My Blog
To pay for this crisis, the government must keep in mind Ricardian equivalence
John Maynard Keynes could certainly craft a neat phrase. In the Second World War, he wrote in his pamphlet How
How mathematical models attempt to predict the spread of disease
The various pronouncements on coronavirus are a source of puzzlement to many. On the one hand there are lurid predictions
Priti Patel vs. Philip Rutnam: It’s in Britain’s interest that bureaucracy does not win
The reverberations around the resignation of Sir Philip Rutnam, the top civil servant at the Home Office, continue. Priti Patel,
Citizens assemblies are no solution to the climate challenge — we need innovation
At first sight, long-term swings in individual seats in Australian elections are a definite niche interest, one for the real
Time for the Treasury to get with the programme — Britain can afford to spend
In the days of the old Soviet Union, so-called Kremlinologists would pore over every utterance of the Politburo, every sentence
Let the Iowa fiasco serve as a warning — new technology isn’t always the answer Opinion
Last week, the entire world witnessed the shambles of the vote counting in the Iowa Democratic caucus. It should have
The ‘graduate premium’ is little more than a myth — invest in further education instead
Universities and their students are seldom out of the news. Ever since Tony Blair pledged to send 50 per cent
Want to level up the UK? Look at disparity within the regions, not just between them
It is a truth which has rapidly become universally acknowledged (to borrow Jane Austen’s famous phrase) that the government must
From A&E waiting times to the Windrush scandal, beware bureaucratic targets
Last week, health secretary Matt Hancock signalled an important change of strategy. Accident and Emergency Departments have a target that
A tip for Dominic Cummings: Don’t hire anyone who fails to grasp the power of incentives
The job advert issued by Dominic Cummings for people to work in government has attracted a wide range of comments.
Creepy micromanagement won’t drive productivity — try trusting staff instead
Calling all employers: what was in your Christmas stocking? Did you find the latest gadget designed to enhance productivity? The
A lesson in cognitive dissonance for the Corbynites
Behavioural economics — which extends the ability of economics to explain the world — has become very fashionable. Richard Thaler,
Pension reform is political dynamite, but Macron’s attempt should be commended
It would take a heart of stone not to be amused by Emmanuel Macron’s current predicament. The French President is
For richer or for poorer? The economic case for marriage is worth remembering
An important piece of social news emerged last week. According to the Office for National Statistics, the divorce rate in
Labour’s rejection of conventional economic theory ignores important insights
One of the first tasks facing whoever becomes chancellor after the General Election will be choosing the next governor of
Celebrating Germany’s recession dodge? The data isn’t quite as solid as you think
Ardent Remainers had a rare bit of good news at the end of last week. The latest statistics for the
Today’s apologists for socialism still won’t acknowledge the lessons of the Berlin Wall
The media has been awash over the past week with stories about the thirtieth anniversary of the fall of the
From World War II to the financial crisis, our institutional memory is fading fast
The young contestants on Lord Sugar’s reality TV show The Apprentice sparked outrage last week. They appeared to have virtually
The economic impact of Brexit tariffs only tells us half the story
Brexit is about much more than the economic costs and benefits, but the idea that the former dramatically outweigh the
Until Scotland’s currency puzzle is solved, independence is economically delusional
The possibility of Scottish independence is back on the political agenda once again. And one question – which currency would
