Critics of capitalism sometimes suggest that advertising is wasteful, diverting resources into promoting goods that might otherwise be used to lower the price.

In some circles profit is almost a dirty word. It conjures up fat capitalists sucking up the livelihood of poorer people in order to stuff their pockets and make themselves fabulously wealthy.

Everywhere the shout is for greater equality. Unequal societies, we are told by some, are less happy. More equal societies, we are told, are more stable and contented.

The modern idea seems to be that risk is a bad thing to be avoided, whereas the reverse is true.  Some people do indeed feel comfortable in a safe and stable environment, but this is not where progress and advances are made. 

The idea sounds superficially attractive. No more national wars or territorial grabs.

The development of the modern industrialized world could be interpreted as a series of jumps, rather than a continuous line of development.

First, the bad news. The world is running out of scarce resources and none will be left for our children. The seas and rivers are polluted, and the air we breathe is toxic.

When we were at St Andrews, a group of us used to play word games in the Union Bar. One was Tom Swifties, then called Tom Swiftlies.

Rent control is back under consideration in many cities, even though it is one of the most damaging economic policies ever devised.

Natural England is often criticized for being slow, bureaucratic, and inefficient in decision-making, delaying projects related to land management, farming, and development.

The question is sometimes raised to cast doubt on the value of economic growth. 

Some analysts put the ‘Golden Rule’ at the heart of ethics, saying ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’