The post 2008 recession has seen the longest decline in real GDP on record. 55 months after the peak output of 2008, the UK economy is still 4% below it’s peak. By contrast, in the same time frame during the early 1930s, the economy had recovered to be more than 2% higher than the 1930 …
A new series from the ONS shows an index of labour costs per hour. (this is an experimental series and looks as if it is not seasonally adjusted) Labour costs seem to be persistently highest in Q1. Labour costs per hour are primarily comprised of 1. Wage costs per hour but also 2. Non-wage costs. …
In Jan 2013, UK industrial production was 2.9% lower than Jan 2012. Manufacturing on a seasonally adjusted basis fell by 3.0% in January 2013 compared with January 2012. Industrial production is over 15% lower than at the start of the recession in 2007. Industrial output (production industries = Mining + manufacturing + energy + water) …
In the late nineteenth century, firms with great monopoly power were the US railroads and oil companies. These days we have a new set of monopolies, companies like Google, Amazon. For example, Amazon has over 30% of the online retail of books and DVDs. Also, a firm with a monopoly selling power like Amazon can …
The Prime Minister has got into a bit of pickle by trying to maintain the view that deficit reduction policies have not reduced economic growth, and in fact have had the opposite effect. “They (are) absolutely clear that the deficit reduction plan is not responsible (for low growth); in fact, quite the opposite.” (link) There …
After a rather lengthy post on evaluating EU fiscal rules, a more immediate and simple political criticism of the EU’s general austerity policies from Mr Bersani of the Italian Democrats (Pd). The new Italian political leader has argued: “We must leave the austerity cage,” “A change of course is absolutely necessary given that five years …
In 2012, the EU introduced a new form of its growth and stability pact. The main rules for EU fiscal policy are: Total Government debt must not be more than 60% of gross domestic product; The Government deficit must not be more than 3% of GDP except in particular circumstances. (Source: EU, Current EU rules) …
Recently, the Economist published an article (You can fool some of the people…), pointing out several economic commentators were increasingly critical of UK economic policy and the Bank of England’s monetary policy in particular. Is the Bank of England really losing grip of monetary policy? or are they doing the best job in difficult circumstances? …