Enough with the hysteria, NHS pay rises make us all richer August 22, 2024 NHS pay rises have sparked apocalyptic headlines, but a better public sector makes us all richer, writes Sam Fowles.
It’s not just taxes, rent, childcare and a decrepit NHS are driving talent out of the UK August 1, 2024 High taxes are a problem, but the list of factors driving talent away from the UK is far more extensive, writes John Oxley One of the first criticisms levelled at Labour’s intended tax rises is their potential to drive high-productivity workers away from the UK. It is a fair one. In a world where capital [...]
Tedium alone won’t restore confidence in the economy July 23, 2024 The theory of Ricardian Equivalence posits that financing public spending out of taxes or borrowing will have the same overall economic consequences. This, David Ricardo argued in 1820, was because rational consumers understand that debt will eventually have to be paid off. They will therefore set aside current income in anticipation of future tax rises. [...]
Ruchir Sharma on bailouts, inequality and making markets free again July 8, 2024 A new book by Ruchir Sharma argues that a bigger state is exactly the wrong diagnosis for a government looking to boost growth.
What the next government needs to do to kickstart the economy July 2, 2024 There's a startling degree of consensus on the economic challenges facing the next government, but that does not make them any easier to solve.
Will it work? Tax and benefit cuts June 27, 2024 It’s an election year. Politicians are giving us a barrage of policies. But we often forget to ask the most important question: will they actually work? In this column Sam Fowles take policies on their own terms and asks whether they solve the problem they’re supposed to solve. Rishi Sunak has made tax cuts the [...]
Build, Baby, Build: These are the solutions to London’s housing crisis June 20, 2024 The Centre for London's Katie Townsend looks at how to solve London's crippling housing crisis
Renting remains cheaper than buying in UK as mortgage rates soar June 17, 2024 The financial burden is greatest in London, where buying a house costs an additional £775 per month, or £9,300 annually, compared to renting.
Will it work? Slashing waste June 13, 2024 It’s an election year. Politicians are giving us a barrage of policies. But we often forget to ask the most important question: will they actually work? In this column Sam Fowles take policies on their own terms and asks whether they solve the problem they’re supposed to solve. When they’re not getting milkshakes poured on [...]
We can’t borrow our way back to growth June 12, 2024 When 7.3 per cent of public spending goes on interest spending, the debt burden is completely unsustainable – and it’s only getting worse, says Paul Ormerod This week’s manifesto launches have made the poor state of the public finances clear – simply put, there’s very little money for any party to play with. One reason [...]