Category Archives: Economics

Summary of problems with current money system

Posted on June 17, 2011 by Admin

1. It leads to highly unstable economic system as interest rate mechanism is blunt tool leading to boom and bust cycle 2. Interest means that system requires continual economic growth to avoid collapse. This is incompatible with sustainability 3. Money … Continue reading →

Posted in Currencies, Economics | View Comments

How Money Works

Posted on June 14, 2011 by Admin

Imagine this scenario. An American tourist is visiting a small village in the South of France. He arrives at a hotel and wants to checkin. The hotelier, distrusting foreigners, asks him to leave a deposit of 20 euros while the … Continue reading →

Posted in Currencies, Economics, Emerging Markets | View Comments

An alternative to rural microfinance – complementary currency

Posted on June 10, 2011 by Admin

I’ve been reading Bernard Lietaer’s amazing book “The Future of Money” which has opened my eyes to some very interesting alternative ways to look at the economy.  I’ve been interested in alternative currencies for some time, but he makes a … Continue reading →

Posted in Currencies, Economics, Microfinance, Product Development | View Comments

Accelerating technologies at the British Library

Posted on June 1, 2011 by Admin

I was in the British Library recently doing research to locate potential funding for Singularity University (where I’m headed later this month) when I decided to spend a visit to their treasures collection.  The library is one of the worlds … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Internet | View Comments

The world should focus on reducing the cost of services rather than increasing wealth

Posted on April 28, 2011 by Admin

Regular readers will know that I’m a fan of the ‘Gross National Happiness’ concept.  One of the core ideas in this is that ever higher levels of wealth don’t lead to increased happiness.  In fact somewhere around $20,000 income per … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics | View Comments

Reforming finance: are we being radical enough?

Posted on March 3, 2011 by Admin

The Clare College distingished lecture in economics this year was given by Adair Turner, the chairman of the FSA. As I went to Clare College and as radical reform of finance is a topic close to my heart I wanted … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics | View Comments

Lets see currency experimentation

Posted on February 20, 2011 by Admin

We take it for granted that the pounds and dollars we spend are the only types of currency. But why is this the case? Why should governments maintain a monopoly on creating currencies? Alternative currencies have been around for a … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Entrepreneurship, Product Development | View Comments

ISA’s are a rip off

Posted on December 7, 2010 by Admin

I had an unfortunate incident with Barclays stock brokers this afternoon. These guys have been deducting £30 plus VAT (it’s a consumer product – why quote a price plus VAT unless you are trying to be intransparent) from my bank … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics | View Comments

Society’s goal should be to create an environmentally sustainable economy that is healthy and dignified for all people – discuss?

Posted on July 18, 2010 by Admin

I came across an interesting article from the Rocafella Foundation. It addresses a question which has been bothering me for a while – what should be the goal of economic policy, and indeed society? The question matters to me as … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics | View Comments