According to data published earlier this month, the UK economy expanded by 0.5% in the month of February. That’s an impressive figure, particularly when you annualise it, as our friends across the pond tend to do. Annualising turns 0.5% into 6.2%! February’s growth estimate was much stronger than expected, beating the Reuters Poll consensus by 0.4 percentage points, in month-on-month terms, and that is what grabbed the headlines. But should it have done? How accurate are initial estimates of monthly

The iconic Casino de Monte-Carlo perches on a cliff in the Monte Carlo district of the Principality of Monaco, overlooking the coastline of the French riviera. Princess Caroline, the de facto regent of Monaco, officially opened the palatial gambling den in July 1865 as she sought to turn the principality’s finances around. Two towns — Menton and Roquebrune — had broken away from Monaco, taking with them their much-needed tax revenues. The casino flourished and succeeded in transforming Monaco’s economy,

Every spring, we wage war on our wardrobes, dig through drawers of tangled chargers, and maybe even feel virtuous about evicting a forgotten printer. It is a familiar ritual — a quiet act of self-renewal, part tidying up, part taking stock. And while our homes may get lighter, our systems rarely do. Economies, like attics and garages, are packed with things we no longer need: outdated subsidies, faltering industries, policies built for a different era. Some are too politically sensitive

The Milles Collines is a beautiful hotel in Kigali, perched atop one of the hills that gives Rwanda its nickname: the land of one thousand hills. The back terrace looks out onto a tropical garden dotted with bougainvillea. Today, it is an oasis of calm in a peaceful city, but it was made famous as an oasis from unimaginable violence when 1000 people sheltered there during the country’s 1994 genocide. During my recent sabbatical, in the tranquil setting among chirping

As Women’s History Month draws to a close, we are reminded both of the amazing accomplishments of the women who have come before us and the long journey ahead, before the ideal of true equality is reached. On the one hand, we may be inspired by the presence of more women in political leadership positions, while being equally disheartened by our lack of safety. And, while there have been victories along the way, it still feels as though we continue

I recall, as a boy, lying in bed late in the morning, with the bright morning sunshine pouring in through the windows, warm, relaxed and perfectly comfortable. Dozing and waking, dreaming in that delicious state of being half-asleep and half-awake. Passing hours like that. Glorious hours. Occasionally my dad would yell from another room to enquire if I’d got up yet (my mum didn’t bother: she knew the answer). The day drifted away. Maybe I’d go out later, meet friends,

Imagine visiting your local supermarket tomorrow morning, picking up your usual sourdough and handing your £5 note to the cashier, only to have them decline it. “That’s just a worthless piece of paper” they claim. You try paying by card. “That’s not even real!”. This isn’t just an imaginary nightmare for those on the London sourdough hype, which now includes myself, it is a surprisingly possible reality. This scenario feels slightly ridiculous, because it highlights something we rarely stop to

The past has a peculiar grip on us. Whether it’s the comforting sound of a song from our childhood, the taste of a long-discontinued snack, or the grainy aesthetic of an old video game, nostalgia has a way of making us yearn for things that once were. While it may seem like a purely sentimental experience, nostalgia is also a powerful economic force, influencing consumer behaviour, corporate strategy and even financial markets. In recent years, companies have exploited this longing

With February drawing to a close, an important holiday is upon us, namely that of Pancake Day,[1] otherwise known as Shrove Tuesday and/or Mardi Gras. This day marks the end of the carnival season in Christian tradition and is a day of indulgence in preparation for Lent (unless you’re part of the Oriental Orthodox church, in which case you warm up with a pre-Lenten fast – lucky you). Beginning with Ash Wednesday, Lent, which comes from an Old English word meaning

I’m tired of people telling me that they are 4D chess players when they do something foolish. 4D chess is for losers. 4D poker is for winners. As a 4D poker player myself – the best at poker – I explain how to play. Politicians, take note. Have only vague familiarity with the rules. I know that having more high cards, more things in a row and more of the same suit is good, but I am too busy and