Champion of better capitalism
‘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?
The 2025 Autumn Statement – a Naïve Proposal Madam Speaker Today I wish to present the House with an entirely new kind of Autumn Statement. This comes after extensive dialogue with all political parties, and it follows a major consultation with stakeholders of all sorts. … Continue readingWhat if the chancellor were an anthropist?
‘A great garden is a symphony’ Thus spoke Tim Smit yesterday as – for the first time – The Eden Project closed its doors to allow the Anthropy conference to open. I love it at a symphony concert when the music stops and all you … Continue readingOne day of Anthropy
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?
My answer to Kate Raworth’s Question Last week I woke early with a strange dream still vivid in my memory. I had a collection of donuts I was calling out to family and friends and then throwing a donut their way. The only explanation I … Continue readingWhat do we mean by growth and why do we want it?
‘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.
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
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
‘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
The UK is to have a new Prime Minister. Tax has dominated the debate between the leading candidates. True Conservatives, it appears, are committed to cutting taxes. How are these to be paid for? The conversation has turned to that long neglected question: how does … Continue readingA new prime minister and wealth creation