Solving the UK's productivity puzzle: is a higher public science budget alone sufficient?
The UK’s lagging productivity has been a significant, long-term economic challenge that the government has attempted to tackle since the 1960s. Although hourly productivity recently recently increased as the fastest rate in six years, productivity is still 16% lower than the pre-2008 trend. This is damaging to the economy as it translates into a lack of competitiveness against other countries, resulting in fewer exports and ultimately a balance of payment deficit. A recent es
To ID or Not to ID - that is the question?
Ever since the infamous Windrush scandal, MPs have considered introducing new measures of identification in the UK. At the moment, the typical means of official ID in this country are drivers licenses and passports. However, there are no government-issued IDs as there are in other countries. Parliament is still debating whether the benefits of IDs to UK citizens outweighs the potential of increased surveillance power to the state. Let’s look at the actual IDs themselves If th
Equality of Opportunities: France's recent educational reform and the backlash against it
One of our French traditions, at least for the left, is demonstrating contempt or support for a law, legislature or government. Some carry messages of tolerance and acceptance, such as those who were in favour of the same-sex marriage law; while others convey despise and conservatism, such as La Manif pour Tous (Demonstrations for All), who campaigned against same-sex marriage. Having lived in Asia for a few years, where I think I have, in totality, seen no more than five dem
About Our Children: Boko Haram's war on education in Nigeria
#bringbackourgirls It was the headline of every newspaper, TV broadcast and social media post concerning Nigeria in early 2014. With over 276 girls kidnapped and numerous families torn apart, it was the largest mass kidnapping to ever reach the world stage. 4 years later, the nation is still reeling from its effects as 112 of these girls remain missing and the unrelenting violent reign of Boko Haram in Northeastern Nigeria continues to grow. To the horror of both Nigerians an
