The Conversation

Trump’s obsession with trade deficits has no basis in economics. And it’s a bad reason for tariffs

04/23/2025 The Conversation UK

Those of us who study trade and investment for a living are, I suspect, becoming exasperated with both the White House stance on tariffs and the way that this is reported in much of the media. US president Donald Trump believes that if a country has a trade surplus with the US it is somehow playing unfairly and needs to be dealt with. But anyone who understands the basics of international economics will recognise the fallacy in both of these beliefs.

Could Trump be leading the world into recession?

04/23/2025 The Conversation UK

Carolyn Franks/ShutterstockGrowth forecasts for the US and other advanced economies have been sharply downgraded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the wake of dramatic swings in US president Donald Trump’s economic policy. But could the uncertainty and the turmoil in financial markets eventually be enough to push the world into a recession?

Harvard is suing the White House: here’s what Trump hopes to achieve by targeting universities

04/23/2025 The Conversation UK

A few days ago, in a move that attracted international attention, the White House threatened to strip Harvard University of US$2 billion (£1.5 billion) in federal funding, potentially revoke its tax-exempt status and even prevent it from enrolling international students if it didn’t capitulate to a new list of demands.

US universities lose millions of dollars chasing patents, research shows

04/23/2025 The Conversation USA

Every year, American universities spend millions of dollars patenting inventions developed on their campuses. Big names such as Stanford and the University of California system lead the pack in patent activity, but hundreds of other universities are also trying to strike gold by monetizing intellectual property.

AI is inherently ageist. That’s not just unethical – it can be costly for workers and businesses

04/22/2025 The Conversation UK

insta_photos/ShutterstockThe world is facing a “silver tsunami” – an unprecedented ageing of the global workforce. By 2030, more than half of the labour force in many EU countries will be aged 50 or above.

Low effort, high visibility: what bumper stickers say about our values and identity

04/20/2025 The Conversation News & Comments

Justin Sullivan/GettyYou may have seen them around town or in the news. Bumper stickers on Teslas broadcasting to anyone who looks: “I bought this before we knew Elon was crazy.”

Trump’s attacks on central bank threaten its independence − and that isn’t good news for sound economic stewardship (or battling inflation)

04/18/2025 The Conversation USA

Nearly every country in the world has a central bank – a public institution that manages a country’s currency and its monetary policy. And these banks have an extraordinary amount of power. By controlling the flow of money and credit in a country, they can affect economic growth, inflation, employment and financial stability.

Why a psychopath wouldn’t hesitate to cause another global financial crisis – if there was something in it for them

04/17/2025 The Conversation UK

Gorodenkoff/ShutterstockWould you want a psychopath looking after your pension? Or what about your shares? In a recent talk at the Cambridge Festival of Science, I spoke about the latest research relating to a psychopath’s love of money, greed for power, and willingness to harm other people financially for personal gain.

International students infuse tens of millions of dollars into local economies across the US. What happens if they stay home?

04/17/2025 The Conversation USA

The Trump administration has recently revoked the visas of more than 1,300 foreign college students – detaining some – and launched immigration enforcement actions on college campuses across the country.

Why people with autism struggle to get hired − and how businesses can help by changing how they look at job interviews

04/17/2025 The Conversation USA

First impressions matter − they shape how we’re judged in mere seconds, research shows. People are quick to evaluate others’ competence, likability and honesty, often relying on superficial cues such as appearance or handshake strength. While these snap judgments can be flawed, they often have a lasting impact.

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