What does respect for employees mean in the age of the algorithm?

‘There’s an algorithm here, tracking a human worker. Do you not see this as a problem?’ Darren Jones, MP, chair of the Employment Select Committee in the UK’s House of Commons, was cross-examining Amazon’s European Head of Public Policy. The latter had initially suggested that … Continue readingWhat does respect for employees mean in the age of the algorithm?

What does respect for employees mean in the age of the algorithm?

‘There’s an algorithm here, tracking a human worker. Do you not see this as a problem?’ Darren Jones, MP, chair of the Employment Select Committee in the UK’s House of Commons, was cross-examining Amazon’s European Head of Public Policy. The latter had initially suggested that … Continue readingWhat does respect for employees mean in the age of the algorithm?

Harvest Economics – sentimental throwback or idea whose time has come?

Recently, Kate Raworth the creator of Doughnut Economics, asked her twitter followers how she might better describe the flaws in prevailing orthodoxy about economic growth. In reply, I suggested that she might use the imagery of the harvest to better explain economics. Several readers got … Continue readingHarvest Economics – sentimental throwback or idea whose time has come?

Education should broaden minds. Too often we are doing the opposite.

‘Learn how to see. Realise that everything connects to everything else’ – Leonardo da Vinci ‘Why do politicians fail so miserably when it comes to systemic thinking?’,  I was asked by a friend who had just read my comments on the Chancellor’s Growth Plans.  My … Continue readingEducation should broaden minds. Too often we are doing the opposite.

The Chancellor’s growth plan: a 20th century response to 21st Century challenges

On Friday 23 September the Chancellor of the Exchequer made his ‘Growth Plan’ speech. While the news has been full of the market reaction to unfunded tax cuts, boards, investors and stakeholders might want to pay more attention to the ‘plan’ itself. Let’s look at … Continue readingThe Chancellor’s growth plan: a 20th century response to 21st Century challenges

Can ESG be saved? Only if it radically changes its definition of governance

On holiday in Italy recently, I got talking to Mario, a wine enthusiast. We discussed an outstanding  white wine which came from a small vineyard nearby. The vineyard had been winning awards for several years. Until this year when it won nothing. One of its … Continue readingCan ESG be saved? Only if it radically changes its definition of governance

A little less wishful thinking, a little more listening please

‘In Stoke-on-Trent last month, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak traded blows over everything from credit card economics to Channel migrants…The list of issues …was dizzyingly long. There was one glaring omission, however…In the hour-long debate there was not a single mention of the NHS.’ Andrew … Continue readingA little less wishful thinking, a little more listening please