Dr Lory Barile, Associate Professor in the Department of Economics, comments on what she has learned as one of the University of Warwick delegates to the COP26 conference:-

"As behavioural finance teaches us, people tend to avoid negative or dangerous information. Like ostriches, we 'bury our heads in the sand’. Negative feelings and pessimism paralyse the world. However, hopefulness and confidence about our future world and positiveness about the green revolution may be strong incentives for us to become agents of change."

The University of Warwick has welcomed former student, His Excellency Luis Alberto Arce Catacora, President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, back to the university’s Coventry campus to talk with students and to learn more about research being undertaken. A number of EPP students were among those to ask questions on topics including His Excellency's life in public service, how his studies at Warwick have informed his career, and industrialisation.

With a number of energy suppliers collapsing in recent weeks, and reports today of two more companies ceasing trading, Professor David Elmes from Warwick Business School and Professor Mike Waterson from the Department of Economics comment on some of the factors that have led to this situation.

Professor Robin Goodwin’s research on psychological consequences of a major natural disaster is featured in the article on climate change in Observer, the magazine published by the Association for Psychological Science.

Dr Thijs van Rens discusses how people’s diets are affected by their income levels and the area they live in. Is the obesity epidemic due to people’s choices and preferences, or is it caused by factors in the external environment such as the price and availability of food? To what extent should policymakers intervene?

Dr Thijs Van Rens is an Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Warwick. Find out more about his research.