The culture wars in numbers: we’re not as divided as we think we are June 12, 2021 “These days you get arrested and thrown in jail if you say you’re English, don’t you?” This opening gambit from a taxi driver in a Stewart Lee routine is an extreme example of the belief that speech is increasingly, and literally, policed “these days” – but it works because it reflects a real divide. The country is [...]
Multinational tax dodging strategies should be as damaging as fuelling climate change June 11, 2021 The G7’s landmark deal to tackle tax avoidance and crack down on multinational companies that treat our global economy as a financial rabbit warren, might seem a welcome step in the right direction. But until businesses start seeing tax as an investment opportunity as opposed to an unwelcome bill, it’s unlikely to make much of [...]
Citymapper helps us navigate our cities but now they need to find a way to profit June 11, 2021 There is immense value in being able to navigate around major cities on the go, avoiding the stress of checking multiple forms of transportation on varying platforms, especially as we start exploring again post-lockdown. Citymapper, an app almost ubiquitous in cities like London, is built with a simple and functional interface to make it the [...]
Screenshot: How did a software glitch break the internet? June 11, 2021 This week **Media Moment of the Week: Motty goes off the rails **How did a software glitch break the internet? **BT’s bolt from the blue Media Moment of the Week: Motty goes off the rails Look, everyone loves John Motson. He’s a juggernaut of football broadcasting and I don’t have a bad word to say [...]
There are trillions of dollars in sustainable finance and ethical investing, how do we tackle greenwashing? June 11, 2021 The announcement that the government is setting up a new group to help tackle “greenwashing” is good news for everyone. We know ethical investing is booming. Some models have ESG-linked funds outnumbering conventional ones by 2025, and the combination of climate-consciousness, social awareness, and a desire for purpose as well as profit bodes well for [...]
Female entrepreneurs are being held back by old-fashioned ideas of who can start a company June 10, 2021 London is wasting half of its talent, but it’s not just London. It’s UK wide. We’re an incredibly entrepreneurial nation. Even during a global pandemic, the capital has emerged from lockdown with 6 per cent more new businesses than from the same period last year, according to the Centre for Entrepreneurs. And yet, half of our [...]
Taxing tech giants won’t solve the problem of powerful monopolies June 10, 2021 The pandemic has delivered a valuable lesson for problem-solving: perspective is everything. When tackling major global challenges, knowing and understanding the big picture allows us to make the crucial informed decisions that ultimately yield positive results. Sometimes, however, it can be hard to see the wood for the trees. Look no further than the most [...]
Clearpay: the current credit system is broken and out of touch with consumer demands June 10, 2021 Gen Z and Millennials have developed an undeserved reputation for being bad with their money. In fact, younger generations are more savvy than ever with their finances. New types of payment methods, such as buy now pay later (BNPL) products, and bank accounts which enable flexible budgeting options are leading the market for a reason. Over half [...]
DEBATE: Will a global minimum corporate tax lead to real change for multinational giants? June 9, 2021 Chancellor Rishi Sunak has agreed to back a deal with G7 nations to create a global minimum corporate tax rate of at least 15 per cent. The agreement has been hailed a world-first to crack down on multinationals shifting profits to low-tax countries in order to skirt tax rules. The proposal, however, has also been [...]
Student loans perpetuate a broken financial system, it’s time for them to go June 9, 2021 Whitehall is preparing for a major tussle over student loans, with the Treasury increasingly concerned about the growing burden and its impact on the nation’s finances. The principle of a student loan seems simple: take one out to cover the cost of your time at university and pay it back when you start to earn [...]