This week the Prime Minister announced that UK defence spending will now be raised from 2.3% to 2.5% of national income in 2027, funded by cutting overseas aid from 0.5% to 0.3%. The politics around this switch are controversial – the minister responsible for aid has just resigned in protest – but the economics is … Continue reading Should overseas aid be cut to fund more spending on defence?
Tag: government borrowing
Is there hope for Britain’s economy in 2025?
In the memorable words of one official statistician, Britain’s economy was “going gangbusters” at the beginning of 2024. Unfortunately, last year appears to have ended with a whimper. The best hope now is that this pattern will be reversed in 2025, with a sluggish start giving way to a strong and sustained recovery. But the … Continue reading Is there hope for Britain’s economy in 2025?
What to make of soaring bond yields
The latest surge in gilt yields - which represents the cost of new borrowing by the UK government in the bond market - is yet another shock that the already fragile economy could do without. To be fair, this crisis is not entirely the making of Rachel Reeves and her October Budget. Bond yields have … Continue reading What to make of soaring bond yields
Trump’s ‘MAGAnomics’ adds to the downside risks to the UK economy in 2025
On Monday 20 January, Donald Trump will complete a remarkable comeback when he inaugurated as President of the United States for the second time. But the world economy needs to brace for another outbreak of ‘Trumponomics’ or, as the man himself puts it, ‘MAGAnomics’. So far, investors in US equities have responded positively. In part, … Continue reading Trump’s ‘MAGAnomics’ adds to the downside risks to the UK economy in 2025
