ToUChstone blog’s shared bookmarks from del.icio.us
Standardisation: Are our regulations being privatised by the back door? Hugh Robertson writes for Stronger Unions on the increasing move towards industry led standardisation rather than regulation, and the problems this is causing. Building homes will create jobs and bring hope to many. So why wait? Frances O'Grady writes for the Guardian on housing. Tinkering…
‘In Conversation’ with Frances O’Grady at SPERI Frances O'Grady talks about inequality at Sheffield UNI SPERI. Discussing her time in Davos this year, she makes the case that "you cannot redistribute wealth unless you are prepared to redistribute power". Whether you’re a football club or a business, paying the living wage is just good sense…
Training is essential in the labour market of today and tomorrow Skills and qualifications are needed more than ever and at every level, writes unionlearn's Tom Wilson. The number of jobs needing no qualifications fell from 28% in 2006 to 23% in 2012; jobs requiring a degree rose from 20% to 26%. The global elite…
Fair Pay Fortnight Two weeks of union-backed events around the country and online, making the case for fairer pay as the best way to tackle the cost of living increase. Jobs, opportunity and fairness – Derbyshire is showing the way on pay The TUC’s Midlands Secretary Rob Johnston writes for Left Foot Forward about Derby…
Tim Harford — Article — Boycotts will not help Bangladesh’s poor The FT’s Undercover Economist rightly argues that, while boycotting Bangladesh would not work, what would is free trade unions. “Ultimately, whatever western consumers demand, what determines whether rules about working conditions are upheld is that workers on the factory floor have a voice and…
A nudge is as good as a regulation? Think again A double bill of posts from our sister blog Stronger Unions today. First, Hugh Robertson looks at the proposed privatisation of the Cabinet Office “nudge unit”, and how a dogmatic preference for nudge over regulation is damaging the effectiveness of policy – especially in the…
Sarah Anderson: Inside-outside Strategy on Wall Street Tax Sarah Anderson reports on how the Robin Hood Tax went down during the spring meetings last week of the IFIs – with a rally on the street outside and a seminar inside the IMF
Heterogeneity at the IMF — Social Europe Journal For those confused about the mixed messages coming out of the IMF (against austerity in theory, arguing for Greece's austerity package to be relaxed, but still backing austerity in particular countries), Professor Wren-Lewis provides a plausible explanation
Top 5 blogs you might have missed this week The London School of Economics' blog has made our post on stagnating middle class incomes one of their top 5 posts of the week. The other posts are well worth a look too – especially Sunny Hundal's comparison of Mitt Romney's "47 per cent" gaffe and…
£3 billion tax credit cuts in 2nd quarter may have deepened recession The Child Poverty Action Group that the massive tax credit cuts in April may have contributed to the 2nd quarter fall in GDP.