1. The level of UK labour productivity has barely increased at all since the Global Financial Crisis.… Read the rest
1. More than ever, the world is in an era of historically-depressed interest rates.
The Bank of England has come under attack for cutting rates. This is unfair and misguided.
The Bank of England has followed the example of the Federal Reserve, and slashed its major policy rate by 50bps.… Read the rest
Liverpool exemplifies a post-industrial syndrome that challenges many countries.
The accent has gone. I have spent 50-odd years living elsewhere. But Liverpool is my birthplace and spiritual home. Much of my family still resides there.… Read the rest
There is the growing expectation that the Covid-19 crisis will force Prime Minister Boris Johnson to perform a U-turn and request an extension to prolong the Brexit transition period beyond 31 December 2020.… Read the rest
Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a major new rescue package aimed at shoring up jobs and supporting small businesses during the coronavirus crisis. Sunak’s claim that the measures were “unprecedented” in the recent history of British politics is no exaggeration, and the chancellor’s delivery in a short statement during PM Boris Johnson’s daily crisis briefing was a rhetorically superb performance, setting the chancellor apart from his boss.… Read the rest
The government finds itself under growing pressure given its comparably relaxed approach to the coronavirus crisis so far. While other European countries have taken drastic steps to curtail public life, a ban on mass gatherings is expected to be introduced only today, and restaurants and pubs as well as schools remain open for now.… Read the rest
China is trying to contain the coronavirus. The UK is finally exiting the EU. Meanwhile, Japan is preparing to evacuate its citizens from Hubei province, Slovenia’s prime minister has resigned, at least eight parties swill make up Peru’s new parliament, and South Africa’s cabinet will once again look into state-owned enterprises.… Read the rest
