AUTHOR
Simon Wilson
Simon Wilson’s first career was in book publishing, as an economics editor at Routledge, and as a publisher of non-fiction at Random House, specialising in popular business and management books. While there, he published Customers.com, a bestselling classic of the early days of e-commerce, and The Money or Your Life: Reuniting Work and Joy, an inspirational book that helped inspire its publisher towards a post-corporate, portfolio life.
Since 2001, he has been a writer for MoneyWeek, a financial copywriter, and a long-time contributing editor at The Week. Simon also works as an actor and corporate trainer; current and past clients include investment banks, the Bank of England, the UK government, several Magic Circle law firms and all of the Big Four accountancy firms. He has a degree in languages (German and Spanish) and social and political sciences from the University of Cambridge.
Rail strikes and the summer of discontent – who's to blame?
UK Economy
Rail strikes and the summer of discontent – who's to blame?
The rail workers are all out and look likely to continue through the summer. Comrades in other unions are joining the strikers. Who is to blame?
25 Jun 2022
The Brussels effect – how the EU is raising standards around the world
Global Economy
The Brussels effect – how the EU is raising standards around the world
EU standards and consumer protection regulations have a habit of being enforced globally. Why is that? And is it such a bad thing?
20 Jun 2022
Fortress Russia’s economy is crumbling
Global Economy
Fortress Russia’s economy is crumbling
Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in the belief that the Russian economy could withstand whatever the West threw at it. That belief is being severely tes…
12 Jun 2022
How the UK has changed in the last 70 years since the Queen took the throne
UK Economy
How the UK has changed in the last 70 years since the Queen took the throne
The last 70 years have been eventful and often difficult, but the UK is far wealthier than it was when the Queen took the throne in 1952. Simon Wilson…
1 Jun 2022
Britain’s broken energy markets
UK Economy
Britain’s broken energy markets
Governments have no control over global energy prices. But the dysfunction that has led to rising price caps and windfall taxes is all of the UK’s own…
27 May 2022
What's behind Sri Lanka’s crippling debt crisis?
Emerging markets
What's behind Sri Lanka’s crippling debt crisis?
Sri Lanka has been hit by a triple whammy of economic shocks and has gone to the IMF for a bailout. It may just be the first domino to fall in a globa…
20 May 2022
Hong Kong’s brain drain
Chinese economy
Hong Kong’s brain drain
A change in the political atmosphere and a harsh zero-Covid regime has seen thousands flee the global financial hub. Does it have a future – or will S…
14 May 2022
Britain’s post-Brexit trade chaos
UK Economy
Britain’s post-Brexit trade chaos
The government has yet again postponed introducing post-Brexit checks on EU imports. Why has it done this, and does it matter?
7 May 2022
The emerging-markets debt crisis
Emerging markets
The emerging-markets debt crisis
Slowing global growth, surging inflation and rising interest rates are squeezing emerging economies harder than most. Are we on the brink of a major c…
30 Apr 2022
Why we need to chop off the “dead hand” of the Treasury
UK Economy
Why we need to chop off the “dead hand” of the Treasury
HM Treasury, the department in charge of long-term growth, fiscal policy, and departmental budgets, is a single bloated behemoth. It would be better t…
23 Apr 2022
Is China set to dominate the world?
Asian economy
Is China set to dominate the world?
Having secured a presidency for life within the country’s borders, Xi Jinping is now going for world domination – not out of megalomania, but a concer…
14 Apr 2022
How a retreat from globalisation will affect the world economy
Global Economy
How a retreat from globalisation will affect the world economy
Global trade has been in decline for some time, but Russia’s invasion of Ukraine marks a big turning point, say some commentators. What will that mean…
1 Apr 2022
Should we levy a windfall tax on Big Oil's big profits?
Energy
Should we levy a windfall tax on Big Oil's big profits?
Soaring oil prices mean huge profits for energy firms. Politicians are keen to impose windfall taxes, but that could discourage vital investment in ne…
26 Mar 2022
Russia, Ukraine and the coming global food crisis
Global Economy
Russia, Ukraine and the coming global food crisis
The war in Ukraine has disrupted food and fertiliser exports, pushing up prices and threatening a global calamity.
19 Mar 2022
Russian aggression is a big blow for the world’s “net zero” ambitions
Energy
Russian aggression is a big blow for the world’s “net zero” ambitions
Switching the world economy over from fossil fuels to green alternatives was always going to be a challenge. It just got a lot harder. Simon Wilson re…
12 Mar 2022
Will the sanctions aimed at Putin have any effect?
Economy
Will the sanctions aimed at Putin have any effect?
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has changed the West’s strategic calculus and tougher than expected sanctions have followed. Will they be enough to chang…
7 Mar 2022
Credit Suisse data leak reveals Swiss banks are home to scores of criminals’ loot
Economy
Credit Suisse data leak reveals Swiss banks are home to scores of criminals’ loot
Swiss banks have looked after the loot of a variety of unsavoury characters, according to new leaks from Credit Suisse. Did new laws in the wake of th…
26 Feb 2022
A major breakthrough in the search for nuclear fusion
Energy
A major breakthrough in the search for nuclear fusion
For 60 years, the hope of producing vast amounts of clean energy from nuclear fusion has remained tantalisingly beyond our grasp. Now scientists claim…
19 Feb 2022
The long arm of Xi Jinping as China projects "soft power"
Global Economy
The long arm of Xi Jinping as China projects "soft power"
Like most countries, China is dedicated to projecting soft power and building links with institutions abroad. Unlike most other countries, that is rat…
12 Feb 2022
Is Jack Monroe right about inflation hurting the poor the most?
UK Economy
Is Jack Monroe right about inflation hurting the poor the most?
Poverty campaigner Jack Monroe has claimed that official inflation statistics understate the impact of price rises on the poor. Is she right?
9 Feb 2022
Russia and Ukraine: what does Putin want?
Global Economy
Russia and Ukraine: what does Putin want?
Russia's president Vladimir Putin has many reasons for his military build-up on the border with Ukraine, but the costs of an invasion would be extreme…
29 Jan 2022
Just how green is nuclear power?
Energy
Just how green is nuclear power?
Nuclear power is certainly very clean in terms of carbon emissions, but what about the radioactive waste produced as a byproduct? It’s not as much of …
22 Jan 2022
What's driving the cost of living crisis?
UK Economy
What's driving the cost of living crisis?
Soaring bills, inflation and tax rises are about to squeeze household incomes. And it doesn’t seem that there is much the government can do about it.
15 Jan 2022
How China is cornering the market for electric-car batteries
Industrial metals
How China is cornering the market for electric-car batteries
The West is sleepwalking into a situation where it has traded its old reliance on Middle East oil for dependence on key metals controlled by China. Th…
8 Jan 2022
What London’s new share listing rules mean for your money
UK stockmarkets
What London’s new share listing rules mean for your money
UK regulators hope that weaker listing rules will attract more tech listings and rejuvenate a declining stockmarket. Perhaps they should pay more atte…
17 Dec 2021
Germany’s new government marks a radical transformation
EU Economy
Germany’s new government marks a radical transformation
New chancellor Olaf Scholz, who takes the reins from Angela Merkel, was in many ways the continuity candidate. But his government has radical plans fo…
10 Dec 2021
How should we go about “levelling up” Britain?
UK Economy
How should we go about “levelling up” Britain?
“Levelling up”, long a mantra of Boris Johnson’s government, now has a minister and a department in charge of delivering it. But will they succeed?
4 Dec 2021
Backtracking on HS2: the state of high-speed rail in the UK
UK Economy
Backtracking on HS2: the state of high-speed rail in the UK
The government has found a reverse gear on the controversial high-speed rail project.
But does backing out now make sense?
26 Nov 2021
How the return of nuclear power can help get us to net zero
Energy
How the return of nuclear power can help get us to net zero
Nuclear power was the future once – and now it seems it is again as governments look for ways to meet their net-zero targets.
20 Nov 2021
What is the “metaverse” and what does it mean for investors?
Tech stocks
What is the “metaverse” and what does it mean for investors?
Not content with conquering space, adventurous billionaires now want us to get inside the
“metaverse” and start up new lives there. Will it happen?
12 Nov 2021
Will the COP26 climate summit be a success?
Economy
Will the COP26 climate summit be a success?
World leaders are currently meeting at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow to commit to measures to stop catastrophic global warming. Will they produc…
6 Nov 2021
The huge potential of mRNA technology
Biotech stocks
The huge potential of mRNA technology
The new technology made its name when it delivered Covid-19 vaccines in record time. But it could be pressed into use in many other areas too. Simon W…
28 Oct 2021
Why fed-up workers are quitting their jobs
Economy
Why fed-up workers are quitting their jobs
Workers are leaving their jobs at an astonishing rate, especially in the US, leading to a shortage of workers. What will that mean for our economies? …
22 Oct 2021
Whistleblower allegations – where now for Facebook?
Tech stocks
Whistleblower allegations – where now for Facebook?
Facebook has come in for some fierce criticism after revelations from a former employee. Just how much damage has been done?
16 Oct 2021
The legacy of Angela Merkel
People
The legacy of Angela Merkel
German leader Angela Merkel is leaving office to spend more time with her family after 16 years at the helm. But what has she got to show for it?
1 Oct 2021
What's behind Britain’s looming energy crisis
Energy
What's behind Britain’s looming energy crisis
Global natural gas prices have soared as resurgent demand collides with supply disruptions. The UK is especially vulnerable and could be heading for a…
24 Sep 2021