Deindustrialisation Can Kill a Region

Interesting numbers released by the Guardian recently, concerning the areas of the UK with the highest number of graduates. After a quick look and some unscientific cross-referencing, what seemed most apparent is that those areas with the fewest graduates also had the largest number of people claiming some sort of unemployment benefit. Stick with me, [...]

When Will Kenya Be Happy?

Just days after the Daily Nation reports that Kenya can now consider itself a failed state, sharing membership of this dubious club with pariahs such as North Koriea, Burma and Afghanistan , an outfit calling itself the New Economic Foundation has released this year’s Happy Planet Index (PDF available for download). Do you want to [...]

Doing Business in Kenya: Better, But Still Not Great

I have to thank my father for being the person who first alerted me to the Economist Intelligence Unit, all those years ago when I needed research material as MUN ambassador to Sudan (tough gig). The unit is an offshoot of the Economist magazine, and offers all sorts of useful analysis throughout the year. Yesterday, [...]

G20 Summit Doesn’t Kick Africa in the Teeth

I’ve been holding off posting today until the G20 talking shop in London wrapped up. The richest nations on Earth have managed to issue their communiqué and, after perusing it for titbits that might affect the developing world, and Kenya in particular, I have to say that I am pleasantly surprised.
Before the summit convened, there [...]

International Women’s Day: an Alternative Theme

Did you know? Today is International Women’s Day. How are you going to be celebrating? For my part, while the official 2009 theme for this year is “Women and Men United to End Violence Against Women and Girls” (quite a mouthful), I’m very appreciative of the fact that so many of the advertisers on the [...]