Historically, economists have used increasing productivity as a proxy for improving living standards. The argument stands that if productivity is improving, firms have more room to increase wages. This in turn increases living standards (assuming no increase in inflation). However, since the financial crisis, the productivity growth of G7 nations, especially in the UK, has not increased in line with its historic trend. Has this … Continue reading Productivity Problems
Recently, Covid-19 has been at the forefront of global news. Having originated in the latter months of 2019 in China, it has now been declared a global pandemic. The virus is carried best by young people but is most lethal for the elderly. The United Kingdom has now moved to the ‘delay’ phase with the objective now being to slowdown the virus. With total cases … Continue reading Covid-19 and the Economy
For many students around the country university is a financial gamble taken all too lightly. The way out might now be in the form of an apprenticeship programme. Continue reading A new path for budding undergraduates
This essay analyses the causes and consequences of the UK’s current account deficit, the highest in history.
Continue reading The UK current account deficit is at a historic high. We should be worried
North Sea oil supplies are running out. Peak oil extraction has been surpassed. The government’s policy of heavily subsidising renewable energy has cost the taxpayer billions and pushed household electricity bills up by £17 a year on average. The pressure to meet targets for carbon emission reductions has left the government forcing the closure of all coal power stations by 2025. Without a plausible reaction … Continue reading The UK is facing an energy crisis
The European Union has set the target for the energy consumption of all it’s member states to be 20% renewable by 2020. While currently Brexit is being negotiated, in 2015, the UK was given its own special target of 15% because of it’s its “low starting point”. The UK Great Britain has consistently lagged behind its European counterparts, ranking 24th out of 28 neighbouring states … Continue reading To burn or not to burn? Fuelling the future
The case for a cap on energy prices has arisen after the ‘big six’ energy companies raised prices by up to 15% earlier this year, even alongside low and falling wholesale prices. Although these have been justified by the energy companies as the result of being forced into generating renewable energy, it has not been perceived in that light by the general public, making the pledge … Continue reading Theresa May’s problematic pledge to cap energy prices
This essay examines Mr Osborne’s decisions and actions in terms their economic and social impacts on the UK. Continue reading Austerity was a misguided policy
Too many people are attaining degrees which serve them little purpose Continue reading Should the government limit the number of university places?
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