Is the Opioid Overdose Crisis a Story of Supply or Demand? Depends Where You Look
Economic distress in rural areas and opioid exposure in cities are key indicators of overdose deaths. Over the past two decades deaths from opioids and other drugs have grown to
A Green New Deal opportunity for America’s farmers
This month, a group of Democratic lawmakers called for an ambitious plan for the United States to reach net-zero carbon pollution in 10 years. While experts debate whether the proposal
Almost all local authorities plan to increase council tax, claims new study
Almost all councils in England will raise their council tax this year, according to a new study, after the government’s local authority spending review paved the way for rises. With
New poll: Only 9% support RBS sell-off plans
Today we’re releasing poll results which show that only a fraction of people support the Government’s plans to sell off RBS in the near future. (You can read the Guardian’s
Peru’s green infrastructure challenge
Peru faces the challenge of meeting growing demand for infrastructure in the country in order to support regions that continue to be excluded economically. Development of infrastructure is a key
Financial Regulation in Cyber Space
Rebuilding Macroeconomics’ Finance Hub held its second workshop to discuss the interdisciplinary approaches to financial resilience and stability. We focused on digital currencies and their impact on regulation and central
Green New Deal: The UK edition
Amid the drear of the Brexit endgame, as I trawl through my newsfeed my spirits have been lifted by the incredible goings-on over the pond. A quick recap: the unstoppable
What is “distributed leadership”? And can it turn “a trickle of human energy into a river”?
There’s another way to come at the possibility of viable alternatives to the toxic, frozen status-quo – and that’s through thinking about how we work, who we work with, what
Campaigners condemn Boris-backed call to slash aid budget and scrap DFID
Campaigners from Global Justice Now have condemned a new report by Conservative MP Bob Seely, released today, for proposing to “effectively abolish” Britain’s international development programme. The report, ‘Global Britain:
Blood for Oil in Venezuela?
Vijay Prashad discusses the extent to which US interest in Venezuelan oil and other natural resources is driving Trump’s policy of seeking regime change. The link is not that straight-forward,
Pret A Manger is offering homeless people a home and a job
Many a sandwich and a cup of tea has been bought from one of their stores to give to rough sleepers but now Pret A Manger is offering more to
Cryptocurrency Firm Loses Codes and Gets Hacked, Millions Lost
Recent developments in the cryptocurrency world highlight the dangers of trading in this type of “coin.” But how important is cryptocurrency to the financial world and why should we care?
Green New Deal’s path forward could lie in infrastructure legislation, experts say
Experts on issues ranging from climate change and government to labor weighed in on Thursday in response to a resolution charting the path forward for a Green New Deal. Many
#DrasticOnPlastic Timer Challenge: Can you avoid single-use plastic for a day?
Single-use plastic is still too often an unavoidable part of our everyday lives, despite huge public concern over the impact of plastic on our wildlife, and moves to ditch items
Financial regulators finally act on climate change but must go further, faster
The UK’s financial regulators are finally taking action to address the profound risks that climate change poses to the firms they supervise, and the system they oversee. But in our
WMO Confirms Past 4 Years Were Warmest on Record
In a clear sign of continuing long-term climate change associated with record atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 have been confirmed as the four warmest years
Overheard at Davos 2019
In January 2019, the Green Economy Coalition headed to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to convene an interactive panel of environmental economists and thought-leaders to present their visions
NHS spends nearly £500m on cancer drugs developed with public funding
3 of 5 most expensive cancer drugs to NHS come from publicly-funded research. World Cancer Day call for public to stop paying twice for medicines. Health campaigners have called for
Business needs a radical overhaul, say British Academy Fellows touring UK
Two Fellows of the British Academy are touring the country to make the case for a radical overhaul of business. Sir Paul Collier and Colin Mayer argue that we must
The Big Issue responds to government figures showing drop in rough sleeping
The number of people sleeping rough in England fell for the first time in eight years between 2017-18 – but experts across the homelessness sector, including The Big Issue, have
My experience meeting the governor of the Bank of England
2019 got off to an exciting start at Positive Money, with our first ever meeting with Mark Carney, the Governor of the Bank of England – one of the most
Campaigners condemn aid minister’s plan to slash the aid budget
Call for a development secretary ‘who actually believes in department’s mission’ Responding to press briefings this morning that Penny Mordaunt believes Britain’s aid budget to be ‘unsustainable’ and is proposing
Sign on the dotted line? A new rental contract: Final report
The private rented sector has grown substantially over the past two decades. It is now home to 20 per cent of households (4.7 million). Many more people now expect to
The Natural Rate of Interest Is Anything But
In contrast to Keynes’s emphasis on the monetary nature of interest rates, the modern theory of central banking focuses on a benchmark rate for monetary policy that reflect “fundamental forces”
Globalisation and Labour Share
According to the Karabarbounis and Neiman (2014) the global labour share of output fell from 65% in 1980 to 59% in 2012. Over the same period, US labour productivity has
Walking in the footsteps of giants
Every once in a generation an iconic leader emerges, someone who embodies the principles and the spirit of the times, overcoming adversity and showing how to navigate forward against seemingly
The post-levy Apprenticeship regime is finally taking shape
Another year, another round of worries about the impact of the Apprenticeship Levy. Are the number of starts continuing to fall; are they all being converted to MBA-level courses; and
The UN agreed a Declaration on the Rights of Peasants/Workers in Rural Areas to have “seed sovereignty”
“Sovereignty” is a febrile word at the moment. It’s invoked by national communities of all sizes – whether large one trying to free themselves from old ties, or smaller ones
Sadiq Khan launches ‘rent control’ strategy to tackle London’s rent crisis
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, will develop new rent control proposals for the capital to tackle spiraling private rent costs. Labour MP for Westminster North Karen Buck is to
New York passes DREAM Act, becomes 4th-largest state with financial aid for undocumented immigrants
New York became the fourth-largest state to pass the DREAM Act on Wednesday. The bill, which will provide college financial aid for undocumented immigrants, was passed by both chambers of
Brexit and the future of tax havens
This week the Tax Justice Network’s John Christensen spoke at this event at the European Parliament organised by the European Free Alliance of the Greens on Brexit and the future
We asked Davos – what is wealth?
For decades, we’ve been getting wealth all wrong – and now our societies and our planet are paying the price. This January, the Green Economy Coalition headed to the World
There Still Is Time to Limit Global Temperature Rise To 1.5 °C
The Paris climate agreement includes the aim to pursue efforts to limit global mean temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. However, we are now so close to
The Unreal Basis of Neoclassical Economics
Ten years after the financial crisis, we still find mainstream economists engaging in overly simplistic analysis that does not accurately capture the dynamics of the real world. People studying economics
Tight labour market breaks new ground on jobs
The UK labour market continues to confound. It seemed as though the seven year spurt in employment that began in late 2012 had come to an end in 2018. The
Bank of Canada research finds digital cash could improve social welfare
A Staff Working Paper published by Canada’s central bank last week concluded that a central bank digital currency (CBDC) could address the issues arising from the digitisation of our money
How ethnic minorities are still discriminated against in the UK job market
Britain was one of the first European countries to pass legislation prohibiting racial discrimination. There has been a series of Acts in 1965, 1968, 1976, 2000, 2006 and 2010 which
Circular Economy Crucial for Paris Climate Goals
UN Climate Change News, 22 January 2019 – The world can maximise chances of avoiding dangerous climate change by moving to a circular economy, thereby allowing societies to meet the
Brexit is driving the housing market to a record low
The housing market is set to see its worst three-month period in two decades as forecasts suggest it will be driven down by Brexit uncertainty. This follows calls from homelessness
Escaping growth dependency, one step at a time
Positive Money’s report Escaping Growth Dependency, published in early 2018, drew a link between the current debt-based monetary system and the escalating ecological crisis. The report also offered reforms and
Mass pollution at Texas coal plants poses major threat to human health and the environment
Virtually every coal power plant in Texas is leaking pollution into nearby groundwater, imperiling the environment and the health of neighboring communities, according to new data analysis released this week.
How Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Allies Supplanted the Obama Generation
The Green New Deal, which in the past month has come to define the progressive cause in Washington, exists in its most authoritative form as an eleven-page Google Doc. The
Taxing for ‘true equality’: EU adopts tax and gender proposals
“Gender equality can and should be promoted at all levels, including fiscal policy. This report is an important step towards the promotion of a more equitable distribution of income, wealth,
Demanding a ‘right to repair’
Two weeks ago Apple slashed its sales forecast, citing falling demand in China alongside other reasons. But there is a more positive explanation too: people are using their Apple products,
Global Commission Calls for a Food Revolution to Solve World’s Climate & Nutrition Problems
An ambitious report on the global food system from a commission convened by the prestigious medical journal The Lancet calls for a radical change in food production—or, as one of
Ghana to Kick-start Year of Ambition at Africa Climate Summit
UN Climate Change, 15 January 2019 – The provisional program for Africa Climate Week 2019, which is being hosted from 18–22 March in Accra, Ghana, has now been published online
BlackRock urged to close gap between rhetoric and real climate action
Investors and shareholder advocacy groups have called on BlackRock to vastly improve its climate engagements, in anticipation of its CEO’s yearly letter to companies reminding them of their need to
We’re asking Davos – what is wealth?
For decades, we’ve been getting wealth all wrong – and now our societies and our planet are paying the price. This January, the Green Economy Coalition is heading to the
Friends of the Earth in court to continue challenge against unlawful decision to build third runway at Heathrow
Friends of the Earth is taking legal action against the government in a bid to overturn the decision to build a third runway at Heathrow. Tuesday (15th January) sees the
The one million missing homes?
The relationship between housing supply and demand is always going to be of interest to those (like us) who care about living standards and housing costs. The ONS household figures
How poverty in modern Britain echoes the past
Four million British workers are now living in poverty, according to a report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), a figure that has risen by over half a million compared
How Big Data can prevent homelessness
Professor Vania Sena believes the swathes of data that councils already hold on us could be used to prevent homelessness. The University of Essex researcher is working with Suffolk and
Should credit be guided
In academic and policy circles there is deep mistrust of public sector involvement in credit allocation, much more than in the credit allocation decisions made by commercial banks. This mistrust
World’s Oceans Are Warming Faster, Studies Show, Fueling Storms and Sea Rise
A new study published Thursday strengthens the consensus that the warming of the world’s oceans is accelerating. It’s a trend that climate models have long predicted, but it had been
China Leads the Way in Eradicating Extreme Poverty
We’re watching intense struggles taking place between the United States and China. There’s a lot under that we’re not seeing. And we see the Huawei executive, Meng Wanzhou, arrested in
A fight for our future: youth, climate justice and environmentally displaced people
The New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants states that “migration should be a choice, not a necessity”. However, there are countless groups of forced and involuntary migrants, including refugees,
Skyrocketing household debt
The TUC is right to highlight the problem of skyrocketing levels of personal debt. Driven by a decade of wage stagnation, austerity and profiteering by banks and finance companies, more
A 1970 U.S.-Mexico treaty shows why Trump’s border wall is absurd
Much of the government has been shut down for more than 16 days because President Donald Trump insists that Congress fund a border wall that is both a terrible idea
British Academy chief executive calls for government historical adviser
The chief executive of the British Academy, Alun Evans, has called for the government to draw more on historical advice from experts. Calling for a more systematic approach to historical
How wealth taxes can raise billions more without scaring any horses
Raising taxes is never easy. Raising taxes with the government’s slim parliamentary majority is harder still. Raising taxes on wealth in those circumstances, given our diverging senses of fairness is…
A Surge of Climate Lawsuits Targets Human Rights, Damage from Fossil Fuels
A climate denier is in the White House, pushing policies that will boost emissions. Congress is doing nothing to stop him. So citizens and local governments who are facing the
Fat Cat Friday 2019: Only Six FTSE CEOs are Women and they Earn 54% of the Salaries of Male Counterparts
Only Six FTSE CEOs are Women and they Earn 54% of the Salaries of Male Counterparts. Analysis from The Equality Trust shows that the six women CEOs [1] in the
Post-Brexit trade deals could undermine NHS, warn experts
Trade deals with countries like the USA could do irreparable damage to health in post-Brexit Britain a new briefing from campaign groups and health experts warned today. Campaigners including Health
Former Credit Suisse bankers arrested in London over $2bn loans to Mozambique
Reacting to the news that three former Credit Suisse bankers have been arrested in London, as part of a US investigation into $2 billion of loans to Mozambique, Tim Jones,
Sour Response from Food Company on Sweet Treat Crisis
Last month I turned up to the annual general meeting (AGM) of Associated British Foods, armed with my shares and a well-crafted question, to challenge the board on the impact
Developing country borrowing costs increase 7 times more than US in past year
Interest rates on new developing country borrowing increased by an average of 2.2 percentage points over the course of 2018. Yields on low- and lower-middle income country debt, calculated by
It’s Time to Reset the Sails on Corporate Practice and Put Good Quality Jobs at the Helm
68 CEOs in the FTSE 100 earn more than 100 times the average UK worker’s salary, while almost four million (1 in 8) workers in the UK are living in
Britain needs to look outwards to survive 2019, says Peter Frankopan
Peter Frankopan’s book The Silk Roads changed our perception of history with a shift from the default Euro-centric perspective. Now, as other parts of the world power ahead, he’s urging
Medicare for All is a Fight to Democratize the Economy
Kelly Coogan-Gehr of National Nurses United tells Paul Jay that healthcare represents one-fifth of the US economy, and to bring that fully into the public sector would be an important
ICIJ’s 10 most-shared stories in 2018
The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists began the year investigating how West Africa’s wealthy and well-connected siphoned billions out of the region, and ended it with the largest-ever collaborative health
How 12 Communities Are Fighting Climate Change and What’s Standing in Their Way
As the risks of climate grow increasingly clear and the damage rises, communities around the country are fighting back in their own ways. 2018 Year in Review Tiny Imperial Beach
Government shutdown takes heavy toll on federal food stamps office
Staffing for the nation’s food stamps office has been almost completely scaled back during the ongoing partial government shutdown, a reduction that could hurt low-income families and individuals reliant upon
Changemakers: Jessica Ryan-Ndegwa is adding style to disability aids
Each week in The Big Issue we bring you a celebration of the thinkers, the creators, the agitators. We’re looking at somebody who has come up with an invention or
Robo-laywers, “deepfake” incidents, superbugs & city brains. Some predictions for 2019, from Nesta & others
One of the highlights of 2018 for A/UK was our hosting of sessions at Nesta’s FutureFest event. So we’re delighted to highlight this year’s “Predictions for 2019” from the Nesta
Philip Alston Discusses His Investigation into UK Poverty
Philip Alston, UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, says one of the reasons he wanted to investigate UK poverty is because of implications for the RoW given
Sikkim’s eco-tourism evolution
Sikkim, India’s first organic state, lies in the north-east region of the country. Almost half the state is under forest cover, supporting many rare and indigenous species of flora and
The first official homeless deaths count finds 597 people died in 2017
The England and Wales figures have increased by a quarter in five years, according to the Office for National Statistics. The first official count of homeless deaths has revealed that
Good environmental news – 10 wins in 2018
Dose up on some feel-good environmental news. Friends of the Earth present 10 ways you’ve helped them nail it in 2018. Click here to read full story
Greening the banks: The Bank of England is taking climate change seriously
The structure of our financial sector is fundamentally misaligned with the challenges and risks posed by climate change, and the Bank of England knows it. In an unprecedented move by
These popular health care provisions will vanish if Texas judge’s anti-Obamacare ruling stands
A Texas lawsuit trying to declare the Affordable Care Act (ACA) unconstitutional won’t go over well with the public if it prevails. While it took a while for folks to
Deregulation: Why the drugs don’t work?
The development of penicillin, the world’s first antibiotic, in the 1920s is perhaps one of the most important developments in the history of medical science. Along with the development of
Sierra Leone: Ebola debt to IMF contributes to big cuts in public spending
In November the IMF agreed a new $172 million loan programme with Sierra Leone, spread over the next 3 and a half years, until mid-2022. At the same time, the
Draft Environment Bill not a blueprint for greener post-Brexit Britain
Reacting to the government’s draft environment bill, published today, Friends of the Earth’s chief executive Craig Bennett said: “While it’s good to finally get a draft Environment Bill, it falls
New Era of Global Climate Action To Begin Under Paris Climate Change Agreement
UN Climate Change News, Katowice, 15 December – Governments have adopted a robust set of guidelines for implementing the landmark 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement. The implementation of the agreement
Unbelievable! The Ethical Failure at the Heart of Corporate Tax Avoidance
In this year-end guest blog, Tristan Shirley explores the belief system that underpins tax avoidance by multinational corporations and reflects on the ethical failures revealed by their unbelievable behaviour. Almost
New Bank of England research adds to the case against loanable funds
Understanding banks hasn’t always caused such difficulty for economists. In the first half of the twentieth century, theorists like Joseph Schumpeter outlined the role of banks in creating and allocating
This is the shocking reality of foodbanks in 2018
“Today I visited [insert supermarket name here] to donate to the local foodbank.” A variation of this generic message was tweeted by a series of Conservative MPs at the start
How Inequality Harms Children
On the evening of 29th November, Professor Kate Pickett gave the second Annual Richard Wilkinson Lecture at UCL in central London. Her topic was Failing The Future: Childhood in an
South Africa’s natural capital challenge
South Africa is one of the world’s most biodiverse nations, home to untold ecological riches and a dizzying array of flora and fauna. But under pressure from development and population
UN Climate Change and WTTC Highlight Role of Travel and Tourism in Attaining a Carbon Neutral World by 2050
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and UN Climate Change today showcased how the travel and tourism sector can take steps towards carbon neutrality by 2050. In April, WTTC,
Largest earthquake in Lancashire since fracking started
A 1.5 magnitude earthquake was recorded in Blackpool, Lancashire today. Reacting to news of the largest earthquake to take place in Lancashire since fracking started, Tony Bosworth, Friends of the
Who’s pulling the strings? Uncovering a tale of deregulation in the EU
To thrive we all need things like clean air, a safe environment, and decent working conditions. A woven network of regulations has been assembled over time to protect these basic
Good tidings from the UK labour market
Earlier this year, in a fit of optimism, the ONS moved its monthly labour market stats release from Wednesday to Tuesday morning so that the data would have proper scrutiny
Net-Zero Energy Homes Pay Off Faster Than You Think—Even in Chilly Midwest
As solar and heat pump prices fall, these highly energy-efficient homes are paying for themselves faster. Here’s how they work and why they’re spreading northward. LAMBERTVILLE, Mich.—On a drive down
Toxic Philanthropy? The Spirit of Giving While Taking
America’s new “philanthrocapitalists” are enabling social problems rather than solving them. A new breed of wealthy do-gooders armed with apps and PowerPoints claim they want to change the world. But
Vulture funds and governments seek profit from Sudan debt relief
Today the Financial Times has reported that a group of vulture funds have hired lawyer Lee Buchheit to argue for debt relief for Sudan. They hope that if the North
The British Academy brings ten world-leading scholars to the UK with new Global Professorships
Studying the history of ancient theatre to 300BC, examining how public-private partnerships spur economic growth, and measuring the impact of digital technologies in education; the British Academy has awarded Global
Climate agreements after Paris: countries, payments, and the climate emergency
A report reviewing climate commitments under the Paris Agreement by country has been released during the UN climate conference in Poland. “After Paris: inequality, fair shares, and the climate emergency”
COP24 Capacity Building Hub Officially Opened
UN Climate Change News, 6 December 2018 – The Paris Committee on Capacity Building (PCCB) today officially opened its novel capacity-building hub at COP24. The Capacity-building Hub will provide all stakeholders
Revealed: A data revolution for people and planet
Financial Innovation Lab excited to reveal the 16 entrepreneurs selected to take part in Lab Fellowship 2018-19, a groundbreaking incubation programme for financial innovators with a social mission. Our Fellows