Western blocs are once again a fashionable target. This is the case for the EU which, across America and Europe itself, has been increasingly criticised, and even vilified, as faulty. Economic growth has been underwhelming (S8),  a problem overshadowed by red tape, which consistently drags bureaucracy (S9).  In a time of geopolitical volatility (S20) , the failure of urgent collective decision making is a modern Achilles heel. The implied alternative, often hinted and sometim

Keir Starmer’s election looked to be the beginning of a new era of British politics – an end to 14 years of conservative incompetency and the horrors of austerity.  Over the past 18 months, progress has felt slow, with many voters left dissatisfied . As a result, Starmer and his cabinet have seen much – mostly valid – scrutiny. There are, however, areas in which Starmer has excelled, a major for me being his leadership on the international stage. Starmer’s pragmatic approach

In 2013, the Rana Plaza garment factory in Bangladesh collapsed , killing more than 1,100 workers and injuring thousands more. The building housed suppliers producing clothes for global fashion brands, including many selling into European markets. Despite visible cracks the day before the disaster, workers were ordered back to work. Rana Plaza became a symbol of the gulf between glossy corporate codes of conduct, and the dangerous reality faced by workers in global supply cha

Africa’s largest economy, South Africa, has seen little growth over the last decade, expanding by less than 1% annually. Yet recent figures suggest a change may be imminent.    Since the formation of the ‘Government of National Unity’ coalition government in 2024, President Cyril Ramaphosa has been taking action to spur economic growth. Central to his plan is Operation Vulindlela – isiZulu for ‘clear the path’ – which has aimed to tackle issues including power, transport, wat

Despite the increase in the use of AI tools  to screen candidates, elaborate online assessments, and an emerging trend of ‘target’ and ‘non-target’ universities , interviews remain a key part of the application process for graduates, internships and academic opportunities. Whilst the other parts of the application focus on the technical, numerical, and analytical skills necessary to do the role, interviews serve as more of a ‘vibe-check’ of soft skills, assessing how clearly

Writers: Finley Sutcliffe, Wilf Beadel, Jamie Cresswell, Ananth Eswaran, and Oliver Hulme

For decades, the United States has been the dominant global leader in technological output and diplomatic influence. With the most powerful military and the largest economy, the United States has shaped international affairs through alliance building and has long served as the model that many nations aspire to emulate. In 2025, however, social media feeds are inundated with stories about the increasingly negative outlook among younger Americans. A reported 97 percent of Gen-Z

Netflix’s agreement to acquire Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) for $83bn marks one of the most significant shifts in modern entertainment history. Not since Disney’s takeover of 21st Century Fox has Hollywood experienced a restructuring on this scale.  If approved, it will unite the world’s largest streaming platform with one of the most celebrated legacy studios, combining Netflix’s 450M+ global subscribers with the century-spanning IP portfolio, including Harry Potter, Batman,

For two decades China has powered global growth, contributing towards roughly one-third of the world's GDP expansion. That era is fading, as a combination of property weakness, aging demographics and weaker productivity is pushing China into a structurally lower growth path. The World Bank notes that potential growth is now on a “declining trend” unless deep reforms are implemented to shift the economy away from debt-fueled investment towards productivity and consumption.   W

Goldman Sachs has announced a $2 billion acquisition of Innovator Capital Management, a specialist in defined outcome exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The deal is structured as a mix of cash and stock (subject to performance targets) and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, which may change due to regulations and other factors. This acquisition highlights Goldman’s ambition to strengthen its position in the rapidly growing ETF market.  Marc Nachmann, Head of Asset

Netflix has agreed to purchase Warner Bros’ firm and its streaming assets, which marks one of the most dramatic turning points in the entertainment industry in decades. The value of the deal is between $72 billion and $82.7 billion, transforming Netflix from the leading streamer into a hybrid giant. For example, it combines vast libraries and major franchises such as Harry Potter and Game of Thrones. Furthermore, this acquisition marks a shift in competitive dynamics, as trad

Introduction Jane Street Capital was founded on 31 st  August 1999 and existed as a relatively small quantitative trading firm for most of its lifetime. However in recent years it has blown up to stand face to face with  the old Wall Street titans such as Morgan Stanely and Goldman Sachs, taking up over 10% of North American equity trading volume in 2024.  The firm focuses their effort on exploiting strange trading patterns and arbitrage opportunities. Around the beginning of

With the recent   failure of COP30 to bring about new pledges to cut fossil fuels , and dwindling support for the COP process altogether, climate efforts seem to be ( literally ) going up in flames, with net zero goals bleaker than ever.     Despite efforts,  fossil fuels still supply around 82% of the world’s energy , and this seems unlikely to change any time soon. Can we escape our reliance? Are we in too deep? Ramón Méndez Galain and Uruguay’s green transition seems to su

In the classic ‘ lemons problem’  in economics, when buyers cannot distinguish genuine sustainability from greenwashing, the entire market suffers. High-quality suppliers are forced to withdraw, and the market gradually becomes flooded with inferior products. Today’s ESG market faces a similar crisis. This is a market failure driven by information asymmetry, capital is misallocated, and systemic risk increases. The global markets are flooded with companies that project an ima

As governments and businesses accelerate efforts to reach net-zero emissions, a new question is emerging: who pays for the transition? The concept of a just transition i.e. a fair shift to a low-carbon economy that protects workers, industries and regions, has become central to climate policy. Yet balancing environmental goals with social stability remains one of the hardest parts of the net-zero journey.  A fair shift or a fragmented one? The idea originates from the Interna

The declining number of children who read regularly is a well-known issue.  However, has the surrounding discourse affected any change? So far, it would seem not, with low literacy rates continuing to further economic inequality, with further impacts including future costs to the NHS, lost opportunity costs for the affected individuals, and a struggle for Britain to maintain its position on the global stage.    Literacy are on a slippery slope in the UK, with reports of child

The 2025 job market is proving to be the toughest for fresh graduates in years. Indeed  claim that the rise of AI has created the worst environment for new job seekers since 2018, with graduate roles down 33% compared to the year before. The Guardian  reports that, according to new research, AI could replace as many as 3 million low-skilled workers in a decade.  However, this isn't just a simple AI problem. ChatGPT was first released in late November 2022, but data on monthly

If there’s one thing students hate almost as much as exams, it’s interviews. Whether they’re for internships, placements, or grad roles, the process feels like a mini boss fight. Interviews are one of those things everyone pretends to be fine about, but secretly hate. You sit there, quietly sweating, while a stranger asks questions like, “Tell me about a time you worked under pressure”, and suddenly every single memory you’ve ever had disappears from your brain.  So when I ha

Imagine hiking in a vast mountain range, shrouded in fog. You climb steadily, and eventually reach a hilltop that seems high and safe. From there, you can see lower valleys all around, so you assume you have reached the summit. Later, as the fog lifts, you realise taller peaks lie beyond, hidden until the fog lifts. This is exactly the problem that modern computer algorithms face, especially those used in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Algorithms often find sol

The artificial intelligence sector has become a magnet for global investment, drawing vast sums from technology giants and financial institutions. The latest deal to fuel this activity is a multi-billion-pound agreement between Microsoft, Nvidia and Anthropic, which has reignited speculation about whether the AI industry is entering bubble territory. Whilst the scale of the investment is unprecedented, its structure is equally striking, raising questions about whether capital