By Donald Houston, Professor of Regional Economic Development and Rebecca Riley, Associate Professor Enterprise, Engagement, and Impact HS2 has always suffered from a branding failure. HS2 sounds rather anodyne and the ‘2’ reminds those north of London that they were only playing catch-up on London’s existing HS1 to the south (the Channel Tunnel rail link). … Continue reading “London Wins Again – The Debacle of the UK’s High-speed Rail ‘strategy’ ”
Author: Guest Editor
Intergenerational Fairness and the UK State Pension
By Andy Mullineux, Emeritus Professor of Financial Economics, Centre for Responsible Business and CHASM The UK scheme is not generous when compared to international peers, indeed rather the reverse, but it does have a safety net for those most heavily reliant upon it. The UK’s ‘triple lock’ state pension scheme was designed to ensure pension … Continue reading “Intergenerational Fairness and the UK State Pension”
Taxing Behaviour
By Andy Mullineux, Emeritus Professor of Financial Economics, Centre for Responsible Business and CHASM So-called ‘sin taxes’ are controversial, given the addictive nature of the underlying consumption, and are opposed by libertarians. Moreover, hypothecation to fund the NHS and treatment of the associated addictions might further increase their acceptability. The new Alcohol Duty regime, which … Continue reading “Taxing Behaviour”
Wilko – What went wrong?
By Professor Sarah Montano Department of Marketing Over the last few weeks, the retail sector has been reeling from the news that we have lost yet another familiar name from the high street. Wilko, the much-loved homeware and household goods store, has gone into administration, causing all 400 stores to close and the loss of … Continue reading “Wilko – What went wrong?”
The Impact of the Black Hole in Local Authority Budgets, and its impact on services
By Associate Professor Rebecca Riley and Dr. Abigail Taylor, City-REDI The BBC has recently highlighted the looming black hole in Local authority Budgets. The average council now faces a £33m ($42m) predicted deficit by 2025-26 – a rise of 60% from £20m two years ago. Unison said the situation meant some councils would not be … Continue reading “The Impact of the Black Hole in Local Authority Budgets, and its impact on services”
Are E-Scooters a Solution or a Hazard?
By Dr. Magda Cepeda-Zorilla, Department of of Strategy and International Business Summary In this blog I write about the return of e-scooters to Birmingham with a new rental company. I emphasise the absence of research on the advantages and disadvantages of using this mode of transport in the West Midlands. So far, the majority of … Continue reading “Are E-Scooters a Solution or a Hazard?”
Unlocking the Future of UK Mortgages: The Case for Long-Term Fixes and Securitisation
By Andrew Mullineux, Emeritus Professor of Financial Economics, Centre for Responsible Business and CHASM Until this week’s ‘price war’ among the major lenders, UK mortgage rates had been at their highest since the financial crisis in 2008, causing sleepless nights for those needing to remortgage after enjoying much lower two, or five-year fixed terms. And … Continue reading “Unlocking the Future of UK Mortgages: The Case for Long-Term Fixes and Securitisation”
UK strike wave symptomatic of austerity and underinvestment crisis
By Tony Dobbins, Professor of Work and Employment Relations Department of Management The right to strike or withdraw labour is a fundamental human right in a democratic free society, but is now challenging in the UK due to anti trade union laws enacted in recent decades, including a new Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill 2023. … Continue reading “UK strike wave symptomatic of austerity and underinvestment crisis”
With a mortgage crisis looming, where’s the concern for renters?
By Andrew Mullineux, Emeritus Professor of Financial Economics, Centre for Responsible Business and CHASM The interest rate increase by the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee on 22 June in response to persistent inflation seems unlikely to be its last. Mortgage rates have returned to the peaks reached last autumn and government bond rates have … Continue reading “With a mortgage crisis looming, where’s the concern for renters?”
The Great Work Debate: Office vs. Remote
By Dr Jing Du, Associate Professor and Senior Lecturer in Accounting and Finance Department of Finance, University of Birmingham The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped the landscape of work, pushing businesses and employees to explore new ways of operating. It brought about an unprecedented disruption to traditional work patterns, forcing organisations and employees to embrace remote … Continue reading “The Great Work Debate: Office vs. Remote”