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How energy markets actually work (and why prices behave the way they do)
Energy prices are often treated as something that can be adjusted directly — raised, lowered, capped, or corrected through policy decisions.
How global supply chains actually work (and why they’re hard to change)
How global supply chains actually work (and why they’re hard to change) Introduction: why “supply chain” is the wrong mental model The term “supply chain” is used constantly in public debate, often as shorthand for shortages, delays, or geopolitical risk. It appears in discussions about inflation, industrial policy, national security, and climate strategy. […]
Global trade explained: how supply chains, tariffs, and rules really work
Global trade is often reduced to headlines about tariffs, trade wars, or deficits. In practice, it is a dense system of rules, logistics, financing, and political compromise that shapes how goods move, who benefits, and where vulnerabilities lie.
Corporate lobbying explained: how influence works in practice
Corporate lobbying is often described as a shadowy force shaping policy behind closed doors. In reality, it is neither invisible nor uniform.
Net zero explained: what it means, what it costs, and what’s realistic
Net zero explained: what it means, what it costs, and what’s realistic “Net zero” has become one of the most widely used — and widely misunderstood — phrases in global policy. Governments, companies, and institutions have adopted net zero targets as markers of climate ambition, yet the term often masks complex trade-offs about cost, timing, […]
AI regulation explained: UK vs EU vs US — what’s being regulated, what’s changing, and what to watch
AI regulation explained: UK vs EU vs US — what’s being regulated, what’s changing, and what to watch Artificial intelligence is being regulated through a mix of new AI-specific laws, existing consumer and data rules, and sector regulators applying old powers to new systems. The result is a fast-moving patchwork — and the differences between […]
Sanctions explained: how they work, who enforces them, and what they actually achieve
Sanctions explained: how they work, who enforces them, and what they actually achieve Sanctions are one of the most frequently used — and most misunderstood — tools of modern foreign policy. Governments rely on them to apply pressure without military force, but their effects are often indirect, uneven, and slow. This explainer sets out what […]
Central banks and interest rates: how they work, why they matter, and what to watch
Central banks and interest rates: how they work, why they matter, and what to watch Interest rates influence almost every part of the modern economy — from mortgage payments and government debt to stock markets and currency values. At the centre of this system sit central banks. This explainer sets out what central banks do, […]