Criticism of Thatcher Economics  

Margaret Thatcher came to power in 1979 inheriting an economy with high inflation. She introduced strict Monetarist policies such as high interest rates, high taxes to try and control the money supply. This reduced inflation but at the expense of causing a deep recession in 1981. The recession particularly affected the manufacturing sector and unemployment rose to 3 million.

Boom and Bust under Mrs Thatcher

Mrs Thatcher and her chancellor Nigel Lawson allowed an economic boom in the late 1980s. Growth reached over 5%, house prices boomed and unemployment fell. However, this growth was too fast it caused inflation and the growth was unsustainable. This led to the recession of 1991 - exacerbated by the decision to join the ERM

Criticisms of Thatcherite Economics

Also there is a more general criticism of Thatcherite economics. The belief in free markets and individual wealth creation undermined the fabric of society encouraging selfishness and an increase in inequality. Thatcherite beliefs include a support for a form of 'trickle down economics' The idea if the rich get richer everyone benefits. But, this is often not the case.

 

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