Can Governments Increase the Rate of Economic Growth? Governments often seek to increase the rate of economic growth. Higher growth rates improve public finances, increase economic welfare and help reduce unemployment. However, it is debatable how much the government can actually increase the rate of economic growth. The greatest potential for increasing economic growth occurs …
Readers Question: Discuss the likely economic impact on absolute and relative poverty of China’s rapid economic growth? It is an interesting question because even the Chinese government have been concerned that China’s rapid economic growth has not helped large sections of the population, especially in the north. Absolute poverty is defined as the minimum level …
Living Beyond Our Means – Why Are Bond Yields Going Up?Watch this video on YouTube It’s not been as spectacular as September 2022 when bond yields made the front pages, but quietly markets are pushing up the cost of UK debt. The bond yield for 30-year gilts has reached its highest level since 1998. …
It’s been a week of unexpectedly bad news for the UK economy. Inflation was higher than expected 3.6% and core inflation 4.3%. Unemployment was also higher than expected, and that is after last weeks economic growth was lower than predicted – a 2nd month of negative growth. It is only a matter of time before …
Since the start of the year the dollar has fallen 9%. The global reserve currency is under pressure. (BTW: real problem in Japan was 30 and 40 year bonds) Yet at the same time, bond yields are rising creating a headache for the government and financial system. In Japan, the recent surge in bond …
In the early 1980s, housing was around 4 times income, but today, a buyer will need 8 times their income. Young people cannot afford to buy, with average deposits running at over £60,000. Renting has also soared in recent years, with average rents nearly £1,400 a month in England, and £2,200 in London. In the …
Watch this video on YouTube In 1909, the UK provided the first state pension to those over 70. At the time, the average life expectancy was just 52. Since then, the average life expectancy has increased to over 81. But, the pension age today is 66. It means the average person receives a state pension …
How to Tax The Wealthy – Wealth Taxes Which WorkWatch this video on YouTube In the past two decades, average wages have stagnated and government debt has risen. It seems to be an era of austerity. But, it’s not all bad news. UK household wealth has reached a record £13.6 trillion – over six times …