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Rhys ap Gwilym

Senior Lecturer in Economics, Bangor University
Dr Rhys ap Gwilym is a Senior Lecturer in Economics at Bangor University’s Business School. He trained as a macroeconomist at Cardiff University, gaining his PhD on the “Macroeconomic Implications of Behavioural Finance Models” in 2009. His academic research has involved developing models which introduce behavioural factors into macroeconomic analysis (including DSGE models) and the analysis of financial instruments in a general equilibrium setting. He has published in journals including the Journal of Banking and Finance, Economics Letters and the Southern Economic Journal.

More recently, his research interests have evolved to cover spatial economics and public finance. He is currently working on a project examining how geographical differences in access to finance influence regional economic disparities; in particular the links between the financialization of land and regional economic development.

Rhys has a strong interest in regional development policy and its role in Wales in particular. He has been a principal investigator on two grant-funded research projects for the Welsh Government relating to land value tax and tourism taxes. He is a member of the Institute of Welsh Affairs’ Economic Policy Group, where he has been involved in the development of discussion papers on the Welsh economy. He recently contributed to the “expert roundtable on the Welsh tax base & implications for public policy”.

Why you should expect to pay more tourist taxes – even though the evidence for them is unclear

May 09, 2024 07:09 am UTC| Insights & Views Business

In April 2024, Venice began its controversial experiment to charge day trippers 5 (4.30) to visit the city on some of the busiest days of the year. But its not just the lagoon city, with its 30 million visitors a year...

Economy

Trump Rejects Iran Proposal as Tensions Persist Amid Fragile Ceasefire

U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with Irans latest proposal for renewed talks, signaling continued deadlock in efforts to resolve the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict. Despite a ceasefire reached on...

EU Warns of Response as U.S. Considers 25% Tariffs on Car Imports

The European Commission signaled it is prepared to defend its economic interests after the United States threatened to impose new tariffs on European vehicles, raising concerns over a potential escalation in transatlantic...

Wall Street Mixed as Apple Earnings Boost Nasdaq and Oil Prices Ease

U.S. stock market performance ended mixed on Friday, with major indices showing resilience despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and fluctuating oil prices. The SP 500 and Nasdaq Composite posted gains, while the Dow Jones...

Gold Prices Slip Amid Iran Tensions and Rising Rate Concerns

Gold prices edged slightly lower on Friday, hovering near one-month lows after a volatile trading session. The precious metal continues to face pressure following consecutive monthly declines, as global economic...

Dollar Gains Slightly as Yen Volatility Continues After Japan Intervention

Currency markets closely monitored the Japanese yen on Friday after suspected intervention by Tokyo triggered significant volatility, while the U.S. dollar began May with a modest rebound following April losses. The U.S....

Politics

Cuba Condemns New U.S. Sanctions, Calls Measures “Collective Punishment”

Cuba has strongly rejected the latest sanctions imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, describing them as unjust and harmful to its citizens. The response came from Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez, who...

Rising Tensions in US-Europe Relations Amid Trump Policies and Iran War

Recent developments in US-Europe relations have raised concerns among global leaders as tensions escalate due to policy disagreements and political rhetoric. European officials are increasingly uneasy following a series of...

Trump Expands Cuba Sanctions Targeting Key Sectors and Foreign Entities

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a sweeping executive order expanding sanctions against Cuba, intensifying pressure on the islands government and its international partners. According to White House officials, the...

US to Withdraw 5,000 Troops from Germany Amid Growing Rift with European Allies

The United States is set to withdraw approximately 5,000 troops from Germany, signaling rising tensions between Washington and its European allies amid the ongoing Iran conflict. The Pentagon confirmed the move, which will...

U.S. Weapons Delays Raise Concerns Among European Allies Amid Iran Conflict

The United States has reportedly warned several European allies to prepare for delays in the delivery of military equipment, as ongoing tensions and conflict involving Iran continue to strain American weapons stockpiles....

Science

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

The space race is back and this time, its a direct competition between the United States and China for dominance on the lunar surface. NASAs Artemis II mission recently made history when four astronauts flew farther into...

NASA Artemis II: First Crewed Moon Mission Since Apollo Takes Four Astronauts on 10-Day Lunar Journey

NASAs Artemis II mission launched Wednesday, marking humanitys return to crewed lunar exploration for the first time since the Apollo era. Carrying four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft, this historic 10-day mission...

NASA's Artemis II Mission: First Crewed Lunar Journey Since Apollo

NASA's Artemis II Crew Arrives in Florida for Historic Moon Mission

The four astronauts chosen for NASAs Artemis II mission have touched down at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking the beginning of final launch preparations for the first crewed lunar journey in over 50 years. NASA...

SpaceX Pivots Toward Moon City as Musk Reframes Long-Term Space Vision

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has revealed a significant shift in the companys near-term space exploration strategy, announcing that SpaceX is now prioritizing the development of a self-growing city on the Moon rather than focusing...

Technology

U.S. Cybersecurity Pushes Faster Patch Deadlines Amid Rising AI-Driven Threats

U.S. cybersecurity officials are exploring significantly shorter deadlines for fixing critical vulnerabilities in government IT systems, driven by growing concerns that hackers are leveraging advanced artificial...

Apple Q2 2026 Earnings Surge as iPhone 17 Sales Drive Record Revenue

Apple delivered a strong fiscal Q2 2026 performance, reporting record-breaking revenue and profit growth fueled by robust iPhone sales and expanding services. The tech giant posted earnings of $2.01 per share on $111.18...

FBI Warns of China’s Expanding Hack-for-Hire Network Amid Extradition Case

The Chinese governments alleged hack-for-hire ecosystem is rapidly expanding and becoming increasingly difficult to control, according to a senior FBI official. Speaking on Thursday, FBI Assistant Director Brett Leatherman...

Taiwan Activates Backup Communications After Undersea Cable Break on Dongyin Island

Taiwan has activated emergency backup communications for Dongyin, its northernmost and strategically important island, after an undersea cable was damaged due to shifting shipwreck debris caused by severe weather. The...

Meta Raises 2026 Capex Outlook Amid AI Spending Surge, Shares Drop After Earnings

Meta Platforms has increased its full-year capital expenditure guidance for 2026, signaling continued aggressive investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure despite rising costs and market concerns. The company...