As Gérard Depardieu flees to Russia, will the 75 per cent tax rate damage France? January 7, 2013 YES Emmanuelle Savarit François Hollande’s policy of a 75 per cent rate of income tax for top earners is already a disaster for the country’s image, and it will have a negative impact by reducing France’s economic competitiveness. France needs entrepreneurs and risk-takers to create wealth. Heavy taxation is unfair on talented people who create [...]
Rapid responses January 7, 2013 Broadband policy [Re: Think tank slams plan to splash out on UK broadband arms race, yesterday] This is an essential look at the UK’s costly and ineffective broadband policies. But it fails to recommend immediate policy changes that would result in much-needed, competition for fixed line and mobile internet access. Allowing wholesale internet service providers [...]
The coalition’s lack of purpose has ruined our freedom to fail or thrive January 6, 2013 A SOCIETY must provide its people with certain basics, including security, food and shelter. A civilised society should also provide freedom. There is no precise definition of the term, but it is basically a status that allows people to do what they want, provided they do not interfere with the freedom of others. A market [...]
The government must use its mid-term review to focus on our role in Europe January 6, 2013 THIS week will see the coalition government publish a mid-term review that will look back at its achievements, and set the agenda for the period running up to the next general election in 2015. In many ways, the coalition has already exceeded expectations by overcoming political differences to still be a fully functioning government halfway [...]
Flailing high street has worse to come in the year ahead January 6, 2013 AFTER holding their breath for the last few weeks, some retailers can at last allow themselves a cautious sigh of relief. Positive sales numbers from the likes of John Lewis and Next have given the sector a much-needed dose of optimism, resulting in a slight hike in share prices for some of the larger players. [...]
Should the government’s policy to cut child benefit for higher earners be welcomed? January 6, 2013 YES Sam Bowman These reforms are the next step to rolling back the culture of benefits for all, and they should be applauded. Nobody earning more than £50,000 a year needs extra money from the state. Arguments against withdrawing benefits for the poor may be compelling, but it is hard to feel the same way [...]
Rapid responses January 6, 2013 Export revolution [Re: We need an export-led revolution to save the UK economy, Friday] Exporting is a key area where the UK should be doing better. An “export-led revolution” should focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are not keeping up with the pace of our overseas competitors. Currently, only 20 per cent of [...]
Public understanding of economic principles will decide 2015 election January 3, 2013 AS 2013 begins, George Osborne, Ed Balls, and Danny Alexander should look at the polls with a mix of depression and hope. Depression, because despite all the coverage of their efforts, the public remains completely divided and confused on economic policy. Hope, because there is everything to play for and a politician who takes a [...]
Faulty maths didn’t cause the crisis – but risk management can do better January 3, 2013 MUCH of finance is devoted to the management of risk. Yet before the financial crisis, we spectacularly misunderstood the riskiness of investments which, leveraged to the hilt, inflated a financial bubble that burst in 2007. As the fallout continues, we ask why risk management failed so epically. Many point to the scientific shortcomings of economics. [...]
Argentine bravado has an unlikely ally in the UK taxpayer January 3, 2013 YESTERDAY’s call by the President of Argentina, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, for the UK to hand her the Falklands Islands was just the latest example of diplomatic sabre-rattling from Buenos Aires over the islands’ sovereignty. Alas history hasn’t recorded whether David Cameron got as far as page 25 of The Guardian to read for himself [...]