Category: coronavirus

Now is the time for the Government to make the bold decision to do less

Rishi Sunak is having a relatively good crisis. The Chancellor and his team certainly deserve plenty of credit for the way the Treasury has shielded the large majority of businesses and jobs during an unprecedented slump in economic activity. But this task has been made easier by the broad consensus on the appropriate policies and … Continue reading Now is the time for the Government to make the bold decision to do less →

The economic case against extending the Brexit transition

If you are someone who believes that Brexit is absolutely marvellous, or a complete disaster, then the question of whether the coronavirus pandemic justifies an extension of the transition period is presumably a no-brainer. But what about those who think the issues are more delicately balanced? This piece is pitched at them. In particular, I … Continue reading The economic case against extending the Brexit transition →

The economy could pleasantly surprise us at how fast it recovers

The focus of economic policy is starting to shift from protecting businesses, jobs and incomes during the lockdown towards supporting the recovery. Business lobbies, ‘big state’ think tanks, academics and the TUC are all lining up to call for a huge fiscal stimulus. However, more intervention now could be exactly the wrong choice. Instead, we … Continue reading The economy could pleasantly surprise us at how fast it recovers →