It’s official: US-style shale revolution could soon slash gas prices in Britain July 18, 2013 IT’S now official – shale production can cut gas prices. After months of the government tiptoeing around the issue, a report commissioned by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) provides evidence for the first time that a British version of the North American shale revolution could be around the corner. The numbers are [...]
The Long View: JK Rowling’s pseudonymous success is a triumph for democratic publishing July 18, 2013 I DON’T know why I’m bothering to write this. It’s not like Marc Sidwell is a pseudonym for JK Rowling. Few will have missed the recent overnight journey of Rowling’s pseudonymous crime book The Cuckoo’s Calling from bargain bin to the top of the bestseller lists once she was revealed as the author. Apparently not [...]
Blanket migration laws threaten the thriving Tech City startup scene July 18, 2013 LONDON has the potential to be one of the world’s leading technology hubs, and the startup scene is growing fast. Research from UHY Hacker Young, released this week, showed that Tech City was the UK’s biggest growth area for new businesses in the year to March 2013, with 15,720 new companies formed. In 2008, it [...]
Letters to the editor – 19/07 – UK universities, Public sector, Best of Twitter July 18, 2013 UK universities [Re: Our uniform universities restrict true competition in UK higher education, Monday] Martin Rees fails to mention private institutions. They do not draw on the public purse and often succeed in widening access where traditional universities fall short. Many who would otherwise fall through the system choose private institutions, but new restrictions mean [...]
Designing forward guidance could be tricky despite current MPC unanimity July 17, 2013 MARK Carney has had a lucky start as governor of the Bank of England. Business surveys and labour market data suggest that the UK economy continues to grow and has probably picked up momentum. He has narrowly avoided having to write his first explanatory letter to the chancellor, with inflation coming in at below 3 [...]
A transparent system of company ownership would attract business to the UK July 17, 2013 DIGGING down to find out who is really in control of a company – and to whom the profits are going – is not easy. A raft of clever tricks is available to those who, for one reason or another, might want to hide their ownership or association. Why is this a problem? The World [...]
Heathrow expansion is our best option and it doesn’t have to be loud July 17, 2013 AS THE deadline for submissions to the Airports Commission looms, we’ve seen a flurry of proposals from all who stand to benefit from one scheme or another to increase capacity. For businesses who simply want easier connections to high growth markets, fewer delays, and less burdensome flight taxes, it is tempting to settle for any [...]
Letters to the editor – 18/07 – Taxes and benefits, NHS accountability, Best of Twitter July 17, 2013 Taxes and benefits [Re: It’s nonsense to argue our tax and benefits system hits the poorest hardest, Tuesday] Ryan Bourne is right that taxes and benefits should not be considered in isolation, but he should go further. Our system is a mess. Politicians have added numerous rules and exemptions, creating a mish-mash that does not [...]
Forget Italy: Fiscal union is unlikely to mend the euro’s defective heart February 27, 2013 WHEN the European Central Bank announced last year that it would do “whatever it takes” to save the euro, many assumed the crisis was over. This week’s Italian election has already shown that an unexpected event could easily throw off balance Europe’s preferred solution. But there is a more important issue at stake. The Eurozone [...]
The end of too big to fail is fast approaching but there is more left to be done February 27, 2013 I AM a supporter of free enterprise, yet I represent an industry that has been the biggest recipient of a state bail-out in British history. It is something that critics of banks have never ceased to remind me. “Tell me,” said an old colleague, “why the banks’ profits are privatised, but their losses are nationalised”. [...]