Empire of Pain: The secret history of the Sackler Dynasty (2021)

Posted on December 1, 2022 by odeboyz

The concept of legal drug-pushing has been a feature of USA medicine for at least thirty years. Prescription drugs are allegedly tightly controlled but Keefe demonstrates the system was perverted. The corruption was orchestrated by the Sackler Family but other … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Health, Science | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

How to be generous at Christmas

Posted on November 24, 2022 by odeboyz

“showing a readiness to give more of something, especially money, than is strictly necessary or expected”1 Generous gifts at Christmas are a balancing act between social duty, economics and expectations. In the definition (above) ‘more’ is important. A generous person … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Philosophy | Tagged , , | Leave a comment