Economic impact of welfare freezes

Readers Question: What is the economic impact of proposed welfare benefit freezes proposed by Chancellor, Mr Osborne? Mr Osborne has proposed a welfare freeze, worth £3 billion of savings over two years. This benefit freeze includes Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit, Child Benefit and Employment Support Allowance (paid to …

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Scotland in the UK

Generally I try and remain politically uncommitted. But, in the past few weeks, I’ve been surprised at how much the issue of Scottish independence has affected me. Despite a mental desire to feel nationalistic identity as unimportant, I feel deep down it really means a lot – and I hope Scotland votes to remain part …

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EU inflation and deflation

eurozone inflation

The Eurozone inflation rate is 0.4% (ECB database)  (Sept 2014) Eurozone HCIP inflation rate HCIP (Harmonized consumer index prices) Source:| (ECB Inflation graphs, sometimes a few months outdated) Food inflation Food inflation is currently negative. Food inflation tends to be one of the most volatile components. This negative food inflation is one factor reducing the …

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Unemployment Spain – How to Reduce

Readers Question: how we can reduce the unemployment (with implication ) in short run and long run and try to give some lively examples except of uk The unemployment rate in the UK is currently quite low about 4.5%. Therefore, it is difficult for the government to significantly reduce this. A lot of the unemployment …

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Indian economy in 2014

I have quite a few readers in India, so I’d like to have a brief look at the Indian economy and it’s prospects for the coming year. After spending so much time looking at the (rather depressing) economics of austerity in Europe and UK, it makes a welcome change to look at a developing economy …

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What happens if China sells its dollar assets?

Readers Question: “As for the argument that China can always use its foreign exchange (forex) reserves to provide further stimulus to prop up the economy, the people who purport this have little knowledge of basic economics.  If China were to use substantial forex reserves in this way, it would become a large net-seller of U.S. …

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Economics of Scottish Independence

A look at the pros and cons of Scottish independence from an economic perspective. It is said you can’t put a price on freedom and cultural identity. But, when it comes to independence, economics seems to be one of the biggest factors to sway voters in Scotland. When asked in a poll, only 21% favour …

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Britain’s recovery – strong or weak?

There are different ways of looking at the UK recovery. Firstly, we can look at the damage done to the economy since the peak in 2008. The black lines suggests a possible pre-crisis trend rate of economic growth. A rough rule of thumb, suggests that had economic growth been maintained at the pre-crisis trend rate …

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