How can Africa take action against corporate tax havenry? Solutions from the Corporate Tax Haven Index 2019
How have former colonial powers maintained their stranglehold on African economies? The UK with its spider’s web of satellite jurisdictions and France are complicit in undermining the ability of African governments to
How the NRA Profits From Divisive Politics
An investigation shows how the nonprofit NRA gives lavish gifts and contracts to board members and their families while losing millions of dollars of donor money each year. A deep
Insecure Work – Are we at a Tipping Point?
The UK is facing a quality of work crisis. The growing use of zero-hours contracts has been widely covered, but our new findings from analysis commissioned by the Living Wage
Taking Climate Action Via a Gaming App
UN Climate Change News, 12 June 2019 – W-Foundation, a global relief and conservation organization, is working with the UN’s Climate Neutral Now initiative to promote sustainability and climate action through a
World Bank chief calls for transparency in China’s foreign lending
Malpass says greater openness is crucial to avoid debt traps. FUKUOKA, Japan — The World Bank is “working hard” to ensure China improves transparency in lending to developing countries, the
India’s Taj Mahal of trash is a toxic nightmare
New Delhi’s “rubbish mountain” just keeps growing and growing. The Taj Mahal, the famous 240-foot-high tomb, is India’s best known landmark. But now a different sort of tomb, New Delhi’s Ghazipur landfill
D-Day: How the US Supported Hitler’s Rise to Power
On June 6, 1944, Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, France, opening a second front against German fascism. The largest contingents of fighters were British, American, and Canadian. This
Hive mind! What’s the 8th Way to Think Like a 21st Century Economist?
Back in January, Rethinking Economics and Doughnut Economics launched a competition asking: What’s the 8th way to think like a 21st century economist? We got over 250 responses and our
Major Companies Face USD 1 Trillion in Climate Risks
A group of the world’s biggest companies representing nearly US$17 trillion in market capitalization have valued the climate risks to their businesses at almost US$1 trillion – with many likely to
Union membership is rising again – but will it last?
In 2018 the Trades Union Congress (TUC) celebrated its 150th birthday. Yesterday the government delivered a somewhat belated birthday present to the union movement in the form of new statistics
Rising Seas Could Generate 187 Million Climate Refugees by 2100
A new study by leading scientists has concluded that by 2100, sea levels could rise to a far greater level than previously estimated. Sea level rise of such a magnitude
Five reasons “green growth” won’t save the planet
“Green growth” has many champions at government and institutional level, but the idea that perpetual economic growth can be decoupled from environmental impact is certainly controversial. Cambridge PhD researchers Oliver
The UN poverty report shows that we need to fight for the right to food
Dr Philip Alston and Human Rights Watch’s UK findings show that the current system must go beyond merely feeding people – it must have a holistic understanding of the importance
China Gears Up to Weaponize Rare Earths Dominance in Trade War
Beijing is gearing up to use its dominance of rare earths to hit back in its deepening trade war with Washington. A flurry of Chinese media reports on Wednesday, including
Falling Renewable Power Costs Open Door to Greater Climate Ambition
Renewable power is the cheapest source of electricity in many parts of the world already today, the latest report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) shows. The report contributes
UK by far the world’s greatest enabler of corporate tax avoidance, says report
A report has found that the UK is most to blame for a global system of tax avoidance which deprives governments of funds, a report has found. According to the
75+ Business Leaders Lobby Congress for Carbon Pricing. Did Republicans Listen?
Microsoft, Pepsi, Levi’s and others are calling for carbon taxes or fees that could scale up innovation fast enough to combat climate change. An epic quest loomed Wednesday before the
‘It’s getting harder to be young’: Five generations of homelessness
A Centrepoint study exposes the way high housing costs, low security and frozen wages have hit young people over the past 50 years The number of young people pushed into
Striking McDonald’s workers: You have to ‘build your strength in numbers’
“We know that McDonald’s is the head of the snake.” McDonald’s workers went on strike on Thursday in 13 cities for a $15 hourly pay and union rights for all
75 Business Leaders Lobbied Congress for Carbon Pricing. Did Republicans Listen?
An epic quest loomed Wednesday before the largest gathering of business leaders in a decade to advocate for climate action on Capitol Hill. Could they find a single Republican in
Investors cast votes for Paris-aligned BP
At BP’s AGM today, investors voted on two motions on the ballot to encourage the company to align its business model with the Paris Agreement. Over 99% of shares were
The power of democracy against the power of finance
This elections year, it is hard to imagine that European citizens will be satisfied with shallow political promises: they are furiously standing up against business as usual. All over Europe,
Half Of 20-Somethings Say Money Pressures Impact Their Mental Health
The joint HuffPost UK-BBC Radio 5 Live poll found 30% of people in their 20s have no savings at all. The majority of young people in their 20s say money
Beyond GDP: New Zealand Finance Minister explains shift to budget based on wellbeing indicators
Finance Minister: “GDP remains an important measure of activity in the economy, but it doesn’t tell us about the quality of that activity” Budget on 30 May is based on a
Pope invites young people to pledge to build a new economy
Pope Francis has invited young economists and entrepreneurs around the world to help create a ‘new and courageous culture’ that finds new ways to do business, promote human dignity and
Unite works with Mexican unions fighting exploitation
Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and his left wing government has begun to enact much-needed changes to the country’s labour laws. Previously, these laws had allowed companies to sign
Climate crisis: flooding threat ‘may force UK towns to be abandoned’
Environment Agency calls for urgent action to protect country from river and coastal floods Entire communities might need to be moved away from coasts and rivers as the UK takes
How a Facebook group is using the Wetherspoons app to feed homeless people
Wetherspoons has an app that allows customers to skip queuing at the bar to order food and drink. It also means you can play pranks, sending orders of peas or
Mark Carney: Put your money where your mouth is! Unleash green investment now!
On Thursday 2nd May, Positive Money staff, supporters and members of the grassroots divestment group Fossil Free London, gathered outside the Bank of England to get our voices heard on
CTRLShift 2 – “An Emergency Summit for Change”, kicking off in Stoke-on-Trent this week
Part of our commitment in A/UK is be involved in “networking the networks” – making many connections with like-minded groups and individuals, either convening ourselves or strengthening the convening of
Why ‘Net Zero Emissions by 2050’ needs a Green New Deal
I remember the days when months would go by without anything much happening about climate change at all. Thinkers and doers called for stuff, politicians occasionally did a few things,
Universal Credit roll-out needs to be stopped and poverty addressed, say MPs
MPs have demanded the Universal Credit roll-out is frozen until the government addresses the poverty they say it has fueled. Currently, there are just under 64,000 households receiving Universal Credit
UK parliament becomes first in the world to pass motion declaring a ‘climate emergency’
The UK parliament has become the first in the world to pass a motion declaring an “environment and climate emergency”, as pressure on the government to adopt a net zero
Until politicians take radical steps to level the playing field, social mobility will keep getting worse
According to the Social Mobility Commission’s ‘State of the Nation’ report, inequality is now entrenched in Britain. It requires urgent government action to tackle one of the great ‘burning injustices’,
Cash machine charges will hit poor hardest
Responding to research by Which? showing that 1,700 ATMs switched to charging in the first three months of 2019, David Clarke, head of policy at Positive Money said: “The shocking
Debating infrastructure in the Peruvian Amazon
In Peru, an ambitious project to improve river transport and infrastructure between the Huallaga, Marañon, Ucayali and Amazon rivers has sparked a fierce debate, pitting state institutions, local governments, conservation
Universal basic income: New study finds little evidence that it can live up to its promises
Making regular cash payments to every individual in a country can help to solve problems of poverty, precarity, automation and inadequate social security systems – or so it is argued
Study: As Climate Crisis Has Worsened, So Has Global Economic Inequality
In a new study out by Stanford researchers reviewing half a century of data, researchers found that as rich countries get richer, they also have more temperate climates and face
Nicola Sturgeon launches ‘biggest campaign on the economics of independence’ in SNP history
Nicola Sturgeon used her conference speech to fire the starting gun on the second independence referendum campaign, telling SNP activists “it’s time to get your jackets on” and take the
Reforesting can help us remove carbon. But should it cover the land? Or could it go vertically in a city?
Reforesting, or the planting of millions (and billions) of trees, seems to be the go-to climate crisis policy for governments everywhere (we have covered foresting and trees extensively on this
Prem Sikka: Billionaires are a threat to democracy
Taxation revenues are the basis of the modern state. Without them, it cannot perform its administrative and redistributive functions. The revenues are also used to subsidise industries, bailout banks and
Extinction Rebellion targets financial sector ahead of ‘closing ceremony’
Ahead of this evening’s closure of its London camps, Extinction Rebellion (XR) this morning launched a final wave of protests across the capital’s financial sector. Members of the Christian Climate
Foodbank charity Trussell Trust gave out a record 1.6m parcels in a year
The Trussell Trust foodbank network gave out a record 1.6 million parcels between April 2018 and March this year – up almost a fifth on the charity’s last count. More
Alarming Rate of Forest Loss Threatens a Crucial Climate Solution
The world’s forests continue to disappear at an alarming rate, threatening a resource that scientists say is a crucial “natural solution” for controlling climate change on an urgently short timescale.
How could a 4 day week boost the economy?
Alfie Stirling talks to Toby Tarrant for the Chris Moyles show on Radio X about why every week should be a 4-day week. Click here to read full story
A quiet drinking water crisis is going unaddressed in Iowa
Private wells used for drinking water in Iowa face widespread contamination due to agricultural practices, according to a new report out Wednesday, highlighting the latest in a series of major
Alternative Editorial: This Is Waking Up
Something is occurring in London. Following months of front-page headlines covering the spectacle of party-political breakdown in Westminster, suddenly the news is of a Rising Up. Extinction Rebellion has established
Faked Emissions May Send Volkswagen CEO to Prison
Bill Black examines the corrupt corporate worlds of Germany and the U.S. and how Trump ignores corporate malfeasance Click here to read full story
Major Breakthroughs on Central Banks and Climate Change
If we’re going to stop irreversible climate change, we need to decarbonise our financial system, which channels billions of pounds into fossil fuels every year. As institutions at the heart
The arts overtake agriculture as a UK economic power – but cuts continue
Theatres, libraries and museums are adding £10.8bn to the UK economy, overtaking farming as an “essential” economic contributor. Arts and culture are about as beneficial to the economy as cities
How campaigners ended revenge evictions
Today marks a huge victory for housing campaigners. The Government has announced they will scrap section 21, ending ‘no fault’ evictions in England which have caused misery and hardship for
Investors give Italian bank a wake-up call on climate change
On the day of its AGM, a group of investors are calling on Italian bank, UniCredit, to start taking climate change seriously. In an action coordinated by responsible investment charity,
Toby Jones, Bognor Regis and the coach class comedy prodding British tensions
It’s hard to tell a story about people smuggling through the lens of humour, but if anyone can do it, it’s Toby Jones and his writing sidekick Tim Crouch Click
Extreme Hemispheric Heat Waves Like 2018’s Growing More Common with Climate Change, Study Says
Heat waves are covering wider areas, and people are suffering the consequences. With 2°C of warming, most summers will look like 2018, scientists say. Click here to read full story
Money Worries Cost UK Economy Up To £51bn A Year
UK workers’ poor financial well-being is having a significant impact on productivity Savings as a proportion of income is the lowest it has been for nearly 60 years1 40% (13
Carmakers on course for $2-12bn fines for missing EU CO2 targets: Moody’s
The ratings agency warns of possible credit downgrades, while the UK’s auto lobby says ‘anti-diesel’ agenda has made targets harder to reach Click here to read full story
Fossil Fuel Trade Associations Spent $1.4 Billion on Ads in Past Decade
The American Petroleum Institute spent over half of that total on contracts with the PR giant Edelman, says Kert Davies of Climate Investigations Center. Click here to read full story
Apprenticeships system favours those who already hold skills
This morning the Department for Education (DfE) published figures outlining the number and type of apprenticeships that were started during the first month of 2019. January isn’t a big month
Judge Blocks Trump’s Arctic Offshore Drilling Expansion as Lawyers Ramp Up Legal Challenges
The ruling restores Obama’s orders putting large parts of the Arctic off-limits to offshore drilling and throws Trump’s oil and gas lease sale plans into question. Click here to read
Putin Makes Economics Lessons a Loyalty Test for Young Russians
In the coolly analytical world of economics, how do you quantify patriotic fervor? For the man who launched the careers of generations of young Russian economists, it’s become a theoretical
‘THIS CAN SERVE AS A NORTH STAR’
GREG CARLOCK EXPLAINS WHY THE GREEN NEW DEAL REPRESENTS A NEW ERA OF POLITICS In September, Carlock wrote a draft of a Green New Deal long before most people had
State legislatures shore up Obamacare with 2020 prospects uncertain
While the Democratic Party determines where it wants to go next on health care — whether it’s Medicare for All, Medicare for America, or any one of the other 2020
Krishna Bharadwaj, the Torchbearer of Economics
During her long career she illuminated many of the shortcomings of neoclassicism, and offered alternative paths. Krishna Bharadwaj, following upon the work and insights of Piero Sraffa, made substantial contributions
Plastic’s hidden journey to Indonesia
Friends of the Earth’s Emma Priestland recently travelled to Indonesia to research plastic pollution. She was horrified at what she found. Surabaya on East Java is Indonesia’s second city. It’s
A Look at REDD+ on International Day of Forests
UN Climate Change News, 21 March 2019 – Forests and their sustainable management play a key role in the global carbon cycle and in in tackling climate change. Today is
Does new economics need wellbeing?
A few weeks back I was invited onto NEF’s Weekly Economics Podcast to talk about mental health. We discussed why we continue to focus policy on economic growth instead of
Not Trusting FEMA’s Flood Maps, More Hurricane-Hit Cities Set Their Own Rules
In flood-prone regions of the country, a growing number of cities have lost confidence in the ability of the federal government’s flood maps to recognize the increasing risks that come
New documentary “2040” uses digital special effects to show a better, more climate-balanced world
We’re intrigued by this coming documentary from Australia – a country that’s completely on the front-line of environmental crisis. Their website is here, their trailer is above, their blurb is
School Strike for Climate: What Today’s Kids Face If World Leaders Delay Action
Scientists were warning about the risks of climate change and the burning of fossil fuels when today’s world leaders were Greta Thunberg’s age. The Swedish 16-year-old, frustrated with the pace
Oil companies calling for methane regulations are part of lobbying group that opposes them
Several of the world’s biggest oil companies are voicing their support for federal regulations on methane emissions, even as the trade association lobbying on their behalf continues to back the
Britain needs a Green New Deal to revive its economy after Brexit
Britain needs a new economy that works for everyone and to move beyond the old, broken systems and status quo that left many people behind. A green new deal for
Homeless NHS patients released to streets is ‘the system failing people’
Thousands of homeless patients are being discharged right back onto the street, sparking fears that they are left to recover from major operations while rough sleeping. The data, obtained by
If you’re going to be a consultancy, then do it to help companies & organisations reduce their working week
Along with universal basic income, we have consistently supported the idea of a unilateral shortening of the working week (see archive). What is fascinating is the way that the case
Spanish Top-Tier Soccer Team Aims to Become Climate Neutral
UN Climate Change News, 13 March 2019. In an unprecedented move for a “La Liga” soccer club, Sevilla-based Real Betis Balompié has officially joined the Climate Neutral Now initiative of
Spring Statement: Chancellor fiddles while planet burns
Reacting to measures outlined in today’s Spring Statement to help combat climate change, Friends of the Earth’s head of political affairs, Dave Timms said: “Instead of putting climate change at the
“Grown in London, Portsmouth, Bristol, Doncaster….” How food plans for cities could reconnect us
If we need to reconnect to nature, in order to value it once more, then why not begin in the most de-natured places in our lives – our major cities?
Diversity and Excellence: Not A Zero Sum Game
The lack of pluralism of economic theories and methodologies has been a problem for a long time, but it became particularly obvious in the wake of the global financial crisis.
To beat a No-Deal Brexit the government and Bank of England must work together
This week marks 10 years since the Bank of England introduced its quantitative easing (QE) programme, setting in motion the creation of hundreds of billions of pounds of new public
St Mungo’s builds strategy for homeless women on International Women’s Day
Homelessness charity St Mungo’s is creating more women-only shelter spaces and improving its services for female domestic abuse victims. On International Women’s Day, the charity is launching its three-year women’s
International women’s Day 2019: What could a zero-carbon economy mean for women?
Climate change is sometimes talked about as if it were a great leveller, where the wealthy and poor, powerful and oppressed alike will suffer together. But climate chaos does not
Tackling gender inequality through investment in social infrastructure
The UK government’s response to the financial crisis brought disastrous economic consequences and unnecessary hardship. Austerity policies have hit women, BAME people and the poorest the hardest, while failing the
Economic Consequences of the U.S. Convict Labor System
US counties with prison labor often have lower wage and employment growth. While labor coercion in agricultural and preindustrial economies is well-studied, few papers address the effects of coercive institutions
Launch of our report- Triple Whammy: the impact of local government cuts on women
Cuts to funding for local government have created a crisis, which has hit women the hardest. Central government funding for local government fell by nearly 50% between 2010/11 and 2017/18
Microplastics found in every British river we tested
It’s been widely reported that tiny bits of plastic, invisible to the human eye, have been escaping into the environment. But we wanted to know just how widespread the problem
Carbon Tax Plans: How They Compare and Why Oil Giants Support One of Them
Not long ago, a carbon tax was the untouchable third rail of climate politics. “We have done extensive polling on carbon tax. It all sucks,” John Podesta, Hillary Clinton’s campaign
Economic update: Fighting the system
This week: Updates on the economics of immigration; France’s yellow vests join union-called general strike; demonstrations against Sackler family’s profiting from oxycontin; and New York City Council considers giving priority
Wonga has left 10,000 customers out of pocket from ‘beyond the grave’
Treasury Committee chair Nick Morgan has warned that the government may need to step in after more than 10,000 former Wonga customers were left out of pocket by the firm
Mozambique files case against Credit Suisse in the UK
Jubilee Debt Campaign has learnt that the government of Mozambique, represented by the Attorney General, has filed a case in the UK High Court against Credit Suisse International. Commenting on
Green Economy Coalition – Convenor’s Update, Feb 2019
There is a shift underway. Last year, both plastic waste and oceans broke through as iconic environmental issues. There is a growing movement in the US around the Sunrise Movement,
Record Registrations Set to Usher in Era of Ambition at Africa Climate Week
Plans for the high-level segment at Africa Climate Week in Accra’s International Convention Center are now taking shape. On the morning of Wednesday, 20 March, the week will be formally
The UK’s post-Brexit immigration regime will help business exploit migrant workers
It is true that globalisation has created benefits for consumers, businesses and suppliers. It is propelled, however, by global supply chains, or the dominant practice of sourcing goods and services
Nearly two thousand locations across England, Wales and Northern Ireland breaching air pollution limits
High levels of NO2 can cause a flare up of asthma or symptoms such as coughing and difficulty breathing. A leading cause of NO2 pollution is emissions from road traffic.
Union fight back: Skewering the rotten heart of Neoliberalism
Over the past few decades, outsourcing has increasingly defined the public sector’s relationship to workers, and has played a major part in widening the gap between the richest and the
The Black Woman Economist Who Pioneered a Federal Jobs Guarantee
The topic of government job guarantees has generated increased discussion since the 2016 presidential campaign. More recently, a number of policymakers—especially 2020 election hopefuls Bernie Sanders, Cory Booker, Kamala Harris,
Austerity is subduing UK economy by £3,600 per household this year
‘Fixing’ the public sector finances has suppressed the economy by almost £100bn, around £1,500 for every woman, man and child this year alone. Today’s public sector finance release shows we’re
A Stirling cinema is asking customers to only pay what they can afford
More people can look forward to an affordable night at the cinema thanks to the Macrobert Arts Centre at the University of Stirling, which will introduce a pay-what-you-can pricing structure
‘Woeful lack of democracy’ as Liam Fox launches US trade negotiations
MPs are set to debate four post-Brexit trade deals on Thursday, in a move likely to launch formal trade negotiations with the USA and Britain’s application to join the Trans-Pacific
Economic Update: Economics of Conflicted Mothers
This week: Updates on the government shutdown’s very important lessons; U.S. teachers oppose a declining capitalism imposing its costs on the people; and firing the big banksters leaves our big
What if public insurance covered abortion? That’s the question activists are asking now.
What if public health insurance paid for abortion? More and more people are beginning to ask that question. With support for Roe v. Wade stronger than ever before, reproductive rights
Can big agribusiness adapt to a green economy?
In the last two decades the agriculture sector – particularly in the US – has become increasingly recognised as a leading driver of environmental destruction, including climate change, biodiversity loss,