West Street, Fareham (56) by Barry Shimmon, CC BY-SA 2.0 By Dr Alice Moore, Assistant Professor in Public Management and Public Policy School of Government, University of Birmingham One of the headline announcements from last week’s Budget was £1.8 billion for compensation to victims of the Post Office scandal. Yet the money Rachel Reeves allocated to … Continue reading “Why money isn’t enough to solve the problem of the Post Office Horizon replacement”
Author: Guest editor
Immersive worlds: Well-being in the (sometimes) blurred boundaries and realities of gaming
By Dr Daniel Wheatley, University of Birmingham; Dr Emma J Breeze, University of Birmingham; Helen Greetham, University of Birmingham; and Mikayla Sinead, Bridge Network Group The singer Raye recently said in an interview that gaming is her secret to escaping life. It appears she’s not the only one. Gaming is a massive worldwide industry employing … Continue reading “Immersive worlds: Well-being in the (sometimes) blurred boundaries and realities of gaming”
Why hold an academic event about Taylor Swift?
By Professor Sarah Montano Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham We were delighted to host The Taylor Swift Phenomenon as part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science, a standout event that received BBC press coverage for its engaging exploration of cultural influence. Taylor Swift’s ascent to iconic status compels us to examine how society … Continue reading “Why hold an academic event about Taylor Swift?”
What’s the impact of the US election on crypto?
By Dr Anandadeep Mandal Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham The relationship between the US elections and the cryptocurrency market has grown increasingly intertwined as digital assets become more mainstream and significant in the global financial system. As one of the largest and most developed economies, the US plays a critical role in shaping the … Continue reading “What’s the impact of the US election on crypto?”
Labour’s new Employment Rights Bill: an initial assessment
By Tony Dobbins, Professor of Work and Employment Relations Department of Management, Birmingham Business School The Labour Government’s new Employment Rights Bill undoubtedly heralds a significant boost in workers’ rights after 14 years of Conservative government espousal of a liberalized flexible labour market model – translated as let the market run its course/let people do … Continue reading “Labour’s new Employment Rights Bill: an initial assessment”
Corporal Punishment: Then & Now
By Dr Emma Watkins, Associate Professor in Criminology School of Social Policy and Society, University of Birmingham The topic of corporal punishment evokes passionate responses by those on both sides of the debate. It has always been a contested subject. Historically, the regulations concerning corporal punishment differed according to age, sex and context. Meaning, not … Continue reading “Corporal Punishment: Then & Now”
Global financial markets in turmoil: How the Israel-Iran tensions are shaking equities, commodities and crypto
By Dr Anandadeep Mandal Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham The recent flare-up in conflict between Israel and Iran has sent seismic tremors through global financial markets. Investors are navigating a period of intense volatility as equity markets tumble, oil prices surge, and safe-haven assets like gold experience dramatic gains. This geopolitical escalation has added … Continue reading “Global financial markets in turmoil: How the Israel-Iran tensions are shaking equities, commodities and crypto”
The Bank of England has maintained its base interest rate – what does that mean for UK Real Estate?
By Dr Anandadeep Mandal Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham In September 2024, the Bank of England (BoE) made the strategic decision to maintain its base interest rate at 5.25%. This move follows a series of interest rate hikes in response to inflationary pressures throughout 2023 and early 2024. The decision to pause further rate … Continue reading “The Bank of England has maintained its base interest rate – what does that mean for UK Real Estate?”
Harris baits Trump into self-sabotage
By Dr Adam Quinn, Department of Political Science and International Studies, School of Government, University of Birmingham The question going into Tuesday’s debate was which candidate could more successfully exploit the format to expose their opponent’s biggest weaknesses in front of the largest audience of the campaign. By that standard, Donald Trump performed extremely poorly … Continue reading “Harris baits Trump into self-sabotage”
Social housing repairs and maintenance: challenges, consequences, and a way forward
By Dr Hannah Absalom, University of Birmingham Social housing is meant to provide secure and affordable homes for those who need them most, but residents often face significant hurdles with repairs and maintenance. These issues impact not only the physical state of the property but the wellbeing of residents, leading to stress, health problems, and … Continue reading “Social housing repairs and maintenance: challenges, consequences, and a way forward”