The coronavirus pandemic is of course primarily a social crisis, but the fiscal costs are also important. A sharp and sustained deterioration in the public finances could have major implications for future government spending and taxation. Many are already asking 'how will we pay for all this?' and worried about the prospect of 'Austerity 2.0'. … Continue reading How will we pay for all this?
Tag: Austerity
Does the increase in public debt mean that ‘Tory austerity’ failed?
I’m seeing lots of variations on ‘how can the Tories criticise Labour’s borrowing plans when debt has risen by £800 billion under their watch?’. But while there may indeed be good reasons to criticise the Conservatives' track record on fiscal policy, the increase in public debt is not one of them. It might help to … Continue reading Does the increase in public debt mean that ‘Tory austerity’ failed?
Schools presentation on fiscal and monetary policy
Here is a presentation I gave on 9th October at a schools conference for A-level economics students, covering topics such as austerity, fiscal multipliers and quantitative easing... Schools presentation on fiscal and monetary policy 9 Oct 2019
Is the UK economy £100bn smaller because of austerity?
In a thought-provoking blog for the New Economics Foundation (NEF), Alfie Stirling has made the striking claim that the cumulative effect of austerity since 2010 has been to reduce the level of UK GDP in 2018/19 by 4.7%, or almost £100 billion. This is equivalent to “around £1,500 for every woman, man and child this year alone”. … Continue reading Is the UK economy £100bn smaller because of austerity?
