Matt Gardner
mattgardnecon.bsky.social
Matt Gardner
@mattgardnecon.bsky.social
Economist at Octopus Energy working on policy and regulation. Views here my own.
Reposted by Matt Gardner
I'm not sure how long the 'click to cancel' rule will last given the US election and republican opposition. However in the meantime @stuartmills.bsky.social and I have written a little piece about difficulties in cancelling subscriptions and coming regulation

theconversation.com/tech-firms-l...
Tech firms like to make cancelling subscriptions infuriatingly hard – but regulators are starting to crack down
It could become as easy to drop out as it was to sign up.
theconversation.com
November 13, 2024 at 1:17 PM
In this list of the 10 best companies to work for in the UK, 9 have their main offices in Greater London, and 1 in Cambridge. I'm sure there are plenty of issues with the methodology but still rather a sad reflection of regional inequality.
www.scotsman.com/business/bes...
The 10 best companies to work for in 2024: According to UK employees
A new study has identified the places where you
www.scotsman.com
November 12, 2024 at 11:29 AM
Reposted by Matt Gardner
HM Treasury has set out its areas of research interest to help their policy making processes.

Areas range across growth, tax, public services and beyond.

For example, the questions listed below very relevant to devolution and local government.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/673207...
November 11, 2024 at 1:46 PM
Reposted by Matt Gardner
Hello everybody. I have just joined Bluesky, after witnessing the deterioration of Twitter/X. I will post some of my recent material from there and I plan to migrate to this platform over time.
September 12, 2024 at 2:45 PM
Reposted by Matt Gardner
The White House launched a new initiative aiming to make it easier to cancel subscriptions & memberships; allowing customers to speak directly to a human representative by pressing a single button, and more
White House launches consumer protection drive to short-circuit chatbots and ‘doom loops’
"They really are just taking advantage of the fact that people are really busy, they have very crowded lives, and companies are using that fact to hold on to resources," said White House Domestic Poli...
www.cleveland.com
August 12, 2024 at 5:59 PM
For those who like the idea of giving to orgs that do free advice and consumer advocacy, there are some great orgs you can support right now. Donate to Citizens Advice. Or buy a Which? membership. Loads of other consumer charities who'd love some £ to make their research more impactful too!
Imagine everyone had £20 a year that they could spend on membership of a non-profit org providing consumer advice, consumerist lobbying, and individual consumer advocacy. It would create a better society, drive business efficiency by giving businesses a better feedback loop, (here's the good bit)...
August 8, 2024 at 1:59 PM
Reposted by Matt Gardner
The CMA's horizon scan of digital markets looks excellent: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/657ad2...
December 14, 2023 at 1:33 PM
Some brilliant new analysis by colleagues today on the UK's home insulation needs. Our new index shows the places in the country most in need of insulation, based on housing stock data, and socio-economic and health indicators.
Priority Places for Insulation Index: Mapping the UK’s Home Insulation Needs - Which? Policy and i...
Which? has developed an index to identify local areas by need for insulation by combining data on housing stock and the socio-economic and health indicators of the local population
www.which.co.uk
November 15, 2023 at 2:09 PM
Some initial analysis and views from us at Which? on the Vodafone/Three merger www.which.co.uk/policy-and-i...
The Vodafone/Three Merger: how could it affect consumers? - Which? Policy and insight
www.which.co.uk
November 1, 2023 at 12:37 PM
Does this count? I saw it at my local bus stop, and found it both sad and beautiful.
October 28, 2023 at 4:51 PM