How ‘scenarios thinking’ can help localise net-zero targets from COP27

By Dr Nana Osei Bonsu, Research Fellow Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business, University of Birmingham Yet businesses and states went home empty-handed, with their numerous delegates achieving no significant and clear pathways to keep the 1.5-degrees target alive. So what now? Countries and businesses worldwide are stepping up their commitments to reduce greenhouse … Continue reading “How ‘scenarios thinking’ can help localise net-zero targets from COP27”

The UK’s broken promises need mending at COP27

By Professor Ian Thomson Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business, Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham Businesses have to change and adapt if the UK is to reach its net zero targets and keep its COP26 promises. But they need governments to set an example with clear and consistent net zero measurements and policie … Continue reading “The UK’s broken promises need mending at COP27”

Love me Do: How to fall in love with your local high street

By Dr Sarah Montano Birmingham Business School In 20 years’ time, as a society, do we want to look back and wish that we had saved our high-streets and not missed our window of opportunity? During the pandemic, one of the key changes in the retail sector was that consumers went back to shopping locally … Continue reading “Love me Do: How to fall in love with your local high street”

Interest Rates Hike: A Double-Edged Sword

By Dr Jing Du Assistant Professor in Finance, Birmingham Business School We should not panic and know that in the war to combat inflation, the UK is not alone. At the end of September, the Bank of England (BoE) announced an increase in interest rates, the seventh consecutive rise since December 2021. The increase of … Continue reading “Interest Rates Hike: A Double-Edged Sword”

The Benefits (and Limits) of Learning by Exporting

By Dr Christian Darko Department of Management According to the World Bank, nearly 30% of global domestic product is made up of exports, up from less than 20% as recently as 1990. As globalisation marches on, how are firms in different countries impacted in unique ways? The disruptions in the global supply chain, brought about … Continue reading “The Benefits (and Limits) of Learning by Exporting”

Growth and the City: Back to the Future

By Professor Andy Mullineux Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business, Emeritus Professor of Financial Economics But the underfunding spooked the capital markets, putting pressure on the pound and government (‘gilt-edged’) bond prices, raising the cost of government borrowing and mortgages, and exacerbating the cost-of-living pressures. The Blair-Brown government, elected in 1997, adopted a Thatcherism-lite … Continue reading “Growth and the City: Back to the Future”

How insincere attempts at diversity and inclusion are failing the UK’s ethnically diverse workforce

By Olivia Tomlinson Research Fellow, Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business Celebrate differences, and finally stop encouraging colleagues to “be more white” – because in the words of one male survey respondent, “if we keep doing the same thing we will end up with the same results”. As with every October in the UK, … Continue reading “How insincere attempts at diversity and inclusion are failing the UK’s ethnically diverse workforce”

Will the Energy Price Guarantee prevent households from falling into fuel poverty?

By Dr Lindsey Appleyard, CHASM Associate Assistant Professor (Research), Coventry University On 8 September, the new Prime Minister, Liz Truss announced that an energy price cap will be introduced to protect households from spiralling energy costs. This is because household energy costs have doubled in the last year from an average of £1,277 to the … Continue reading “Will the Energy Price Guarantee prevent households from falling into fuel poverty?”

Passenger caps and staff shortages: a crisis for tourism

By Dr Heather Jeffrey Birmingham Business School in Dubai, University of Birmingham In the midst of what has been a long, hot summer in the UK, many have been looking forward to getting away after over two years of severely reduced international mobility due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. However, many have had their hopes … Continue reading “Passenger caps and staff shortages: a crisis for tourism”

Is British politics really a misogynistic profession?

By Dr Scott Taylor Professor in Leadership & Organisation Studies, Department of Management Women were formally excluded from practising politics, and from participation by voting, until relatively recently. As the UK Parliament rises today for its summer recess, there will some who hope that the break, along with the Conservative leadership drama, is enough to … Continue reading “Is British politics really a misogynistic profession?”