What do Billy Connelly, Bernie Fraser and Lara Bingle have in common?

They all fronted marketing campaigns aimed at selling us a ‘brand’.

In Bingle’s case, she was exporting brand Australia; it wasn’t a bloody great success (excuse the pun), unless the…

Here at burningpants we are wide readers in the area of economics, partly because it allows us to take a helicopter view of what’s happening in the world and partly because we like reading about big ideas discussed elegantly.

In the past…

When it comes to banking and insurance, service appears to be polarised in the UK.

Small numbers of financial companies are delivering really great service to customers, while a large majority are only so-so in the eyes of customers.

Regardless of the…

The UK Financial Services Authority (FSA) may live to fine another day despite being lined up for the chop before the election.

The Tories had planned to hand over banking supervision to the Bank of England, but by entering into a coalition…

Benjamin Franklin said there were only two things certain in life: death and taxes.

But in the UK, pension cuts could soon join that list of certainties as the Government struggles to cope with the burden of an ageing population.

At a UK…

Calling the Tier 2 banking sector in Australia a ‘lemon’ may be a touch harsh, but the sector’s recent customer acquisition performance is leaving a very bitter taste in the mouths of their chief executive officers and shareholders alike.

Take ING…