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 …
There was a time when Britain led the way in building. Britain built the first railway, the first iron bridge, the first underground system. Isambard Kingdom Brunel was voted the 2nd greatest Britain for his exploits, in transforming the country. But, if Brunel were alive today, would he find himself thwarted by red tape, NIMBY’s …
Defying predictions of recession and political turmoil, the US economy has grown noticeably faster than its competitors. Led by fiscal expansion and higher consumer spending, the US economy appears to be the global economic dynamo. Green subsidies led to a boom in construction investment and rising employment. Yet, despite the seemingly impressive GDP statistics, some …
Around 2000, something remarkable happened to the Italian economy. It stopped growing and went into a 20 year long-decline. Even if you adjust for population, Italy’s performance was strikingly worse than its main competitors. If we look at productivity, Italy fell far behind. It has effectively lost two decades with real wages remaining virtually stagnant. …
Since 2000, there was only one major economy which has seen a fall in real GDP per capita – Italy. In this period, Italy has experienced a shocking fall in productivity, rising debt, and prolonged economic turmoil. We are told the Italian economy is riven by cronyism, falling birth rates, and a regional divide. Yet, …