Living standards still falling despite today’s growth figures
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The UK has a long-term growth problem which it will not solve until government spending and taxation are reduced
Commenting on today’s growth figures, Prof Philip Booth, Editorial Director at the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:
“The difficulties faced by the UK economy are not fully reflected in today’s growth figures. Living standards are falling, productivity growth is weak, and the economy has, in fact, been flat over the last year.
“It is likely that we are leaving recession but entering a period of unspectacular recovery – quite unlike the recovery from previous recessions.
“The UK has a long-term growth problem which it will not solve until government spending and taxation are reduced, the welfare state reformed and the extent of regulation on the private sector cut back. If the proportion of national income spent by the government returned even to 2005 levels, it is likely that the long-term growth rate would be 1% higher. Planning and labour market regulations as well as an incoherent approach to energy and financial regulation are all hampering growth and preventing living standards from rising.”
Notes to Editors:
To arrange an interview with an IEA spokesperson, please contact Stephanie Lis, Director of Communications: 020 7799 8909, slis@iea.org.uk
The mission of the Institute of Economic Affairs is to improve understanding of the fundamental institutions of a free society by analysing and expounding the role of markets in solving economic and social problems.
The IEA is a registered educational charity and independent of all political parties.
“The difficulties faced by the UK economy are not fully reflected in today’s growth figures. Living standards are falling, productivity growth is weak, and the economy has, in fact, been flat over the last year.
“It is likely that we are leaving recession but entering a period of unspectacular recovery – quite unlike the recovery from previous recessions.
“The UK has a long-term growth problem which it will not solve until government spending and taxation are reduced, the welfare state reformed and the extent of regulation on the private sector cut back. If the proportion of national income spent by the government returned even to 2005 levels, it is likely that the long-term growth rate would be 1% higher. Planning and labour market regulations as well as an incoherent approach to energy and financial regulation are all hampering growth and preventing living standards from rising.”
Notes to Editors:
To arrange an interview with an IEA spokesperson, please contact Stephanie Lis, Director of Communications: 020 7799 8909, slis@iea.org.uk
The mission of the Institute of Economic Affairs is to improve understanding of the fundamental institutions of a free society by analysing and expounding the role of markets in solving economic and social problems.
The IEA is a registered educational charity and independent of all political parties.
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