BUSINESS
UK millionaire exodus is more drip than flood
Taxes notwithstanding, the rise of economic nationalism may be diminishing the appeal of the ultra-rich nomadic lifestyle
BUSINESS
Britain's council debt crisis is metastasizing
The lawns of suburban London have become a leading indicator of the state of local authority finances
BUSINESS
Regulating The Premier League: UK meddles with a $10 billion export earner
An independent regulator, who won't be 'overtly interventionist', has powers to redistribute revenue between the Premier League and lower tiers. The influx of money from broadcasting rights and commercial sponsorship has led to better stadiums, attracted the world’s best players, and driven up ticket prices. Keeping both investors and fans happy, and the Premier League bandwagon rolling, will test the new regulator
WORLD
Brexit’s lasting damage is looking inescapable
For most of this century, the UK was the biggest beneficiary among the 27 countries in the EU. Measured by gross domestic product, GDP per capita growth, unemployment and superior debt, equity and currency valuations, Britain was the perennial leader. Now on all these, the situation has reversed and the UK is trailing
BUSINESS
Will Britain let China browbeat its universities?
A recent incident of a University College London lecturer being barred from teaching a research module after Chinese students complained that it was “provocative” has kicked off a debate on academic ideals and commercial pragmatism. Overseas students in the UK pay on average 2.4 times more tuition fees than domestic counterparts, providing a critical revenue stream that any administrator would be loath to jeopardise
TRENDS
Smartphones for kids were a Faustian bargain
Children who spend a large part of their formative years in a virtual world are missing out on face-to-face interactions that help to build strong social bonds and resilience. This applies even more to social media, which replicates real-world interactions though removes the filters that modulate behavior in real-world interactions
BUSINESS
UK universities grapple with who to prioritise: International or domestic students?
Recruiting overseas students to supplement a shortfall in revenue is reasonable. When this income stream becomes so important that institutions are willing to prioritise international applicants over better-qualified local students, though, it’s a sign that the system’s incentives have become skewed
TRENDS
Club Football: The beautiful game belongs to the accountants now
The Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules attempts to limit the destabilizing effect of super-rich owners, and they restrict clubs to losing a maximum of £105 million ($133 million) over three years. The result has been a scramble to ensure compliance while still spending enough to remain competitive, which in turn has elevated the importance of clubs’ accounting policies
BUSINESS
The number that hijacked the UK housing crisis
Britain’s two main political parties don’t agree on much, but they agree on how to tackle the country’s housing crisis: Build 300,000 homes a year. But with construction falling short of this target year after year, another question needs to be asked: How was this number arrived at?
BUSINESS
British Museum: Would you trust your marbles with these people?
After the theft, loss or damage of around 2,000 items, the genteel world of museum curation in Britain has gotten much more interesting
BUSINESS
There's a whiff of rebellion in London's air
Raising the cost of driving high-polluting vehicles in London is testing the mayor’s convictions
TRENDS
Women's football is just starting to roar
The success of the World Cup comes on the back of average attendance for the Women’s Super League rising more than eightfold between 2017 and 2022. Many marketing people and investors are now rubbing their hands in anticipation with exponential growth certain to continue now
BUSINESS
Jaguar gets the UK onto the starting grid in the EV race
A new battery factory provides a welcome win for the government and the British auto industry
BUSINESS
Sewage smells sweet in the stock market
Publicly traded water companies are facing flak in UK for sewage leaks into rivers and beaches prompting fresh investments, but higher consumer bills down the line. The handsome returns these utility companies are providing shareholders is under the scanner, raising doubts whether they are ploughing enough capital back into the business
BUSINESS
Swiss bankers forgot they're meant to be boring
Life got a little too exciting at Credit Suisse
TRENDS
A Qatari bid for Manchester United would be a mismatch
Investors linked to the state already control France’s Paris Saint-Germain
