General government gross debt is a definition of government borrowing used by the EU. Generally, UK government debt is published as ‘public sector net borrowing’ – There are two measures of this public sector net borrowing – one which includes financial sector intervention, and another which excludes. see: UK National Debt source: Stats on UK …
The Congressional Budget Office produced an in depth study into inequality in the US. They concluded inequality has widened in the US in the past three decades. In particular, the biggest growth in income has come from the top 1% of the population. See full report at: Trends in US income inequality (CBO) Summary of Report CBO …
Readers question: What exactly are the solutions to the EU crisis? It is a difficult question to answer. The dynamics of the single currency mean that many of the conventional solutions to economic problems cannot be used. The difficult task is to reduce levels of government borrowing whilst also managing to target economic recovery and …
In September 2011, CPI inflation rose to 5.2%, well above the government’s inflation target of 2%. RPI inflation is even higher at 5.6% Why have the Bank of England kept interest rates at 0.5% despite this increase in inflation? Should we not be more concerned about inflation? Price indices and inflation ONS Reasons To be …
Ireland has faced tremendous economic turmoil in recent years. Government debt has soared after the banking bailout and effect of a deep recession. The economy has faced a combination of Falling house prices bank losses and decline in bank lending Fiscal austerity (government spending cuts) to try and solve budget deficit. All these factors have …
Three questions on quantitative easing, inflation and why inflation in the UK is high despite falling real incomes and lower consumer spending. Readers Question: Isn’t the government (of UK) already printing lots of money? The Bank of England have electronically created money and used this to buy government bonds from financial institutions. The Bank created …
I saw this in the Telegraph. The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) said soaring inflation coupled with low pay rises means household peacetime disposable income is at its lowest since 1921. Rising food, clothing and energy prices mean the average British family will have £910 less to spend this year than they did …
Statistics on different international minimum wage levels from the OECD. Minimum wage levels indicate how different countries have pursued alternative policies for labour markets. Minimum wages in selected countries The most generous minimum wage levels are in Western Europe. US has a relatively low minimum wage It is not surprising to find France has one …