To give money to a woman - and here I must speak as a man - is to deny her special quality, her irreplaceability, and reduce her unique amiability to a commodity. Money takes away her name, while transforming her lover into a nameless customer of a market of appetites. James Buchan amiabilityappetitecommodity share on social
A century ago, petroleum - what we call oil - was just an obscure commodity; today it is almost as vital to human existence as water. James Buchan agocallcentury Change image and share on social
Osama bin Laden, the Saudi-born revolutionary who is believed by most Arab and Iranian observers to be the inspiration of the attacks in New York and Washington, is the best known of the Islamic militants to have emerged in the past 20 years and the least difficult to fathom. James Buchan arabattackbear share on social
Any new financial order for the world must tackle the three chief challenges of our age. James Buchan agechallengechief Change image and share on social
By pouring money and goods into devastated regions, foreign aid workers sometimes compound the disruption and debauch the survivors. James Buchan aidcompounddebauch Change image and share on social
There are signs that the age of petroleum has passed its zenith. Adjusted for inflation, a barrel of crude oil now sells for three times its long-run average. The large western oil companies, which cartellised the industry for much of the 20th century, are now selling more oil than they find, and are thus in the throes of liquidation. James Buchan 20thadjustage share on social
Where consumption is both conspicuous and competitive, humanity will never run out of new wishes. All the while, industry creates new desires that are marketed, in the great fashion paradox, as both novelty and need. James Buchan competitiveconspicuousconsumption share on social
In modern society, where most people live in cities, and where both needs and wishes are absolved through the same remote agency - money - the distinction between wishes and needs has altogether vanished. James Buchan absolveagencyaltogether share on social