The case for scrapping the increase in National Insurance contributions (NICs) planned for April is now so overwhelming that is hard to find good arguments in favour of keeping it. I’ve seen a few, but they are easy to knock down. Nick Macpherson, formerly the top civil servant at the Treasury, has tweeted that ‘National … Continue reading Time to ditch the National Insurance hike
Category: Taxation
Put April’s tax rises on hold and let growth fix the public finances
First, the bad news. UK consumer price inflation has already hit 5.1pc in the 12 months to November. And it is likely to rise further in the coming months as businesses pass on more of the price pressure that is already in the pipeline. In particular, the energy regulator Ofgem is reviewing its cap on … Continue reading Put April’s tax rises on hold and let growth fix the public finances
How can economists help to tackle climate change?
Here are the slides from a presentation on climate change I gave to 14- to 16-year-olds on Saturday 25th September as part of an event run by Bubble Bubble, in partnership with the Royal Economic Society’s ‘Discover Economics’ campaign… how-can-economists-help-to-tackle-climate-change-sep-2021Download You can find more about 'Bubble Bubble' here... Economics for teens | Bubble Bubble | … Continue reading How can economists help to tackle climate change?
Sunak must keep trying to cut tax before the next election
The Treasury’s “fiscal rules” are rather like New Year’s resolutions: many of us make them, but few keep them. Nonetheless, after the spending binge during the pandemic, the Government needs some sort of framework to bring borrowing back under control. We may not have to wait much longer. The Chancellor is expected to unveil new … Continue reading Sunak must keep trying to cut tax before the next election
Plain-speaking Economics 