We are not having a very good pandemic so far. With over 1,500 deaths per million people, Britain has one … Continue reading “No, “austerity” is not to blame for Britain’s poor Covid performance”

Summary This briefing looks at the impact of the pandemic on the UK’s public finances and assesses the scale of … Continue reading “A briefing on the public finances: How deep a hole are we in?”

This Sunday the Observer ran a frontpage story headlined ‘rightwing thinktanks call time on austerity era’. I was quoted in … Continue reading “No, Observer: free-market think-tanks have not changed their tune”

There is an old and often very useful adage that “if it sounds too good to be true, then it … Continue reading “Why there really aren’t any magic money trees”

The announcement by Phillip Hammond that there will be no Budget spending sprees is to be welcomed. When interest rates … Continue reading “Low interest rates are not an argument for more government borrowing”

The Fabian Society’s latest report, which paints a doom-and-gloom picture of Labour’s chances at the next election, seems to have … Continue reading “Free-marketeers have failed to convince the public”

Matteo Renzi’s government was Italy’s 63rd since 1946. Now, the country – desperate for some internal political stability – will … Continue reading “Another lost decade for Italy?”

The Western world is retreating from economic liberalism. Don’t take my word for it – look at the platforms of … Continue reading “This US presidential election marks the Western world’s retreat from economic liberalism”

The statement was, at best, ambiguous. Its political consequences more profound. George Osborne said he will not hit his target … Continue reading “Our new Prime Minister must resist the temptation of Keynesianism and maintain fiscal sanity”