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 196 Articles

As we look back on pandemic mistakes, we need to count livelihoods in our losses

July 27, 2022

MINISTERS don’t need to face the inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic until next spring, the chair of the probe, Heather Hallet, announced this week. As part of its mandate, the inquiry will “listen to and consider carefully” the experiences of those who lost family members or “have suffered hardship or loss” as a result of [...]
It’s hot, sure but we don’t need the health bureaucrats to tell us to open the windows

July 20, 2022

Phew, What A Scorcha! No, not a tabloid headline from this week, but from 1976. As many have pointed out already, in that distant summer Britain experienced a prolonged heatwave. The temperature was over 30 degrees for several weeks, without respite. We survived without the hysteria of the Met Office or the pronouncements of the [...]
Politicians and voters must learn that every policy has a cost and an impact on growth

July 13, 2022

The runners and riders battling for leadership of the Conservative Party are setting out their stalls. Tax, lockdown, defence and Brexit are all key issues which have been raised. On some of these, at least, there are marked differences between the candidates. But there is an elephant in the room: how to raise the underlying [...]
Universities follow perverse incentive models out of touch with the labour market

July 6, 2022

THE days tick by to the summer ritual of the announcement of A-level results. Yet panic is already spreading among those wanting to start university in the autumn. The number of applicants has risen by 5 per cent this year, according to the university admissions service (UCAS). In addition, many universities are cutting back the [...]
Central banks have fooled themselves into thinking they have power over inflation

June 29, 2022

If we look under the bonnet of central banks, we find a debate which is almost theological in its nature.
We’re not reliving the 1970s yet, but today’s decisions will keep us out or drag us back

June 22, 2022

In the current wave of discontent, rail unions, along with teachers, NHS and other public sector unions, are asking for increases which match inflation. They are still, just about, in single figures and a long way from the 20 per cent-plus of 1975. But only eighteen months previously, at the end of 1973, inflation had still been in high single figures.
Scotland needs to abandon its dream world and realise what independence truly means

June 15, 2022

Nicola Sturgeon has relaunched her bid for Scottish Independence.
A windfall tax raised by a money-hungry government will scare off our businesses

June 8, 2022

Rishi Sunak’s windfall tax on energy firms – what he called a “temporary targeted profits levy” – has gone down well with voters. The tax makes it look like money is raised from someone else and given to them through subsidies to their bills. Despite claims that the tax will yield an additional £5bn in [...]
As Johnson squirms, his party must remember the roots of Conservatives values

June 1, 2022

Boris Johnson has strayed very far from Conservative ideals
Many lessons can be learned from drink driving and smoking laws to tackle obesity

May 25, 2022

Obesity has been a hot topic over the past week. The government announced it would delay its plan to implement restrictions on junk food marketing and volume-based price promotions. These had been presented as key elements in the strategy to reduce obesity. With a timing which was either impeccable or pure good luck, the Cancer [...]

Fifa boss Infantino defends 2026 World Cup ticket prices, citing demand

Fifa boss Infantino defends 2026 World Cup ticket prices, citing demand

London exhibitions 2026: From Tracey Emin to Anish Kapoor

By: Paul Ormerod

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