Wealth and income inequality have become focal points of social and political contention and are often conflated together by politicians. However, the two must be addressed separately. Wealth is the value of an individual’s assets and is often difficult to assess, monitor, and tax. Income includes various streams of revenue that a household or person earns, and drives well being and standards of living. But … Continue reading Should We Tax Wealth or Income?
House Prices are Falling The UK’s current housing market might shock much of the British population, as high interest rates have led to house prices being down 3% nominally and 11% accounting for inflation since their peak in August 2022. (Bloomberg UK, 2023) However, this surprise is understandable as UK house prices have been a one-way bet for a long time, consistently rising since 2012, … Continue reading Calm Before the Storm: Falling House Prices in the UK
“An economic recovery, like a rising tide, will lift all boats. For many, maybe even most, it will lift by painful inches. Some boats, however, may be lifted faster and higher.” So spoke President Ronald Reagan during his 1982 State of the Union address. He promised growth for all, stimulated by tax cuts for the top earning bracket, allowing for money to “trickle” down socio-economic levels … Continue reading Trickle Down Economics
The Premier League is the world’s most popular football league with 1.02 billion viewers annually, from every continent. Every child in the UK has a dream of one day playing in the Premier League. Football is something that can unite all, regardless of class, religion or race. English football came to be loved for being competitive and fast. Premier league clubs also have some of … Continue reading The Economics of the Premier League
Planning regulations were first introduced in the UK in 1947 to address the pressing need for reconstruction following World War II. The regulations aimed to ensure that the development of houses and infrastructure was carried out in a sustainable and unprejudiced way, considering important factors such as the environment, economy, and social impacts. However, many have argued that these regulations have become overly bureaucratic and … Continue reading Have planning regulations gone too far?
We hope you enjoyed the long weekend and the spectacles of the coronation! We’ve summarised the top stories of the last week into an easily digestible briefing, so that you can stay up to date on what’s happening around the world. This week, we have put a heavier focus on the UK. You can subscribe to receive the briefing in your inbox each week. This … Continue reading News Briefing – Coronation Special: 08/05/2023
April’s chart shows that inflation in the UK is lasting longer and staying higher than much of the OECD. We can see that, while inflation dropped 0.3% in the UK in March, inflation fell by 1.6% in the Eurozone; in the US, it peaked last June. Food inflation remains at 19%; energy inflation at 67%. Why is the UK struggling to take the wind out … Continue reading Chart of the Month – April 2023
March’s Chart of the Month displays the percentage differences in tertiary education, participation in the workforce, and average wages, between women and men in the UK. It highlights the gender disparities that still exist within the labour market. For instance, in 2020 average wages for female workers were 15% lower than for men, yet they were 5% more likely to be in tertiary education. Over … Continue reading Chart of the Month – March 2023
Strikes in the UK are at a record high. February’s Chart of the Month examines the causes behind this unparalleled increase of discontent in wages and its implications on the UK’s economic recovery. In the last 10 years, there have been two spikes in working days lost to strikes. Over several days in July 2014, millions of people took part in protests, including teachers, firefighters, … Continue reading Chart of the Month – February 2023
Between 1945 and 1979, reducing unemployment remained one of the most crucial macroeconomic objectives of 20th century British fiscal policy. Keynesian economic policy was particularly influential in the period with both Labour and Conservative governments choosing to increase government spending as a part of demand-side strategy, all in the name of battling unemployment, stimulating growth in the economy and nationalising the commanding heights of industries. … Continue reading Thatcher and the Right to Buy
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