Including thoughts on the latest news from the labour market (not all bad), signs that the economy retains some positive momentum, and what could still go wrong - including autumn hikes in both taxes and interest rates. Theme of the Week This week’s official labour market data were grim. The UK economy continues to shed payroll jobs, … Continue reading Weekly wrap – is UK productivity finally recovering?
Tag: overseas aid
Weekly wrap: a perfect 10 for stagecraft, a shaky 3 for substance
My regular review of news over the past seven days, including thoughts on Burnham’s first policy announcements, overseas aid, “anti-social businesses”, and the latest economic data (good, in parts). A week may be a long time in politics, but the new team at No.10 has navigated it well. A polished sequence of flashy policy announcements … Continue reading Weekly wrap: a perfect 10 for stagecraft, a shaky 3 for substance
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?
Should overseas aid be cut to fund more spending on defence?
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?
Plain-speaking Economics 