Greece is the cradle of western civilisation. Philosophy, democracy and unique cultural icons. But, 15 years ago, something terrible started to happen to the Greek economy, which saw one of the biggests hits to living standards in the western world. GDP collapsed, unemployment soared and Greece became an economic basket case. This article explains what …
In the past few years, the UK has seen a rise in the tax burden, but at the same, the UK has seen a reduction in the average rate of economic growth. Is low growth leading to a higher tax burden or is it the high tax burden which is itself contributing to sluggish growth? …
France and the UK have a long shared history – at times rivals at times allies. Their economies have very similar levels of living standards – ranking 23rd and 24th in global GDP per capita. Yet there are also big differences on the attitude to work, pensions and housing. Not many people know, but since …
1970s – The Decade That Nearly BROKE BritainWatch this video on YouTube Readers Question I’m currently looking at stagflation in the mid-1970s in the UK, and the policies the then-Government undertook to solve the economic crisis. Was the Government right to widen the budget deficit 1974-5 in order to stimulate demand, or should it have …
In 1978, the Conservative Party hit on a fantastic election poster, Labour’s not working. Unemployment had recently hit 1.6 million or 5%. Ironically, a few years later unemployment would soon double to over 12% after the devastating early 1980s recession. But, what about 2024, is there a new epidemic of economic inactivity, people not working? …
In 1984, Arthur Scargill passionately spoke to 140,000 miners to fight for their jobs, communities and livelihoods. Coal was the black gold which kept the country going. Coal miners were the working class heroes, with the capacity to bring down a government or fuel the engine of the economy. After descending a coal mine in …
The country of revolution, protest and long holidays is going through another economic crisis, debt is rising – and dissatisfaction has hit an all-time high. In the past 20 years, growth in France has slipped behind similar countries, reflecting long-term economic problems, but it is the past two years of inflation and stagnant real wages …
The US economy is booming. It was the fastest-growing economy in 2023 and will be the fastest in 2024. The World Bank claims the US is the world economic dynamo and the contrast between the UK and US is stark. Whilst the UK is stuck in economic stagnation, the US shows a different outcome is …