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The Productivity Puzzle

Productivity growth in the UK economy has lagged behind that of our major trading partners. We will examine a number of possible explanations ranging from the role of finance to the employment of physical and human capital.

Escher and Coxeter - a Mathematical Conversation

M.C. Escher’s work often used ingenious tilings of the plane with interlocking figures. We'll look at the mathematics of this diagram and how Escher used it. We’ll also see how Coxeter produced mathematical research based on aspects of Escher's work.

The Policy Responses

We need to think of economic policy as some path co-ordinating monetary, financial and fiscal policy. The economic landscape that has been outlined implies some new cyclical and structural economic policy options facing the UK. These concepts will be discussed in this final lecture of the year.

Mathematics Can Make You Fly?

The mystery of an image of a levitating mathematician that won a first prize in a photo science competition in 2013 will be explained to show that such principles can be used beyond special effects.

The External Financing Position

For most of the period since we have had records, the UK has held a positive net international investment positions versus the rest of the world. But the UK is now a net debtor. What are the reasons for this extraordinary reversal and what does it mean for the exchange rate?

Energetic Mathematics

Mathematics is vital in ensuring that the lights stay on as the planners of the grid need to solve non-linear differential-algebraic equations to work out how much electricity can be generated, distributed and stored. These challenges will increase in the future.

Debt and the Household Balance Sheet

A consideration of the evolution of the asset and liability position of the UK's household, firm and government sector prior to the financial crisis and where we currently stand in terms of adjustment that is still required.

Mathematical Materials

We all rely on materials: natural ones like wood and stone - or manufactured ones such as steel, glass and concrete. The mathematics needed to design and study such materials is rich and challenging.

How Much Maths Can You Eat?

We all eat and have an interest in food! The many existing, and potential, applications of mathematics in agricultural-science and food technology will be described, explaining many of the fundamental processes that see us fed and watered.

Macroeconomics, Capitalism and Inequality

Rapid economic growth in the emerging worlds has placed downward pressure of manufacturing wages in the advanced world. With increasingly lower real interest rates putting upwards pressure on asset prices, these twin forces have the propensity to accelerate income inequality. What do the facts say?

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