Private investment can help Britain remain a world leader in humanitarian aid February 1, 2019 The home secretary’s new plan to “redouble” efforts to crack down on knife violence is a reminder of where the spending priorities of this government have been, and a chance to question where investment is most needed now. The UK’s ambitious aid target of 0.7 per cent of gross national income now accounts for £14bn worth [...]
Editor’s Notes: Why we cannot take no-deal off the table February 1, 2019 There has been no shortage of ludicrous Brexiter outbursts lately as they see their project imperilled by political reality. One Tory backbencher railed against the CEO of Airbus (who had warned against a no-deal Brexit) on the grounds that he is German. He even invoked the Second World War to make a point about not [...]
Italy slips into recession as Eurozone growth disappoints January 31, 2019 Italy slipped into a recession at the end of last year after its economy contracted for a second consecutive quarter. The Italian economy shrank 0.2 per cent in the final three months of 2018, the country’s statistical office Istat said today, following a 0.1 per cent drop the previous quarter. Read more: Eurozone at risk of [...]
The UK is trying to leave the European club – in Italy, the club is on fire January 31, 2019 After Tuesday’s parliamentary showdown, all eyes are on Westminster. Don’t be misled, though – the real existential threat to the EU lies in Rome. In the UK, we are debating how to leave the golf club. In Italy, the golf club is likely to be swamped by an approaching tsunami. There may not be a [...]
Britain has never understood the fervour for the EU project January 31, 2019 What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? It would appear that we are about to find out in the latest instalment of the Brexit soap opera that has been running since we announced our intention to leave in 2016. For no sooner had MPs voted on Tuesday night to back Sir Graham [...]
Let it be: London councils should allow offices and shops to be converted into homes January 31, 2019 Amid all the Brexit brouhaha in Westminster it is important that parliamentarians do not forget the many other issues that affect people's day-to-day lives. Bravo, therefore, to MP Chris Philp for reminding Theresa May during yesterday's Prime Minister's Questions that the dream of homeownership remains all too elusive for many young adults – particularly in [...]
German inflation holds steady amid gloomy outlook for 2019 growth January 30, 2019 Inflation in Germany remained flat in January as the eurozone’s largest economy issued a gloomy forecast for 2019 growth. Consumer prices in Germany rose 1.7 per cent year-on-year, holding steady from the rate in December and in line with estimates from economists polled by Reuters. The figures came shortly after the German government cut its [...]
Lending to consumers slows as credit card borrowing falls amid Brexit uncertainty January 30, 2019 Lending to British consumers grew at its slowest rate in four years in December, as credit card borrowing fell sharply in the run up to Brexit. Annual consumer credit growth slowed to 6.6 per cent, the Bank of England said. Credit card borrowing was “particularly weak”, the bank said, and households put more money into [...]
French economic growth beats forecasts despite yellow vest protests and global trade tensions January 30, 2019 The French economy beat expectations in the fourth quarter of last year despite the ‘gilets jaunes’ protests and global trade tensions. French GDP grew by 0.3 per cent in the three months to December, it emerged today, against expectations of a 0.1 per cent rise, giving the eurozone a welcome boost. The end of 2018 in France [...]
On climate change, good economics sadly does not make good politics January 30, 2019 Economists, of all people, should understand the power of specialisation. They are taught early that prosperity is founded on the division of labour: individuals becoming more productive in specific tasks. Yet when dispensing policy advice, they seem to ignore that lesson, presuming that they know better than politicians about good politics. Economists frequently claim that [...]