A debate has raged during the last week over a ‘tiny tax on bankers to tackle poverty.’ Surely who could object to such a thing? Well, economists have been quick to point out that the tax isn’t really a tax on bankers, nor is it tiny. Oh, and it might not help the poor as much as advocates claim. Tim Harford and Owen Barder both point out that while the tax rate may be tiny [...] Read more »
Collective action on global risks
Alex Evan’s new report “Confronting the Long Crisis of Globalization” is essential reading. Multiple shocks have hit the global economy over the last decade – 9/11, food and fuel price spike and the credit crunch. They have revealed the international system’s failure to manage collective risks. We could also add climate change, especially after the disappointment of Copenhagen. Alex provides a new take on why the system has failed and suggests some ideas for improving [...] Read more »
