In January the Prime Minister outlined his five priorities for 2023. As well as promises to cut NHS waiting lists and pass new laws to stop small boats, there were three pledges on the economy. These three at least should be deliverable. The first pledge was to “halve inflation this year to ease the cost … Continue reading Rishi Sunak should hit his economic targets, but probably won’t get any credit
Category: Politics
Why expanding London’s ULEZ is a bad idea
The expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to all London boroughs on Tuesday is a triumph of green ideology over sound policymaking. People are right to be fed up. The scheme is at least simple. Motorists driving anywhere in the zone in a car or van which does not meet Euro emission standards … Continue reading Why expanding London’s ULEZ is a bad idea
Does ‘Brexit Britain’ really have a migration crisis?
The news that net migration to the UK hit a new record of 606,000 last year has understandably rung alarm bells. As Rakib Ehsan discussed here, there is a broad consensus that such high figures are unsustainable and, in some sense, undesirable. Nonetheless, talk of a immigration ‘crisis’ seems overdone. First, it is not obvious … Continue reading Does ‘Brexit Britain’ really have a migration crisis?
Two questions and some answers on the economics of the Coronation
The run up to the Coronation of King Charles III has prompted two questions. First, is it appropriate to spend public money on a royal event in the midst of a cost of living crisis? Second, what will be the overall impact of the long weekend on the UK economy? The first question at least … Continue reading Two questions and some answers on the economics of the Coronation
Plain-speaking Economics 