Monthly Archives: March 2001

Bursting Out: Don’t Panic – the US Slump Might Be a Good Thing in the Long

This entry was posted in Business & Finance, Listener, Macroeconomics & Money on by .

Listener 31 March, 2001.

Keywords Business & Finance; Macroeconomics & Money

As I write, there is vigorous debate about the current US economy downturn. In the jargon the question is whether it will be a V, U or L – the second half of each letter indicating a quick rebound a slow rebound, or a drawn out depression. It is noticeable that informed opinion is moving towards the more pessimistic end of the possibilities, although most commentators currently reckon on the U rather than the L.

There Is a Jungle out There

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The Stock Exchange is where small fry get eaten by lions

Listener 17 March, 2001.

Keywords Business & Finance

There is no necessity for a stock exchange. In the early days, people traded shares by personal contact. But shares could not be readily bought or sold, and investors could not readily liquidate their investments. The stock exchange created a common knowledge of prices and availability. It became easier for corporations to raise risk capital, because investors were more willing to put their money in, knowing it was easier to get it out. Businesses could raise equity for a new venture or major extension. Banks provide the additional funds at a lower cost, because the shareholders took the risk.

Every Vote Counts: a Census for Posterity

This entry was posted in Listener, Statistics on by .

Listener 3 March, 2001

Keywords Statistics

Brian Pink, the Government Statistician, says the population census to be taken next Tuesday (March 6) ‘is a celebration of the democratic process’. It is a sort of a vote, with everyone in the country – not just adults – required to be included on a census form. Unlike an election which involves just a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote for some political party, a census involves a wide range of questions, each chosen for some practical social purpose. (They have to be, because there are always more questions than can be fitted on the form.) So you will be contributing a list of important social attributes, putting in a vote for your gender group, your age group where you were born, your ethnicity ….