Why the economic fundamentals still apply

31 July 2026|Tags: , , |

John Maynard Keynes’ acerbic remark that “…in the long run, we’re all dead” resonates because it is true, [1] and because it rightly draws attention to the here and now rather than some uncertain and distant possible future. But it has encouraged some commentators to dismiss long-term considerations as altogether irrelevant. I’m ready to bet Keynes never intended that. Political cycles in democracies practically insist on ignoring the long-term: if a policy is net costly in the short term it will

Saudi Arabia: alive with contradictions

24 July 2026|Tags: , , , |

Saudi Arabia is an oil economy that wants to maximise the value of its oil wealth while diversifying away from oil; seeking employment opportunities for a cohort of young Saudi nationals when most jobs have usually gone to immigrant labour; governed by a highly traditional, patriarchal political elite that wants to modernise without changing its fundamental character. These objectives sound unachievable because they are so confusing. But the early signs are positive, remarkably enough. Saudi seems to be finding a