Steve Reed, the newish Secretary of State for Housing, has certainly brought fresh energy to the role. This has even extended to waving MAGA-style caps with Trump-like calls to “build, baby, build!”. But while it is still early days, little has improved on the ground. The construction sector is worth watching closely for at least … Continue reading Why Labour’s “build, baby, build” mission is struggling to take off
Category: 'net zero'
Why Rachel Reeves has to increase taxes on motorists
The Daily Telegraph has reported that electric vehicle (EV) drivers will be hit with a new pay-per-mile tax in the Budget. Needless to say, this is not going down well with motorists, especially in rural areas, with some already describing it as a ‘poll tax on wheels’. But the context is important. In my view, pay-per-mile charges … Continue reading Why Rachel Reeves has to increase taxes on motorists
Is defence spending good for growth?
The right amount to spend on defence should, of course, primarily be a decision based on the benefits to our security. But could more defence spending also be good for growth? The short answer is ‘not necessarily’. The overall impact on the economy will depend on how the additional spending is financed, and on whether … Continue reading Is defence spending good for growth?
Is the “booming net zero economy” really a key driver of growth?
On Monday the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit published a report by CBI Economics which generated plenty of uncritical headlines about the “booming net zero economy”. In particular, the report claimed that the total economic value (GVA) generated by the sector grew by 10.1% last year, and that this supported the equivalent of 951,000 full-time … Continue reading Is the “booming net zero economy” really a key driver of growth?
Plain-speaking Economics 