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DURHAM ECONOMICS DIGEST
Business
For all the latest news on technology and science, energy, healthcare, transport, and more.


Brazil at the Centre of the Global Rare Earths Power Struggle
Brazil has become the focal point of an intensifying geopolitical contest over rare earths, with the US, EU, and China racing to secure access to the country’s vast reserves. These minerals are essential for clean energy, defense, and advanced manufacturing, yet global supply remains heavily dominated by China. Holding the world’s second-largest reserves, most of them still underdeveloped, Brazil has emerged as a strategic prize at a moment of rising trade tensions. Washingto

Gayathri Sunil Pushpangadan
Feb 82 min read


South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines to Shield Against Financial Stress
Many emerging markets have shown increased interest in using the expanded euro repo operations launched by the European Central Bank as a way of dealing with their financial liquidity and economic stability concerns. South African Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago recently suggested that South Africa would be “keen to utilise” these operations, symbolising a notable shift in the way emerging economies seek economic stability and how they can cope against market volatili

James Smith
Feb 82 min read


There’s Only One Solution Ahead for the Russian Economy. It’s A Corridor.
On the much anticipated 25th of December , 1991, the indifferent Kremlin observes the Soviet flag lowered as Mr. Gorbachev’s televised resignation speech marks an end to the soaring inflation, unprofitable private businesses and sarcastic fixed prices of the USSR’s planned economy. Whilst stagnation is at its worst, the government insists on its high military spending. These qualities might resemble Russia’s troubled economy today, as the war in Ukraine continues. This res

Ali Hashemifara
Feb 65 min read


Intel’s Supply Bottlenecks Expose the High Cost of a Manufacturing Comeback
Intel is one of the world’s largest semiconductor companies, designing and manufacturing chips that power personal computers, data centres, and critical digital infrastructure. Long dominant in PC processors, the company is now attempting a costly revival of its manufacturing capabilities to compete at the cutting edge of advanced chip production in the US. Recent market reactions show how difficult and economically risky that effort remains. Supply Constraints and Revenue P

Gayathri Sunil Pushpangadan
Jan 252 min read


Murk in Every Sense: Sewage, Debt and Reform in England and Wales’ Privatised Water
January 2026. Ofwat set to be abolished in what could be the most radical overhaul of the water sector since privatisation. The operations of England and Wales’ privatised water and sewage systems are murky in more ways than one. Polluted rivers and untreated sewage, opaque finances, blurred accountability, a regulatory system that struggles to see clearly beneath the surface. ‘Murk in every sense’ Does the government’s “New Vision for Water” genuinely cut through the fog,

Sophia Boiko
Jan 253 min read


The EU-Mercosur Agreement: A New Chapter in Global Trade
After more than 25 years of negotiations, the European Union and the Mercosur trade bloc, consisting of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, have taken a historic step towards a trade pact that could reshape global commerce. On January 9th 2026, the EU Council authorised the signature of the EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement and an interim Trade Agreement, marking a breakthrough in discussions dating back to 1999. The agreement was formally signed in mid-January

James Smith
Jan 252 min read


Buy Now, Pay Later: is financing that Black Friday burrito really worth it?
Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) providers have rapidly taken over online checkouts. Now, it’s become impossible to visit any online vendor without seeing the soft pastel colours of Klarna or Afterpay; slowly dominating and becoming the primary method of payment for the younger shoppers. The prospect of paying four small instalments – no interest charged, if paid on time. This makes the hard pill of the total price much easier to swallow. BNPL providers like Klarna, Affirm, Afterpay

Gabby Wong
Dec 7, 20254 min read


Fixing the UK Productivity Gap: How Investment, Management, and Policy can Make a Difference
For over a decade, the UK has struggled with a persistent productivity gap- workers here produce less output per hour than in many comparable countries. This isn’t just an abstract economic problem: it affects wages, living standards, and even public services. Understanding why productivity lags and how we might fix it is vital. One major factor is investment, or the lack of it. Many UK businesses, especially smaller firms, insufficiently invest in new technology and employee

James Smith
Nov 16, 20251 min read


Uncertainty; Spreads Like Wildfire
An investigation into the relationship between uncertainty and credit spreads

Bailey Rawden
Jan 2, 20238 min read


“Vaulting ambition”: Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos - A Cautionary Tale
“That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself And...

Legacy Writer
Sep 23, 202111 min read


The Next Wave of Progress in the Life Sciences and Healthcare Sector
Source: https://decisionresourcesgroup.com While the hype surrounding blockchain’s potential has traditionally been focused on financial...

Legacy Writer
Sep 23, 20216 min read


Is ‘voluntourism’ a corporate advantage more than anything else?
Volunteering abroad Is often seen as a noble cause- each year many ambitious students and hard-working adults engage in community or...

Legacy Writer
Sep 23, 20213 min read


From Gramophones to Headphones: The evolution of music consumption and what this means for the music
You listen to it as your go-to form of entertainment in the car (unless your dad happens to be the resident DJ); it’s there to get you...

Legacy Writer
Sep 23, 20216 min read


The Beautiful Game and the Dismal Science: Effects of Bankruptcies and Tragic Loss of Life on Footba
On 28th November 2016, the footballing experienced one of its biggest shocks in recent memory. LMI2933, a plane flight operated by the...

Legacy Writer
Sep 23, 20216 min read


Sicko Revisited: Healthcare in the US
The US is the world’s largest spender on health related services (17% of its GDP) yet it fails to provide its citizens with universal...

Legacy Writer
Sep 23, 20214 min read
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