Financial Policy Committee Record – July 2025
Our Financial Policy Committee (FPC) meets to identify risks to financial stability and agree policy actions aimed at safeguarding the resilience of the UK financial system.
Doing business in conflict zones: what companies can learn from Lafarge’s exit from Syria
The world experienced over 60 armed conflicts in 2024, a “historically high” number according to scholars in the Department of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University. Consequently, the risks faced by multinational companies (MNCs) operating in conflict-torn regions, especially the Middle East and North Africa, have significantly intensified.
3 basic ingredients, a million possibilities: How small pizzerias succeed with uniqueness in an age of chain restaurants
Variety is the sauce of life. Suzanne Kreiter/Boston Globe via Getty ImagesAt its heart, pizza is deceptively simple. Made from just a few humble ingredients – baked dough, tangy sauce, melted cheese and maybe a few toppings – it might seem like a perfect candidate for the kind of mass-produced standardization that defines many global food chains, where predictable menus reign supreme.
AI, Antitrust & Privacy
We typically view competition as a positive force that lowers prices, improves quality and service, and increases variety. However, competition can sometimes be toxic.
AI, Antitrust & Privacy: When More Competition Makes Things Worse
Without strong privacy laws and aligned incentives, increased AI competition worsens surveillance, manipulation, and disinformation—threatening privacy, autonomy, and democracy.
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Lloyd’s managing agent authorisation process to be streamlined to support growth
The PRA, FCA and the Society of Lloyd’s have agreed changes to streamline the process of regulatory approval for Lloyd’s managing agents, intended to reduce the timeframe for authorisation.
America’s Broken Union System
Union membership is at its lowest level in a century. Why, despite viral organizing campaigns at Amazon and Starbucks, has union density flatlined?
Bank of England launches consultation on future banknote designs
The Bank of England is asking the public to give their views on what theme they would like to see represented in the design of the next series of banknotes – through a consultation launching today (2 July 2025).
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