Every time I speak about my job with family and friends back home, I always get the same comment: “Oh, so you are an economist? Then, what shares should I invest in?” Exhausted by consistently being faced with such a huge misunderstanding, today I have decided to write about what a professional economist actually does. Spoiler: you’ll be surprised! Let me start by acknowledging that part of the blame lies with us economists, who for some reason have not been

Last week, the whole of Fathom gathered in a lovely country mansion for our first ‘away day’ in three years. Serious conversations were had, as were significantly less serious ones; a sordid murder mystery was solved amid incessant innuendo and balderdash; pranks were carried out and Olympic efforts undertaken; and all was accompanied by good food and copious amounts of drink. Truth be told, a lot of the drinks cabinet stayed untouched: not an indication of restraint, I’m afraid, but

In his book Thinking, Fast and Slow, Daniel Kahneman offers several insights into human cognition. Perhaps the key theme of the book was his portrait of the two characters that reside in our minds: System 1, which is quick, instinctual and reaches conclusions fast; and System 2, more methodical, analytical and takes its time to ponder. It is possible to extend this insight to companies as well. On a typical working week, depending on the efficiency of System 1 is

Was Paul Volcker the greatest Fed chairman, the GOAT of the Fed? He put the inflation genie back in its bottle. Or was it Ben Bernanke, who hauled the economy out of the GFC? Or Alan Greenspan? He oversaw the longest period of sustained growth and low inflation. Perhaps it was Janet Yellen: she navigated the economy back to stability after the turmoil of the GFC and its aftermath. Or maybe it’s Jay Powell? It looks like he’s going to

Having grown up watching zillions of re-runs of Friends on TV, I always felt that every coffee shop in the world ought to have a nice big leather sofa like the one in Central Perk. It’s somewhere for all those zany best pals to laze about, joking, teasing and simply goofing around. That sofa and armchairs are central to what the best coffee houses are all about, aren’t they? But wait a minute — maybe not! Earlier this week, I

Formula One’s global popularity is undeniable. With the cumulative TV audience peaking at 1.55 billion over the course of the 2021 season, it is no surprise that the premium motorsport has become a multi-billion-dollar business, bringing in fans from all corners of the world. Forbes estimates the total value of all ten racing teams to be around $18.8 billion, and global media rights are expected to be worth $1.4 billion by 2029. However, as the sport continues to flourish, one

I’m not a big football fan, though I do follow Brighton, to a degree. They are my local team, and back in the early 1980s, my dad used to take me to watch the odd game at the old Goldstone Ground — now a retail park. I also take a passing interest in statistics. It’s part of the job. And I have long had a suspicion that Brighton’s results are somewhat erratic. I think I can date this back to

Last month, I had the pleasure of attending day three of the final Ashes test match at the Oval. The sun was out, the conversation was flowing and the cricket was good. The only problem was the price of the beer (or cooking lager, as some describe it) — at £7.60, the venue’s offering is no longer the kind of thing that you can pay for with the loose change in your pocket. I’ve previously used this blog to explore

Back in 2018, I started my first work experience at a large Spanish insurance company. One day, a group of outsiders came to our floor to lead a conference about new ways of working. I will never forget the moment the presenter approached me and a colleague, both impeccably dressed in our smartest suits, looked us up and down and said: “You guys don’t have a clue what the movie is about — digitalisation has arrived!!” Not so long ago,

During a recent birthday trip to County Mayo, I spent an afternoon in McDonnell’s. The locals know it as ‘The Lobster Pot’, given the difficulties some face in leaving once inside. Newcomers are shaken by the hand and welcomed to Belmullet by Padraig, the affable owner, and the regulars ensure no-one stays a stranger for long. Like any honest boozer, there is no food menu. But there is food. At the end of the all-Ireland Gaelic football final,[1] fresh sandwiches