Emerging powers are giving us a wake-up call: We must earn our place in the world February 22, 2012 AS MINISTER in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office responsible for Asia and Latin America, my brief includes most of the world’s emerging economies. China, Brazil, and India have had the most column inches devoted to their meteoric rise, however some of the smaller countries have also made incredible leaps in the last few years. South [...]
Why it is time to rename the Bric nations the Bics February 22, 2012 IT HAS been clear for some time that global growth for the foreseeable future will not be driven by Europe and the US, but rather by the so-called Bric countries of Brazil, Russia, India and China. This group of countries, representing around a third of the world’s population, now form a loose but increasingly vocal [...]
The stakes are high in Romney’s home state February 22, 2012 DESPITE the insistence from one of his advisers that Michigan is not a “must-win,” the state is a crucial test of Mitt Romney’s candidacy. The media have already prepared the stinging headlines in the event Rick Santorum springs the surprise of the contest and wins in the Great Lakes. Romney, however, still has time to [...]
RAPID RESPONSES February 22, 2012 Meaningless means Steve Tatton suggests [The pay agenda, yesterday] that coverage of the executive pay debate should be focused on facts rather than personal agendas. We agree, and Manifest and MM&K have focused their commentary on why the presentation of remuneration data using means of percentage changes is practically meaningless. Significant changes in the UK’s [...]
A market solution will save money and end the dispute over Falklands sovereignty February 21, 2012 A S SOON as The Iron Lady hit the silver screen, it brought back memories of the Falklands War — a war that officially commenced on 2 April, 1982, only three short years after Margaret Thatcher assumed the reins as Prime Minister. Since 1833, Britain has been able to maintain its colonial settlement of the [...]
Liberate the law from regulation that shackles it February 21, 2012 AS THE British economy faces tough economic challenges, promoting areas of potential economic growth is not only important – it is essential. With an annual turnover of £25bn (roughly the equivalent to two per cent of our country’s GDP) the legal services industry in England and Wales is an example of one such area. The [...]
A heretic’s view of the National Health Service February 21, 2012 YESTERDAY, the Prime Minister met healthcare professionals concerned about the proposed reforms of the National Health Service (NHS). He reassured them that “this is about improving and enhancing our NHS, not in any way endangering it”. He is right that these reforms will preserve the NHS. Those who use it will still pay nothing. This [...]
RAPID RESPONSES February 21, 2012 The pay agenda I would like to respond to your coverage of our research into directors’ pay. Our findings are based on meticulous research and a rigorous methodology. There is nothing meaningless about averages if that is what the data is saying, I know of no statistics textbook that actually says otherwise. Our average 49 [...]
Is the NHS reform bill a cure for Britain’s healthcare ills? February 20, 2012 YES DAVID SKELTON ANY changes to the NHS are always going to provoke controversy. But in a healthcare landscape characterised by changing health needs, rapid technological innovation and rising patient expectations, reform is vital if the NHS is to meet the challenges of the coming decades. That is one of the reasons that these proposals [...]
Keeping zombie companies alive is a scary policy February 20, 2012 COMPANY insolvencies are a sign of a healthy economy and preventing companies from failing stifles the innovation this country needs to grow. Insolvencies, together with mergers and acquisitions, new company registrations, recruitment, and redundancies are, strange though it may seem to some, a sign of a healthy economy. Analysis of the number of new companies [...]