What changes could Hyperloop deliver?

Hyperloop One

The last in our series of blogs on WEBs. Having worked on the Hyperloop projects, Volterra Partner Paul Buchanan looks at the impact futuristic modes of transport have on WEBs. WEBs and Hyperloop I have been lucky to work on four or five Hyperloop projects; this means thinking about the impact of Hyperloop on where […]

WEBs – can they be negative?

Toronto in 2010

The second in our series of blogs looking at how Paul Buchanan has continued to develop the techniques and spread the application of WEBs. Can WEBs be negative? I spent many years after Crossrail espousing the power of WEBs: the economic growth that resulted, the additional tax revenues accruing to government and all of the […]

The history of Wider Economic Benefits (WEBs)

Commuters

Paul Buchanan started WEBs, secured the original approval of WEBs by government and has continued to develop the techniques and spread the application of WEBs ever since. This series of blogs looks at some of the key changes and innovations that were introduced over time. They range from the original work on Crossrail, through early […]

Bridget Rosewell speaker at Highways UK 2016

Bridget Rosewell was a speaker at Highways UK 2016 annual conference on  16/17 November at the NEC in Birmingham, in her capacity as a judge of the Wolfson Economics Prize. The conference attracted 2,219 visitors to listen to the 109 speakers, in the three Industry briefing theatres, and to visit the 90 exhibitors.  Highways UK is a major event […]

No wonder free trade is under threat: we’re just rediscovering its losers

It had been an article of faith among economists and policy-makers that free trade is a Good Thing. Trade liberalisation was a key feature of the world economic order enforced by the United States after the Second World War. For decades, the trend of removing trade barriers led to world trade growing around twice as rapidly as […]

Paul Buchanan’s published report: Transport, land use and economics

Volterra Partner and leading economist Paul Buchanan has written a paper for the Journal of Urban Regeneration and Renewal.  Paul’s article Transport, land use and economics is featured as one of many papers discussing urban regeneration and renewal in a complex contemporary climate. You can read the article HERE. The publication is the essential peer-reviewed journal for all professionals […]

Bank bail outs are no model to follow for British steel

The potential closure of the Tata steel plants, and the plight of Port Talbot is a tragedy for those directly affected. A key question is: if the banks could be saved, why not steel?  From a purely political perspective, the topic has legs.  The loyal, hard working Welshmen, fearful for their families’ futures, contrasted with […]

How technology is driving inequality

Inequality is one of the major political topics of our times. Rather like a Shakespearean tragedy, the current splits in the high command of the Conservative Party have many themes. But an important one, and the ostensible reason for Iain Duncan Smith’s resignation, is the treatment of the working poor, a concept which until fairly […]

Paul Buchanan article for Journal of Urban Regeneration and Renewal

Volterra Partner and leading economist Paul Buchanan has written a paper for the Journal of Urban Regeneration and Renewal.  Paul’s article Transport, land use and economics is featured as one of many papers discussing urban regeneration and renewal in a complex contemporary climate. The publication is the essential peer-reviewed journal for all professionals concerned with physical, economic and […]

A Christmas competition with a difference…

… and the chance to win a bottle of champagne. For the prolonged holiday break, a quiz is appropriate. But one with a difference: not just questions, but comments to go with them. A prize of a bottle of champagne to the best answers – just email them to me. The last couple of years […]