By: Paul Ormerod

Paul Ormerod is an economist at Volterra Partners LLP, author and an Honorary Professor at the Alliance Business School at the University of Manchester

All 231 Articles

What can steam trains teach us about progress in AI?

Opinion

Contrary to popular belief, Stephenson’s Rocket did not hail the dawn of the steam age. Likewise, AI has actually been in development for decades, but progress could now begin to move faster than steam trains ever could, says Paul Ormerod The economics Nobel Laureate Robert Solow famously stated in 1987: “you can see the computer [...]
If Brexit is to blame for Britain’s economic woes what’s the EU’s excuse?

Opinion

The Labour government is blaming Brexit for low growth but ignoring that’s it’s a phenomenon plaguing the EU as well, says Paul Ormerod At the weekend, Bridget Phillipson became the latest leading politician to pin the economic woes of the UK on Brexit. She recognised that youth unemployment will continue to rise but argued that [...]
Economists may have ignored the biggest reason for our productivity decline

Opinion

Productivity in the West has slowed dramatically since the late 2000s, but there is no consensus as to why.

Burnham bounce? Business confidence tells a different story

September 9, 2026

Labour may be improving in the polls under Andy Burnham, but overall support for the party is still very low. Economic confidence tells a similar story, says Paul Ormerod Both in the opinion polls and in local authority by-elections, there is clear evidence of a “Burnham bounce” for Labour. But in historical terms, support for [...]
The answer to regional inequality isn’t public money, it’s productivity

September 2, 2026

Andy Burnham’s ambitions for Number 10 North are nothing new, but successive governments have failed to focus on the key reason for differing regional outcomes, says Paul Ormerod The creation of Number 10 North symbolises a key aspect of Andy Burnham’s policies. Namely, to revive the economies of the more deprived parts of the UK. [...]
Josh Kerr took the mile record. But how much further can we go?

August 18, 2026

Josh Kerr’s performance prompts the question as to how much further world records might be expected to improve, says Paul Ormerod.
It’s not just Jason Arday, most of sociology is a scam

August 12, 2026

Jason Arday is not the only second rate academic working in sociology. His Cambridge colleagues have also published papers that are impossible to read and contain no evidence, says Paul Ormerod The Jason Arday story has been covered intensively from many different angles. But relatively little has been written on the academic discipline in which [...]
The only answers to over-tourism are prices or queues

August 5, 2026

Major tourism sites are becoming over crowded as a result of rational herd behaviour. The inevitable result will be charges or queues, says Paul Ormerod Peak holiday season, and the media is full of stories and pictures of popular sites across Europe being overwhelmed by the crowds of visitors. Shots on social media show the [...]
Andy Burnham will find there is a limit to tax rises

July 28, 2026

Since tax increases are constrained by adverse behavioral responses and public resistance, the government must prioritise improving long-stagnant public sector efficiency, says Paul Ormerod A brand new Cabinet is in place, with ministers eager to introduce new spending plans to demonstrate that they are making an impact. To pay for these, a range of potential [...]
Stop peer pressuring young people into the student debt swindle

July 22, 2026

One in four graduates will end up worse off than they would have been had they not gone to university, but that’s not just down to imperfect information, it’s down to expectations that need to change, says Paul Ormerod The holiday season is now in full swing. Relaxation for most, but in many households tensions [...]

You’re sued and you know you are: New law puts onus on clubs to prevent player abuse

You’re sued and you know you are: New law puts onus on clubs to prevent player abuse

Is Soho nightlife really dead? We went partying to find out

By: Paul Ormerod

All 231 Articles

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