Author: Lukas Pietilä
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The economics of a €100 000 speeding ticket
Finland, home to one of the most progressive tax systems in the world. But how much is too much?
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Why central banks are so reluctant to cut rates
Should tight financing conditions that are thwarting economic growth be lifted? As inflation keeps plummeting, cutting rates is a question of «when», not «if».
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Near-zero rates not doing the trick? Try negative interest rates
Whilst most central banks in the world are flirting with cutting interest rates, last week the Bank of Japan (BoJ) raised rates for the first time in 17 years – leaving its negative interest rate policy behind.
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Antitrust: what it is and why you should trust it
Apple joins the long line of tech giants to fall trap to the EU’s antitrust regulations.
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Outthinking your competitors: cognitive hierarchy theory
At its core, economics is a study of complex systems. With its countless market players, variables and indicators thereof, economists attempt to draw patterns, untangle and predict the behavior of an incomprehensible net of interactions. To help explain and visualize economic theory, economists employ the principles of game theory. Game theory describes the motives that…
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Taiwan’s election is a tale of balance of (economic) power
Taiwan’s election results are in – Xi Jinping will not be happy. Late last evening in Taipei, Lai Ching-te emerged victorious in Taiwan’s high-profile elections (Jan 13th, 2023). The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) led by first-time president Mr. Lai will remain in power, having won 40% of the vote. The DPP is seen as a…
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The rockstar president who is rocking Argentina’s economy
A deep-dive into the underlying economic conditions in Argentina. Last month, the Argentine primaries elected far-right free-market anarchist Javier Milei as the country’s president. With a majority of over 55% of the votes, the former economist captivated the hearts of millions through his unorthodox demeanor and rhetoric. His promise? Fixing Argentina’s economy. Argentina: an economic…
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The labour market: Europe’s greatest inflationary pressure of 2024?
With the unemployment and job vacancy rate achieving record figures of a low 6.5% and high 2.9% respectively, Europe’s producers are feeling the pinch of growing unit labour costs. Post pandemic job recovery has been strong, with expansionary government initiatives supporting economic growth; expansion and overheating that resulted in soaring inflation last year. The subsequent…
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Holiday Special: My favourite economics podcasts
Podcasts can be a great, informative and entertaining way to learn about economics and stay up to date with current world events. Here’s some of the best econ podcasts of the last year: 1. Planet Money You’re likely to find NPR’s Planet Money to be at the top of any economics podcast rankings – and…
