How smaller businesses can become net-zero influencers and enablers
Richard K. Blundel, The Open University - What if all of the UK’s 48,000 hairdressing salons and barbershops started sharing water and energy-saving advice with their clients, alongside a clipper cut or a...
China’s capitalist reforms are said to have moved 800 million out of extreme poverty – new data suggests the opposite
Dylan Sullivan, Macquarie University; Jason Hickel, Autonomous University of Barcelona, and Michail Moatsos, Maastricht University It has become an article of faith among many economists that China’s pro-market reforms of the 1980s and 1990s...
Traineeships and other opportunities for young people in the EU
Young people eager to work with EU institutions, bodies or agencies have numerous options to gain valuable experience. Traineeships offer young professionals practical work experience and skill acquisition before transitioning to regular employment, while volunteering allows for practical skill development and is ideal for those looking to make a positive impact. The European Commission offers the Blue Book programme, a 5-month paid traineeship open to all EU citizens with a limited number of places also allocated to non-EU nationals. Trainees gain hands-on experience in various areas of EU policy-making, human resources, translation, and other fields, contributing to projects that shape the future of Europe. Applications for traineeships starting in March 2025 are open until 31...
Ukraine war 12 months on: the role of the Russian media in reporting – and justifying – the conflict
James Rodgers, City, University of London - The media war that has accompanied Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has shown how important a part of...
Matching state pension to the national living wage would help pensioners maintain their dignity
Chris Parry, Cardiff Metropolitan University - A question that is perennially asked by financial experts is: “can the government (in other words, the taxpayer) afford to keep increasing pensions?”...
Jobs are up, wages less so – and lower purchasing power could still lead the US into a recession
Christopher Decker, University of Nebraska Omaha - Don’t be overly fooled by seemingly rosy jobs data heading into the Labor Day weekend. Yes, the U.S. economy added 187,000 jobs in August 2023 – faster than the revised 157,000 increase for July and above most analysts’ expectations for the month. And yes, gains were seen across most industries, with health care...
“Creating Prosperity Together”: How the social economy model saved the English city of Preston
For a long time, Preston was the centre of industry in England. But when the city’s big companies decided to move production to low-wage countries, the economy collapsed and Preston plunged into a...
A stronger voice for workers in EU-based multinational companies
Workers will be better represented in EU-based multinational companies thanks to new rules for the so-called European Works Councils (EWCs). These...
