Economics and Social Policy roundup

We’re constantly bombarded with news that suggests the global economy is enjoying an indefinite growth spurt. Britain is in year 15 of a boom, China and India are the economic super powers of the future, America grows steadily despite all Bush’s attempts to the contrary. Even in continental Europe, which we’re told is well on the way to humiliating economic decline, average annual growth is still something like 2%. There may be bad years, and for heaven’s sake don’t mention sub-Saharan Africa, but on the whole we’re all climbing up, up, up towards wealth unimaginable to our forefathers.
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Something you can do when you’re dead
Misdiagnosis and the case for compulsory autopsy

Waste Not Want Not
Where’s the beef with the “public sector rich list”?

Extraordinary rendition update
The trail goes dead in Poland?

Scottish Blogging Roundup

ChipPin’ away at fraud
Up to 40 minutes after any Chip & PIN card transaction, the retailer may access your confidential details. Including your PIN number. Read this now.

There is something about the word “uniform” which is simply filled with negative connotations. The answer is quite clearly that uniform means everything is the same. There is no independent thought, no creativity, just bland conformity. So why is it that the concept of uniform is giving me so much trouble on a bright Saturday morning, with the joyful haze of that Tuesday-Wednesday All Nighter for the US midterms still gripping my consciousness? Well, there’s only one way to find out… Read More

Gotta have faith?
AC Grayling on misunderstanding atheism

Taxing or trading?
Finding the best way to control carbon