Vince Cable refuses to toe government line on slow wage growth July 27, 2014 Business secretary Vince Cable drifted away from the government’s usual line on the UK’s economic recovery over the weekend, talking openly about the country’s meagre wage growth. Writing in some of the UK’s regional newspapers, Cable addressed the paltry increase in wages, noting in the Yorkshire Post that pay only rose by 0.5 per cent [...]
British Land warns politics a risk to recovery May 14, 2014 BRITISH Land warned that upcoming political events such as the general election posed “increasing risks” for the property market as the FTSE 100 landlord posted a jump in profits. Chief executive Chris Grigg said yesterday that uncertainty over the outcome of the 2015 elections could put off businesses and investors from investing in the sector. [...]
Don’t bet on India’s Modi to be the pro-growth candidate he’s touted as April 14, 2014 Narendra Modi looks likely to become India’s next Prime Minister – polling in recent months has indicated that his party and its umbrella coalition (the NDA) are set to win the current election. Modi is often described by journalists as pro-business or pro-market, willing to cut through the country’s stagnant bureaucracy and boost sluggish growth. [...]
4 unusual ways businesses are stopping employees from working April 10, 2014 The 35 hour working week, which has become so sacred to the French since its introduction in 1999, has come under threat from the invasion of smartphone working culture. So now a new labour agreement has made it illegal for employers to expect their staff to work after 6pm. The legally-binding agreement between employment federations [...]
Reactions to the chancellor’s statement March 19, 2014 THINK TANK’S TAKE Director at the Adam Smith InstituteEamonn Butler The libertarian think tank applauded the freedom granted to pensioners. “At last Britain's private pension savers will be treated like responsible adults. As lifetimes have lengthened and financial uncertainty has abounded, annuity rates have fallen, leaving savers much worse off then they expected. The rule [...]
Government shutdown: US political dysfunction is worse than you think October 1, 2013 THE PREDICTABILITY of what is unfolding following the US government shutdown approaches tragedy, but ends in farce. The much-maligned Republican Party is almost entirely right on the merits of doing away with Barack Obama’s healthcare programme (Obamacare has been the key sticking point in the fruitless negotiations over the budget). Already this many-headed monster is [...]
Political risk is a global threat to recovery March 25, 2012 IN a tentative recovery, everyone always looks for the next nasty shock that could spring up and derail growth. The answer this time is political risk – all over the world. We all know about the geo-political tensions in the Middle East that sent Brent over $126 earlier this month. But in a year heavy [...]
Ireland must erase uncertainty over its banks January 23, 2011 The next couple of weeks, ahead of the upcoming Irish general election, are going to be crucial for Fianna Fail, the ruling Irish party. Prime Minister Brian Cowen may have received a vote of confidence from his fellow party members last week, but over the weekend he resigned from his leadership post. What happens next, [...]
IRISH BAILOUT FAILS TO CHEER INVESTORS November 22, 2010 Markets fall and bond yields continue to rise Cowen resists snap election call ahead of budget UK confirms intention to offer £7bn in loans MARKET turmoil failed to subside yesterday in spite of the announcement of a multi-billion euro Irish bailout. As the Irish governing coalition threatened to fall apart and independent MPs said they [...]
IRISH BAILOUT FAILS TO CHEER INVESTORS November 22, 2010 Markets fall and bond yields continue to rise Cowen resists snap election call ahead of budget UK confirms intention to offer £7bn in loans MARKET turmoil failed to subside yesterday in spite of the announcement of a multi-billion euro Irish bailout. As the Irish governing coalition threatened to fall apart and independent MPs said they [...]