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Matthew Sparkes

Matthew Sparkes is an Assistant Professor in Sociology and a Director of Studies and Fellow in the Human, Social, and Political Sciences at Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge.

Matthew's research is centred on examining neoliberal political economy, its origins and associations with financialisation, and the class, gender and cultural dynamics of these processes. His work makes use of a variety of research methods, and cuts across social science scholarship in sociology, cultural studies, economics, politics, geography, and labour history.

Currently, Matthew's research interests lie in two main strands. The first strand focuses on the way politicians and the media utilise narratives to influence policy, particularly in moments of crises, and the consequences of these processes. The second, and more dominant, strand extends his enquires into social stratification processes within credit markets, and how they shape social inequalities.

Before entering academia, Matthew worked as a Debt Advisor for StepChange Debt Charity. He earned his PhD in Sociology and MA in Social Research at the University of York, and his BA in Sociology from Leeds Metropolitan University.

Mortgage prisoners: regulatory changes and low credit scores have left thousands trapped in a cycle of high payments

May 15, 2024 07:26 am UTC| Insights & Views Economy

There are 8.5 million households in the UK who own a home with a residential mortgage, often with fixed interest rates from two to five years. Usually, when that mortgage deal ends, the borrower will move to another deal...

Credit payment holidays reduced the mental health effects of debt during COVID – new research

May 23, 2023 15:09 pm UTC| Health

Like other countries, the UK implemented a number of initiatives to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on peoples economic circumstances. While we know these schemes supported household finances, now were...

Economy

Global EV Sales Slump in February as China Records Steepest Decline Since COVID-19

Global electric vehicle registrations dropped 11% in February, marking the second consecutive month of decline, according to data from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence (BMI). Worldwide sales barely cleared one million units ...

U.S.-China Trade Talks Head to Paris as Officials Push for Balanced Economic Relations

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is set to meet Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Paris, France, from March 15 to 16, marking a significant step in ongoing efforts to stabilize the worlds most consequential bilateral...

China's Banks Shift Lending Focus to Tech and AI Amid Policy Push

Chinas major banks are redirecting lending priorities toward technology and innovation-driven companies, responding to Beijings aggressive push to dominate artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and advanced...

Fed Rate Cut Hopes Fade as Oil Prices Stoke Inflation Fears

Bond markets are rapidly dialing back expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts in 2025, as surging oil prices reignite inflation concerns and political pressure from President Donald Trump intensifies....

USMCA Reaffirmed as Canada and Mexico Push Back Against U.S. Bilateral Trade Signals

Canada and Mexico are standing firm on the trilateral trade framework that has long defined North American economic relations. At a recent conference in Mexico City, Canadian Ambassador to Mexico Cameron MacKay and Mexican...

Politics

Brazil's Top Court Blocks Trump Official's Visit to Imprisoned Bolsonaro

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has denied a request allowing Darren Beattie, a senior Trump administration official, to visit former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in prison. The decision reversed...

TSA Funding Crisis Threatens Spring Break Travel as Senate Remains Deadlocked

The U.S. Senate failed Thursday to break a political standoff over Transportation Security Administration funding, raising serious concerns about airport security disruptions during one of the busiest travel periods of the...

Toronto Police Boost Security Ahead of Al-Quds Day Rally Amid Iran War Tensions

Toronto police announced Thursday they will significantly increase their presence across the city this weekend in response to expected protests tied to the ongoing Iran war. The announcement comes ahead of a scheduled...

Senator Hawley Accuses Fertilizer Giants of Price Gouging Amid Iran Supply Disruptions

Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) has formally accused CF Industries Holdings and other major fertilizer companies of price gouging American farmers, sending a nine-question letter to CF Industries CEO Christopher Bohn demanding...

Khamenei Vows to Keep Hormuz Shut as Netanyahu Issues Veiled Death Threat

A new chapter in the Iran-Israel conflict has opened with serious global economic consequences, as Irans newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei vowed to maintain the closure of the Strait of Hormuz as a strategic...

Science

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...

SpaceX Prioritizes Moon Mission Before Mars as Starship Development Accelerates

Elon Musks SpaceX is shifting its near-term space exploration strategy, choosing to prioritize a return to the Moon before pursuing missions to Mars, according to a recent Wall Street Journal report citing sources familiar...

NASA and SpaceX Target Crew-11 Undocking From ISS Amid Medical Concern

NASA has confirmed that the agency, in coordination with SpaceX, is targeting no earlier than 5 p.m. Eastern Time (2200 GMT) on Wednesday, January 14, for the undocking of the SpaceX Crew-11 mission from the International...

Neuralink Plans High-Volume Brain Implant Production and Fully Automated Surgery by 2026

Elon Musks brain-computer interface company Neuralink is preparing for a major expansion, announcing plans to begin high-volume production of its brain implant devices and transition to a fully automated surgical procedure...

Jared Isaacman Confirmed as NASA Administrator, Becomes 15th Leader of U.S. Space Agency

The U.S. Senate has officially confirmed billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman as the new NASA administrator, making him the 15th leader in the agencys history. The confirmation, which took place on Wednesday, marks...

Technology

X Agrees to Overhaul Blue Checkmark System in EU After €120 Million DSA Fine

Elon Musks social media platform X is set to revamp its verification system across the European Union after agreeing to submit remedies in response to a 120 million fine, Bloomberg News reported. The move comes after EU...

Meta Delays 'Avocado' AI Model Release After Falling Short of Rivals

Meta Platforms is pushing back the launch of a highly anticipated artificial intelligence model after internal testing revealed it couldnt keep pace with competing systems from Google and other leading tech companies. The...

Stryker Cyberattack Disrupts Operations Amid Iran-Linked Hacking Claims

Medical device giant Stryker confirmed Thursday that a cyberattack is causing significant disruption across its global operations, affecting its ability to process orders, manufacture products, and fulfill customer...

Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen Steps Down After 18 Years as Company Beats Q1 Earnings

Adobe Systems announced Thursday that longtime CEO Shantanu Narayen will be stepping down after leading the company for nearly two decades, triggering a 7.2% drop in after-hours trading despite the software giant posting...

Telus Corp. Confirms Cybersecurity Breach Amid Extortion Threat

Canadian telecommunications giant Telus Corp. (NYSE: TU) is investigating a cybersecurity incident after unauthorized access was detected across a limited number of its internal systems. The company publicly disclosed the...