Productivity

Globalisation: the fightback for a fairer world begins

International trade has led to an equally global backlash from citizens of advanced economies against the economic deprivation to which they feel exposed, John Egan writes. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and…


Artificial knee replacement – a Brexit canary

Are your aching knees becoming rather more painful? If the answer is yes, the United Kingdom industrial strategy could have particular pertinence. John Egan traces the path medical technologies might take as…


Productivity blues

A slew of new United Kingdom productivity statistics were yesterday released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The headlines tell a familiar story, but dig deeper and the UK appears a…


Four charts, two scenarios and a dilemma

UK Prime Minister Theresa May could find herself on the horns of a dilemma She has a problem. To quell the unrest that led to the Brexit vote she needs to address…


The big read: Life under the all-seeing “I”

Stefano Ermon of Stanford University’s Artificial Intelligence Lab speaks to Chief-Exec.com  about the hopes and hazards of a world populated by learning machines   As anyone who has ever tried to get…


Wherein lies the future for economic migration?

In the forthcoming trade-off between migration controls and access to European Union (EU) markets, the UK economy could be hit from both sides, leading to a possible lose-lose outcome. This is the…


Migration fault lines revealed

Few issues stir up such strident opinion as migration. From the wish to control borders and protect jobs and communities, to the need to open the door wide and welcome workers with…


Hammond bets on a productive future

In 51 minutes and with 15 references to “productivity” the UK Chancellor Philip Hammond threw more light on what a post-Brexit Britain could look like than all the uncountable hours of hints…


October economic round-up

It is official The economic weather following the Brexit referendum on June 23 was generally mild.  Earlier stormy forecasts proved to be off the mark, though a few areas have witnessed significant…