The agreement reached between the UK and the EU is as good a deal as we were ever likely to get. I will leave others to comment in detail on the legal and technical aspects, but here are five key points (my personal views) on the economics. First, it important to be clear about the … Continue reading A ‘thumbs up’ to the Brexit deal
Author: julianhjessop
12 reasons to be more cheerful about the UK economy in 2021
I know 2021 will be another tough year for many people and businesses, but I’m aiming here to provide some counterbalance to the more negative commentary you can easily find elsewhere... 1. The household sector (in aggregate) has built up substantial savings during the pandemic that could be used to fuel a strong recovery in … Continue reading 12 reasons to be more cheerful about the UK economy in 2021
What are the financial markets really telling us?
I often think the wider world doesn’t pay enough attention to the signals provided by financial markets. Alas, this isn’t helped by the way in which market moves are often reported. Monday morning provided some good examples. One of the first headlines I read was ‘more than £33 billion has been wiped off the FTSE … Continue reading What are the financial markets really telling us?
Why we don’t need tax rises to pay for Covid
How deep a hole are we in? The Institute of Economic Affairs has just published a primer I’ve written on the state of the public finances, which digs into this question. On the bright side, I argue that there is no need for any form of austerity, including tax rises, to fill a gap left … Continue reading Why we don’t need tax rises to pay for Covid
Plain-speaking Economics 