Category Archives: Economics

The Ricardian Curse, Margaret Thatcher and North Sea Oil

Introduction Liz Truss hero worships Margaret Thatcher and emulated her when she too became prime minister in September 2022. Truss wrecked the UK economy in 48 hours of economic insanity. Margaret Thatcher wrecked the UK economy over a much longer … Continue reading

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The Californian referendum on the death penalty: Proposition 62 (8th November 2016)

California voted on the death penalty through Proposition 62 (8th November 2016) . Currently 31 states in the USA have the death penalty with California a relatively late convert in 1978. Interestingly the November review of that decision rarely strayed … Continue reading

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How wonderful were my early days

Mid 1940s to 1953 I lived at 59 Gibson Square in Islington. Each month the rent collector Mr Beetle (yes, really), would arrive on the doorstep to inspect the property and collect the rent. The rent not only Mum and Dad paid, … Continue reading

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The Double V Campaign: The struggle for racial equality in the US Armed Forces in the Second World War

The festering sore that was American segregation became a burning issue after Hitler’s declaration of war (11th December 1941). The world’s worse racist state declared war on a country which enshrined segregation. America’s non-white soldiers were officially second class citizens. … Continue reading

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Why Donald Trump is popular: he spends his own money!

Former Florida governor Jeb Bush is our great teacher in this: He and his allies vastly outspent Donald Trump in the Republican primaries, but he won only three delegates to Trump’s 1725. As The Post pointed out, Bush could have … Continue reading

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Adam Smith on the Meaning of Wealth

It is in the last dregs of life, his body wasted with toil and diseases, his mind galled and ruffled by the memory of a thousand injuries and disappointments which he imagines he has met with from the injustice of … Continue reading

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A Billionaire conversation

(Warren Buffet and Bill Gates walking in Santa Monica, California) Warren Hey look over there. That’s a Ferrari showroom. Bill Let’s go and buy one. Warren OK. I’ll get the red one and yours is silver grey. Right? Bill It’s … Continue reading

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The delusional George Osborne and the Northern Powerhouse (deceased)

‘A drunkard or a gambler may be weaned from their ways, but not a politician.’ Anthony Trollope Phineas Redux (1873) Chris

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An ingenious smuggler or an exploited woman?

December 21, 2011, Fiumicino airport (Rome):- … a Spanish model coming from Sao Paulo in Brazil is detained. A search reveals 2.5 kilos of pure cocaine crystals inserted in her artificial breasts and buttocks. Roberto Saviano ZeroZeroZero p366 Chris

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How restaurants manipulate their customers

High-priced entrees on the menu boost revenue for the restaurant – even if no one buys them. Why? Because even though people generally won’t buy the most expensive dish on the menu, they will order the second most expensive dish. … Continue reading

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