@econromesh
Economics writer on new findings, policy analysis & commentary from a wide range of researchers & institutions Editor-in-chief of the Economics Observatory; Clark Center for Global Markets, Chicago; VoxEU; NIESR
#AdamSmith: an economist for his times & ours
On the 250th anniversary of #TheWealthofNations, here's an overview of activities in mid-2023 to mark the 300th birthday of the father of economics
@econ-observatory.bsky.social @uofgasbs.bsky.social
www.economicsobservatory.com/adam-smith-a...
The immediate economic fallout from war in the Middle East lies in oil/gas price spikes & aviation/shipping disruptions; the countries most vulnerable to future inflation from these shocks combine energy import dependency with weak external balances, #UK
www.economicsobservatory.com/how-might-th...
Quick read: the effect of automation on manufacturing jobs. By Aniket Baksy Daniel Chandler and Peter John Lambert. In CentrePiece magazine. https://cep.lse.ac.uk/_new/publications/abstract.asp?index=12049
Ahead of his LSE lecture tonight, Philippe Aghion shares the paper that most inspired him in 2025 – Xavier Jaravel and Friedrich Geiecke's study into using AI-led interviews for research.
In CentrePiece magazine.
https://cep.lse.ac.uk/_new/publications/abstract.asp?index=12051
An industrial strategy focuses support on specific industries. Aadya Bahl asks how this will play out in Manchester: https://cep.lse.ac.uk/_new/publications/abstract.asp?index=12026
Out now! Latest issue of CentrePiece magazine. On the cover: uni admissions and social mobility. Understanding why some private school pupils end up on better courses than state school peers with the same grades.
https://cep.lse.ac.uk/_new/publications/centrepiece/
Excellent column.
“Your teachers don’t know what skills will be most valuable in the future. Your parents don’t know. Even the OECD’s head of skills analysis doesn’t know”.
www.ft.com/content/0409...
CEPR & @wipo.int present the online report launch: Where Music Meets Finance: From Music Rights to Alternative Investment
03.03.2026 @ 16h CET | Zoom
W/ @tomvalletti.bsky.social, @cpeukert.bsky.social, Dennis Collopy, Martin Kretschmer, Audu Maikori, & Carsten Fink
cepr.org/events/where...
#EconSky
Congrats to Brian Bell @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social on his appointment as chief economic adviser at HM Treasury & head of UK Government Economic Service; here's background on his research @cep-lse.bsky.social on labour markets, inequality/mobility, immigration, crime cep.lse.ac.uk/_new/people/...
It is with great sadness that we have learnt of the death of our friend and colleague Prof Sir David Metcalf. Together with Richard Layard and Stephen Nickell, David set up the Centre for Labour Economics which became CEP in 1990. Read more:
https://cep.lse.ac.uk/_new/news/abstract.asp?index=11063
More than 2/3 of humanity live in countries where fertility has fallen below level needed for a stable population; this shift is transforming economies, raising questions about ageing populations, shrinking workforces & sustainability of welfare states
www.economicsobservatory.com/how-could-fa...
Would capping credit card interest rates at 10% make most users better off? And how would it affect access to credit for low-income borrowers? A year ago, we asked the US finance experts regularly polled by @kentclarkcenter.bsky.social
kentclarkcenter.org/surveys/capp...
From digital failures in the UK’s justice system to the Post Office tragedy & widespread anxiety about artificial intelligence across the world, the pace of technological change is testing the capacity of society’s core institutions to adapt & adopt #FutureShock
www.economicsobservatory.com/future
UK financial policy: higher macro-financial risk & sharply reduced fiscal capacity point to a need for higher bank capital requirements rather than the lower ones that @bankofengland.bsky.social announced in December 2025 - David Aikman & John Vickers @voxeu.org
cepr.org/voxeu/column...
Clark Center's @econromesh.bsky.social will moderate a session at Chicago Booth’s Economic Outlook on Jan 28th! The panel includes Veronica Guerrieri, Chang-Tai Hsieh, and Luigi Zingales (Faculty Director @stiglercenter.bsky.social).
Ben Bernanke and Janet Yellen on why the independence of the Fed matters: a (very) short video. via @brookings.edu youtu.be/xeIAlIEzlI8
Real-time indicator of #Eurozone economy rose slightly in December 2025; positive indications for the performance of services continued to support #Eurocoin, which also benefited from signs of recovery in the construction sector, @cepr.org @voxeu.org
cepr.org/about/news/e...
'Nimble Romer, resolute Aghion, winsome Howitt, and masterful Mokyr: four different temperaments, at long last together on the same page' - fascinating piece by David Warsh on #EconomicsNobel rivalries
davidwarsh.substack.com/p/the-other-...
This online, PhD-level course in the economics of innovation is a huge opportunity.
Taught by some of the world's top scholars on this: @heidiwilliams.bsky.social, Chad Jones, Azoulay, van Reenen, many others! (Also: me.)
Cost=zero. Applications due January 9th! #EconSky @ifp.bsky.social
V much enjoyed this.
How Jane Austen revealed the economic basis of society
economist.com/christmas-sp...
from The Economist
Once principal architect & guarantor of the rules-based international system, the US now actively challenges the institutions & norms it created; direction of travel is towards a world with higher trade barriers, weaker institutions & more fragile growth, @cepr.org ebook
cepr.org/voxeu/column...
Europe’s long-term prosperity depends on its ability to generate & absorb disruptive innovation; policy needs to shift from supporting established firms to funding bold, bottom-up ideas, especially from small, independent companies
@voxeu.org
cepr.org/voxeu/column...
A blog on innovation, universities and the regions that really, really need them. Written with my very good colleague @jcaustin.bsky.social and published by IPS (International Politics & Society) in Berlin.
www.ips-journal.eu/work-and-dig...
The UK tax system creates marginal rates above 60% - even 100% for some parents. These spikes discourage work and growth, with high-earners cutting hours and boosting pensions. Smoothing these could boost growth without cutting revenue. #Budget2025 buff.ly/b8vlop5
Closing the productivity gap – regional insights for the West of England
Final day of Bristol #economicsfest looks at the local economy
@thebrunelcentre.bsky.social @econ-observatory.bsky.social
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/closing-th...
Just been on a great panel at the Bristol Festival of Economics... There was loads of both policy meat and context to get to grips with. Agreement and disagreement abounded! 👍
Did the vote for Brexit lead to a rise in hate crime?
#economicsfest debate on polarisation
www.economicsobservatory.com/did-the-vote...
Really looking forward to chairing a panel at Bristol econ festival on Weds, on the very timely topic, “what is the future of migration?” - lots of other great discussions too 👇🏻
Bristol festival of economics 2025
This week @econ-observatory.bsky.social @wshed.bsky.social
14th great year of an annual forum for public debate in times of crisis #economicsfest
HT the founders: @dianecoyle1859.bsky.social @andrewkelly.bsky.social
www.economicsobservatory.com/festival-of-...
‘When Adam Smith wrote “It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer or the baker that we expect our dinner but from their regard to their own interest,” he omitted any discussion of the unpaid work of his mother (& later his sister) that went into cooking his dinner.’ on.ft.com/4olyOut