When we think of pirates many of us probably picture something out of the Pirates of the Caribbean films, or a figure like Captain Hook. Perhaps your imagination supplies you with a corsair who has a peg leg, an eyepatch and an annoyingly verbose parrot perched on his shoulder?[1] However, both pirates and piracy as a concept are far more diverse than Western popular culture would suggest. Their history stretches back to the Sea Peoples of the 14th century BC,

What should your dream job look like? Probably you will tell me that it should be very interesting, provide you with an excellent work-life balance and at the same time offer you a compensation package that positions you at the top of the income distribution. I am sorry to be the bearer of such sad news, but you can only pick two options out of the three: welcome to the impossible trinity of the labour market. In 1999, Canadian economist

This week I was on a mid-afternoon Tube ride on my way to a client meeting. The carriage was half empty and out of the corner of my eye I noticed a spontaneous scene: a couple, both in their early twenties, who were holding hands, smiles sculpted on their faces, their conversation free-flowing, their eyes locked on one another’s gaze, radiating an aura of carefree freedom. They were oozing energy and optimism, seemingly lost in one of those moments that

It’s that time of the year again, the time to make New Year’s resolutions. Social media are full of marketing campaigns along the lines of “new year, new me”, and they seem to be working – 18 out of the 20 busiest days at the gym in 2022 and 2023 were in January and February, according to one study.[1] Let’s take a closer look at these New Year’s resolutions, whether they succeed in changing our behaviour, and their effects on

Christmas is fast approaching, so what better way to end a year of Thank Fathom it’s Friday than with a short Christmas tale? A merry Christmas to all who celebrate, and happy, restful holidays to you all! It was a dark and freezing cold afternoon when Mr Claus trudged in from the reindeer feeding. Based on the weather outside, you would think that all was right in the world: that the polar ice caps weren’t melting, and that the Claus

Becoming a new dad, which I did for the second time a few weeks ago, is a somewhat surreal experience: time passes at a different speed, perspectives change, survival mode kicks in and the mind wanders. I’m back at work now and reconnecting with the practical aspects of my life. For today’s blog, I merge the new dad and the economist mindsets, and share a few thoughts. Money is nothing Childbirth is the most stressful experience I know, and I’m

‘An Englishman’s home is his castle’ is a rather tired expression, which I must admit I’ve never quite understood. Some suggest it describes a perceived right to do whatever one likes within one’s own four walls. If, however, it is intended to describe the majestic proportions of a typical home in this country, then nothing could be further from the truth. While working on a client project recently I came across an interesting article containing estimates of the average size of

It’s that time of the year in Britain when most small talk involves a predictable moan at the increasingly dark afternoons. This seasonal phenomenon recurs as British Summer Time ends and clocks across the country go back an hour. But this annual ritual of adjusting our clocks is more than just a topic for small talk — it can serve as a reminder of how impactful timekeeping has been in shaping our societies. The origin of tracking time can be

I am 57 years old. Both my parents are still alive, well into their 80s, which is great. However, we recently learned that they are both suffering from Alzheimer's disease, which sucks. I am not going to dwell here on the symptoms of that disease of old age. Many other people have done that with great humour and tenderness, including David Baddiel and the late Terry Pratchett. I recognise the humour that they both drew attention to, and how it

Voters head to the polls this weekend to decide between an incumbent whose popularity has suffered amid high inflation, and an unconventional outsider candidate with weird hair. For Americans unhappy with the probable choices on offer in next year’s election, Argentina shows that it could be worse. Citizens of Latin America’s second largest economy are forced to choose between Sergio Massa, the Minister of Economy in a country with inflation at triple digits, and Javier Milei, an academic economist, who