In 1999, Tony Blair made a pledge that 50% of young adults would go into higher education by the next century. And this is one government promise that has actually been achieved, Student numbers have risen, UCAS applications almost doubled. Students are told a degree is a passport to success, higher salary and cultural enrichment. …
There’s been no honeymoon for the new Labour government. Since the election in July, UK growth has continued its long-term trend of barely existing. Recent data disappointed analysts with output falling in the last two months. Monthly data is noisy, but it comes amidst business warning of a weaker labour market, with higher national insurance, …
We Can’t Afford a Trump Trade WarWatch this video on YouTube In 1930, the US economy entered a deep recession and President Hoover responded by passing the Smoot Hawley tariff bill which saw average US tariffs almost double. The aim was to help US manufacturers from foreign competition. But, the bill was a disaster, …
Is American Economy Now Set to Decline?Watch this video on YouTube The US economy has been outperforming the rest of the world. It has left the European economy in the dust. In the 1990s with everyone buying a Sony Walkman, it was Japan which was going to overtake the US, but it never did. The …
Labour's Big Budget GambleWatch this video on YouTube It was one of the biggest budgets in decades – Higher tax, higher spending, and more borrowing. Rachel’s Reeves hopes it will boost economic growth, avoid austerity and restore public services. But it is a gamble because if it fails to increase growth the UK will need …
A frequently asked question is – Who does the UK borrow from? Who owns the UK’s government debt? (Asset Purchase Facility = Bank of England) UK government debt is primarily held by: Private financial institutions – banks, pension funds, investment trusts and also private households. 28% is held by overseas investors (e.g. American investment trusts/Japanese …
The UK economy has undergone a real battering in the past 15 years. For decades, the UK grew around 2% a year, but per capita incomes are now barely increasing. It’s not just about a global downturn, the UK has fallen further behind similar economies like France and Germany on key metrics like income and …
First time buyers have seen Mortgage payments as a share of income rise significantly in the past 2 years, increasing the cost of buying a house. However, the private rented market has been even more problematic. In the past four years, rents have risen 20%, pushing tenants to spend a higher share of income on …