Category: Economics

Published on by Dave

Apple vs Otis, FRAND vs FLOSS

I was pointed at Apple vs Otis in the UK Courts. This is an NPE suing Apple for its non-permitted use of a standards essential patent. The court backs Otis and is now assessing a fair licence agreement. Apple say that if it considers it unfair, they’ll with draw from the UK. There is, of course, a post Brexit dimension to this as the British Courts seek to establish a new market for British lawyers since they can no longer practice in Europe. Here are some more links and notes. Continue reading “Apple vs Otis, FRAND vs FLOSS” →

Published on by Dave

Brexit, Month One

The post brexit deal, one month on. It’s not going well, both trade, which is down, some say by 68%, due to the economic consequences of non-tariff barriers to entry, mainly paper work, and the consequences of agreeing a border in the Irish Sea are placing massive strains on the Good Friday agreement. Here are some notes. Continue reading “Brexit, Month One” →

Published on by Dave

TPP Mk II

While in Europe we were busy campaigning about TTIP and its ISDS clauses, the Obama administration were trying the same trick on their other coast, then called the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Trump pulled out, but the remaining countries completed the treaty, now renamed, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership with a modified a more limited ISDS and intellectual property clauses. The British Govt. have applied to join to the applause of Lord Hannan, an ex MEP and so I think we need to understand the ISDS & IPR clauses, and the direction of travel. If the US decide to rejoin, they will probably seek to ‘improve’ the ISDS and IPR chapters. We should note it has a Commission. Here as ever are my notes. Continue reading “TPP Mk II” →

Published on by Dave

Duesenbury’s ratchet theorem

I came across this a long time ago, while studying for my a-levels, so thank you Mr Sidemouth, but I have not heard much about him since. While considering the Tories attempts to reduce the penurious universal credit payments, and my own experiences as I move into retirement I am reminded of the ratchet. Here are my notes … Continue reading “Duesenbury’s ratchet theorem” →

Published on by Dave

Technical Debt

When I first heard the phrase “Technical Debt”, I nearly fell of my chair, but recently, a couple of articles have passed me by and I thought I’d have look and think about if it helps address the intractable problem of maintaining legacy technology, but particularly applications code. The problem is that to make changes, one often has to amend code that’s already in use. This increases the cost of the project. The increase in cost to new projects is part of the “Technical Debt”, however, it’s basically a metaphor. Is the problem one that financial management tools, can be used to improve the understanding of? Does this apply better to code that one has development rights to, rather than packages or infrastructure? Here as every are my notes and links. Continue reading “Technical Debt” →

Published on by Dave

Flying Cars and the future techno economy

I have been influenced by David Graeber’s article/essay, “Of Flying Cars and the declining rate of profit”, which I need to read again. I posted, in 2017, a storify thing, after reading it which contains a bunch of notes from it and other references related to the political economy issues that he raises. The post descended into note form, and I may go back and have another read and finish them. As ever for more, see below/overleaf … Continue reading “Flying Cars and the future techno economy” →

Published on by Dave

Labour Market, 1945-55

Various things have led me to consider the post-war “return to normality”. It started with the ideological establishment of the cold war, and the portrayal of the Soviet Union as new enemy against the experience of much of the demobilising military. I consider the recommencement of strikes, the re-establishment of deference, like Lee, the establishment  of Churchill’s reputation as a war hero and the relocation of women back in the home rather than the factory. Here are some notes. … Continue reading “Labour Market, 1945-55” →