Christmas quiz: Test your knowledge December 22, 2014 Deloitte’s chief economist, poses some of the trickiest questions of the year. How many can you get right? Answers are at the bottom. 1 The Louvre is the world’s most popular art gallery, with 9.3m visits in 2013. How many visits did people make to Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Florida in the same year? a) [...]
Are Christmas presents a waste of money? Don’t listen to the Scrooge economists December 22, 2014 In recent weeks, millions of us have struggled to buy Christmas gifts for friends and family. In many cases, it’s incredibly difficult to work out what someone you rarely see might want or need. Scarred by memories of that awful Christmas jumper, the ghastly socks, or those rubbish “games” sold in male clothing stores, [...]
How all Londoners can help end the tragedy of people sleeping rough December 22, 2014 The amazing story of Dominique Harrison-Bentzen must be one of the most heart-warming of the year. Late one night, having lost her bank card, the 22-year old student was offered £3 for a taxi by a homeless man concerned for her safety. Her response to this incredible act of selflessness was to find the man [...]
As police unions slam New York’s mayor, could the city be losing faith in its cops? December 22, 2014 Kate Andrews works at the Adam Smith Institute, says Yes The death of Eric Garner, after an incident with police officers, has become a national tragedy in the US, in part because Americans know it wasn’t isolated. The New York Daily News found that at least 179 people were killed by on-duty New York Police [...]
Why politics will dominate 2015: Losers and winners in this maddening new era December 21, 2014 When I started my political risk firm in 2006, about one-third of my opening pitch was simply arguing that political risk matters to often highly-sceptical executives, who wondered why they were wasting their time talking about Middle East politics rather than making money. Suffice it to say, I have now been forced to entirely re-write [...]
It’s been a positive year for the City – let’s hope 2015 will be the same December 21, 2014 The City can feel incredibly quiet at this time of year. We see nowhere near the usual number of daily commuters heading in and out of the Square Mile, as people set off early on their well-deserved Christmas break. But this provides us with an ideal opportunity to reflect on the year, and to consider [...]
The critics are wrong: Our bold plans for new homes for London will benefit all December 21, 2014 As London's population soars towards the 9m mark, it’s vital that we take every step we can to deliver the jobs and homes our growing city needs. And Old Oak Common, a once-forgotten part of west London, represents a once-in-a-lifetime chance to create a brand new piece of the capital with up to 24,000 new [...]
After a dismal year for the FTSE 100, could 2015 finally see it go past the 7,000 mark? December 21, 2014 Laith Khalaf is senior analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, says Yes. As we enter 2015, the prospects for UK stock markets and the FTSE 100 in particular are finely balanced. There are a number of destabilising events at play. First, the general election in May is likely to give the markets a case of the jitters, [...]
How to make a presentation without boring your audience December 19, 2014 How to make a presentation without boring your audience Not all presentations are exciting. Not every speech will change the world. But giving good presentations and speeches can preserve your world, secure promotions and enhance how much you earn. Which are all nice. In your business life, you are more likely to have to give [...]
Smellovision and internet parties: 2015 predictions December 18, 2014 AS 2014 draws to a close, we’re all starting to think about what 2015 will bring. Will the economy soar or slump? Will we have an inconclusive general election? Will oil prices sag even further downwards? At Nesta, each year we try to pinpoint the biggest social and technological trends that could shape our lives [...]