Category: financial markets

Will the UK need an IMF bailout?

This weekend the Sunday Telegraph led with Britain ‘heading towards IMF bailout’, citing three leading economists who are warning of a “1970s-style debt crisis unless the Chancellor changes course”. The three – Jagjit Chadha, Andrew Sentance and Willem Buiter – are not the usual suspects and their views should be taken seriously. The story was prompted … Continue reading Will the UK need an IMF bailout? →

The Government cannot take credit for the cuts in UK interest rates

The Bank of England’s decision to trim its key interest rate by another quarter point this week was widely expected, but there is still plenty to write about. Unfortunately, little of this is good news. For a start, why on earth is the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) still cutting rates when the Bank itself now … Continue reading The Government cannot take credit for the cuts in UK interest rates →

A bitcoin windfall won’t save the Chancellor

This weekend the Sunday Telegraph reported that Rachel Reeves is eyeing a “£5bn Bitcoin sale” to ease the pressure on the public finances. Some commentators have grasped the wrong end of the stick here; one-off sales of financial assets could not be used to fill a “black hole” under the current fiscal rules, at least … Continue reading A bitcoin windfall won’t save the Chancellor →