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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

Global Energy Crisis: Iran Conflict Triggers Record Oil Supply Shock

The ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran has triggered an unprecedented global energy crisis, marked by the largest daily oil supply disruption in history. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has significantly reduced...

U.S. Freezes Dollar Transfers to Iraq, Pressures Government Over Iran-Backed Militias

The United States has reportedly halted U.S. dollar shipments to Iraq and paused key security cooperation programs as part of a broader effort to pressure Baghdad into addressing the influence of Iran-backed militias...

Asian Stocks Mixed as Tech Shares Decline While Japan’s Nikkei Hits Record High

Asian stock markets showed mixed performance on Wednesday as technology stocks weakened, reflecting overnight losses on Wall Street, while Japans benchmark Nikkei 225 reached a new record high. Investors remained cautious...

Japan Exports Surge for Seventh Month as AI Demand Offsets Middle East Trade Disruptions

Japans exports extended their growth streak for a seventh consecutive month in March, driven largely by strong global demand linked to artificial intelligence (AI) and data center expansion. According to government data,...

Oil Prices Slip Amid Iran Ceasefire Extension, Hormuz Disruptions Keep Markets Tense

Oil prices edged lower during volatile Asian trading on Wednesday as U.S. President Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire with Iran. While the move raised hopes for continued peace talks, ongoing...

Politics

Syrian Asylum Rejections Rise in Europe as Minority Safety Concerns Persist

A growing number of Syrian asylum seekers are facing rejection across Europe despite ongoing security concerns, particularly among minority groups. After the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad and the end of Syrias...

Virginia Redistricting Vote Boosts Democrats Ahead of Midterm Elections

Virginia voters approved a new Democratic-backed congressional map on Tuesday, a decision that could significantly reshape the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives ahead of the upcoming midterm elections....

Trump Administration Files Fraud Charges Against Southern Poverty Law Center Over Informant Payments

The Trump administration has filed criminal charges against the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a prominent civil rights organization known for tracking extremist groups, accusing it of defrauding donors through its...

Global Military Talks in London Aim to Reopen Strait of Hormuz and Protect Shipping

Military planners representing more than 30 countries are gathering in London for two days of high-level discussions focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and strengthening maritime security in one of the worlds most...

Canada-USMCA Review 2026: No Collapse Expected Despite July 1 Deadline

Canadas top trade negotiator to the United States, Janice Charette, has signaled that the upcoming July 1 deadline for reviewing the USMCA trade agreement should not be viewed as a breaking point for North American trade...

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

Meta Expands AI Training With Employee Activity Tracking Tools

Meta is advancing its artificial intelligence strategy by introducing new internal tracking software designed to capture employee interactions on workplace systems. The initiative, known as the Model Capability Initiative...

SK Hynix to Invest $13 Billion in AI Chip Packaging Facility

South Koreas SK Hynix is accelerating its push into the artificial intelligence semiconductor market with a major new investment aimed at strengthening its global competitiveness. The company announced plans to invest...

Nvidia Pushes 800V Data Center Power Systems to Boost Efficiency and Cut Costs

NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) is reportedly exploring next-generation data center power solutions by engaging major South Korean power equipment manufacturers to develop higher-voltage infrastructure. According to The...

LG Innotek Stock Hits Record High on $68M Automotive Wi-Fi 7 Deal

LG Innotek shares surged to an all-time high on Wednesday, fueled by strong investor confidence following the companys latest automotive supply agreement with a European partner. The Seoul-listed stock (KS:011070) climbed...

Samsung Boosts DRAM Supply to Tesla as AI-Driven Memory Demand Surges

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (KS:005930) has significantly increased its monthly DRAM shipments to Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA), reflecting the growing demand for advanced memory solutions in electric vehicles and artificial...