Latest articles by Simon Wilson
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Help to Buy: a crazy subsidy for housebuilders
Features The government’s Help to Buy scheme would appear to be a great success in terms of the numbers of people it has helped to buy a property. But it has a darker underside, says Simon Wilson.
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Is the GDPR data protection law working?
Features Last spring’s GDPR is one of the most complex pieces of legislation the European Union has ever devised. But is it achieving what it was supposed to?
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How Britain became a global leader in tech stock “unicorns”
Features The UK has more billion-dollar technology companies, or “unicorns”, per capita, than China has. That’s cause for celebration, but they need nurturing.
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Is inequality on the rise?
Features Inequality isn’t rising – at least not in Britain – and not in purely economic terms as measured by income. But the big picture is more complicated. Simon Wilson reports.
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The future of the gig economy
Features It was hailed by boosters as the future of work, but court rulings are increasingly throwing a spanner in the works. Is the gig over for platform providers?
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Will age soon really just be a number?
Features Within years there may be drugs available that can slow down ageing process and keep us healthy and productive for longer. That presages a social revolution, says Simon Wilson.
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Britain’s crisis in care for the elderly
Features A government mired in Brexit has failed yet again to address an increasingly serious social issue. Yet there is an obvious way forward that has worked elsewhere. Simon Wilson reports.
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In praise of idleness
Features Jack Ma, the Chinese billionaire, thinks 12-hour work days are a “blessing”. Bertrand Russell thought four hours were plenty. Who’s right? Simon Wilson reports.
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Should we fear “insectageddon”?
Features The world’s insect population is facing mass extinction by the end of the century, according to some experts. That would have catastrophic implications. Is it true? Simon Wilson reports.
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Britain is running out of water
Features Drier summers and a rapidly growing population mean parts of Britain will run out of water in 25 years. What can we do about it, and how much would it cost?
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China’s demographic crisis
Features In 2015, the 1979 policy allowing couples to only have one child was reversed. But the birth rate has continued to fall, which bodes ill for the economy and social stability. Simon Wilson reports.
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The tax havens hoarding billions
Features Tax havens have come under scrutiny as governments scramble to fill their coffers. What, if anything, should be done about them? Simon Wilson reports.
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The gender pay gap: are women getting paid less than men?
Features Data on the gender pay gap would suggest that they are. Does that mean sexism is rife in British society? It’s not quite as simple as that, says Simon Wilson.
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America’s opioid addiction crisis
Features Opioid overdoses killed more people in the US in 2017 than were killed during the whole of the Vietnam War. Meanwhile, prescriptions are on the rise in Britain too. Simon Wilson reports.
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Britain’s blocked fracking pipeline
Features Protesters claim that fracking for gas and oil is not worth the risks. Producers argue the rules are too restrictive. Who’s right? And does the industry have a future? Simon Wilson reports.
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What's behind the rise of populism in Europe?
Features “Populism” – on the left and the right – is on the march in Europe, and the establishment looks vulnerable in May’s elections to the European Parliament. What happens next?
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Will blockchain really change the world?
Features There have been some wild claims made about the potential of blockchain technology, but doubts are starting to set in, says Simon Wilson.
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Venezuela’s failed revolution
Features Hugo Chávez’s Bolivarian revolution promised a 21st-century socialism that would lift the poor out of poverty and democratise the country. The result has been catastrophe. Simon Wilson reports.
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Britain’s flawed energy strategy
Features Investors in Britain’s energy infrastructure are cutting their losses and pulling out of projects. The government’s strategy needs a rethink, says Simon Wilson.
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Is “car-mageddon” around the bend?
Features Britain’s car industry is being rocked by Brexit, held back by a global slowdown in sales, and is struggling to keep up with technological changes. Can it change gear? Simon Wilson reports.
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What's behind the US government shutdown?
Features Donald Trump's tangle with Congress over his promised border wall has led to US government agencies closing up shop. But does that matter much for America's economy? Simon Wilson reports.
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Politicians are gunning for central banks
Features US President Donald Trump’s criticism of Federal Reserve policy is the latest assault on the independence of central banks. Will the practice survive? Simon Wilson reports.
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The boom in digital data
Features The capture, storage and analysis of “alternative data” is no longer a nerdy niche. But the explosive growth of the business has a downside, as the Facebook furore showed. Simon Wilson reports.
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Are Chinese spying fears just paranoia?
Features The arrests of key figures at the telecoms giant Huawei has put the spotlight back on the firm’s links with the Chinese state and the security of its technology. Simon Wilson reports.
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