The Commentary Box …

The Autumn 2006 edition of CentrePiece produced by the Centre for Economic Performance at the LSE takes an unusual look at economic issues around the theme of catastrophe economics.

Economics has long been known as the dismal science. So catastrophes – natural, man-made, economic, medical – would seem to be the perfect subject matter for economists. And so they are: the discipline now ranges freely across the full range of modern human concerns, including the global challenges of terrorism, extreme poverty, poor health and climate change.

But as several articles in the new issue of CentrePiece show, some of the most recent findings of economic research are far from dismal:

· Shocking events like the 9/11 attacks on New York do set the economy back but things recover pretty quickly.

· Increased resources for policing can have an impact in cutting crime.

· The rise of China is not going to be a disaster for all sectors and all workers in the old industrialised countries.

· And a little education – for both children and their parents – has the potential to go a long way in reducing disease and early death in the poorer nations of the world.

Intute: Social Sciences links to more resources on the issue of Economics

Tags: Social Science Research

The Economic History Society recently held their Women’s Committee Annual Workshop at the University of Leeds, on the theme of Women and Business.

New research by Dr Clare Rose reveals that English working women in the 1890s had many problems that are familiar to us: equal pay for equal work, the glass (or diamond) ceiling, and how to find affordable clothes that presented a professional image.

All of these problems were especially acute for the thousands of women taken on in office jobs after 1880, who faced distrust and hostility from male supervisors and colleagues. They needed to dress in a way that showed they were prepared to work; respectable; but still feminine. The fact that they were all young and unmarried added to the stress on their appearance.

The problem of what to wear in the office was solved by the development of business suits for women. These were made in factories in Manchester and London, advertised in national press campaigns, and sold by mail-order.

Clothing factories advertised their goods as being made in `modern and hygienic’ conditions, rather than old-style tailoring workshops. They offered products that were good value and consciously `modern’ for women office workers, and at the same time provided employment for thousands of women as machinists, clerks and designers. The development of modern clothing for women in the 1890s both followed and increased women’s employment opportunities.

Intute links to more resources on the issues of Economic History and Women and Economics.

Tags: Social Science Research