If you are trying to predict the outlook for unemployment it is, of course, essential to get the starting point right. This blog therefore runs through the latest available official data and employment surveys. A follow-up piece will outline my own forecasts. The pandemic has raised question marks over all the usual measures of unemployment … Continue reading A quick dive into the UK labour market data
Author: julianhjessop
Should we devalue the pound?
The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) often hosts debates in the form of short blogs where two economists respond either 'yes' or 'no' to a topical question. Here's a recent exchange between John Mills and myself. The hit to the UK economy and the public finances from the pandemic and the persistent weakness of both … Continue reading Should we devalue the pound?
“The digital economy in a time of Covid”
In case of interest, here's a presentation I made on 1st October to students of economics and finance on "The digital economy in a time of Covid". It covers topics such as the growth of online retail, zero-hours contracts, the pros and cons of homeworking - and why Amazon apparently pays so little tax... digital-economy-covid-oct-2020Download
Would a ‘no deal’ Brexit really cost three times more than Covid?
Brexit talks resumed this week with growing hopes that a trade deal can be done in time for the October EU summit. This follows speculation that the UK has softened its position after Boris Johnson was ‘shocked by a London School of Economics report suggesting that no deal would cost Britain up to three times … Continue reading Would a ‘no deal’ Brexit really cost three times more than Covid?
Plain-speaking Economics 