Category Archives: Business/Economics

An ethically lighter way to enjoy chocolate

Posted on May 8, 2013 by samiraahmed

  I am not keen on those books by apparently very affluent globetrotting authors with a nice life, that tell us to spend less, slow down and focus on the spiritual. In fact I speed-read Carl Honore’s “In Praise of … Continue reading →

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Concorde: How a dead end can be a glorious high point of innovation

Posted on March 21, 2013 by samiraahmed

1976 Paris-Rio First commercial Concorde flight to Brazil Photo: Jean-Claude Deutsch Paris Match I chose Concorde out of a 100 Great British Innovations for a National Museum project to mark National Science and Engineering Week. You can vote for it … Continue reading →

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The Curse of the Typewriter

Posted on November 20, 2012 by samiraahmed

The last typewriter was made in Britain yesterday at a factory in Wales. But has the stigma of typing for women really been lost? This was originally written earlier this year to look at how far the QWERTY keyboard might … Continue reading →

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Mea culpa: But only after making the money

Posted on May 9, 2012 by samiraahmed

Sir Mervyn King’s recent admisson that he should have been “shouting from the rooftops” about the dangers of the banking system before the 2008 crash seems to add to my theory, written for The Big Issue about the number of … Continue reading →

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Lessons from the Cabinet Room: An Interview with Gus O’Donnell

Posted on December 4, 2011 by samiraahmed

My interview with Gus O’ Donnell — his first in depth interview as he prepares to retire as Cabinet Secretary and head of the Civil Service is here in today’s Observer. Partiularly noteworthy is his strong opposition to aspects of … Continue reading →

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What happened, pop pickers? Teenagers & radio

Posted on November 11, 2011 by samiraahmed

The decline of the teenage radio listener is not unique to Radio 1. I wrote this piece about the demographic challenge for The Guardian this week. One of my key sources in researching the piece was Will Page, chief economist … Continue reading →

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St Paul’s can hear the alarm bells ringing.

Posted on November 1, 2011 by samiraahmed

1pm GMT The latest statement from St Paul’s confirming that they are NOT going to take legal action against the protest camp. St Paul’s Suspends Legal Action Against Protest Camp St Paul’s, 1 November 2011 (All Saints Day) The Chapter … Continue reading →

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How To Loot It — Who’s defining the riots?

Posted on August 13, 2011 by samiraahmed

UPDATE: Monday August 15th How interesting that the Prime Minister has today come out with a nation healing speech which concludes with a reference to bankers’ bonuses, MPs’ expenses and an insistence that “There is no them and us. Only … Continue reading →

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The Swingeing (cuts) 80s: Lessons from The Ghost Town Generation

Posted on June 30, 2011 by samiraahmed

They were playing the jaunty TV theme tune to “Jeeves and Wooster” on Monday night when guests walked into the Financial Times summer party at Lancaster House near Green Park in London. It reminded me of how much I enjoyed … Continue reading →

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Privilege: Lessons from the Swinging 60s and the Swingeing (cuts) 80s

Posted on June 30, 2011 by samiraahmed

This has been superceded by the longer post above which is the full comment piece on how far we really are re-living aspects of the 1980s: major strikes, job cuts, recession, Two Nations. Since the Royal wedding in April I’ve … Continue reading →

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