Category: Applied economics

The Government should rethink its plans for the National Living Wage

The Times is reporting today (Saturday) that the Chancellor is likely to confirm a rise in the National Living Wage (NLW) of about 4%, from £12.21 to at least £12.70, in next month’s Budget. She will also recommit to extending the full living wage to young people between the ages of 18 and 21 (where a lower … Continue reading The Government should rethink its plans for the National Living Wage →

November Budget needs to be big and bold

A year ago, the Chancellor promised that the £40 billion of tax increases announced in her first Budget would be a “one-off”. But it is now almost certain that her second Budget next month will deliver more of the same. What’s gone wrong? The technical answer is that OBR is expected to predict that the … Continue reading November Budget needs to be big and bold →

The case for a late Budget

The Chancellor has confirmed that the date of the Autumn Budget will be Wednesday 26 November. This is relatively late, raising fears that a longer period of speculation and uncertainty will undermine confidence even further, but there are always trade-offs. I can think of five reasons why waiting might make sense. First, and perhaps most … Continue reading The case for a late Budget →