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 213 Articles

A university education is no longer good value for money

February 18, 2026

Students have been turned into customers but the product they’re buying is worthless and it’s underwritten by the taxpayer, says Paul Ormerod The plight of graduates burdened with debt has been a prominent feature in the media over the past week or so. Hundreds of thousands will never earn enough to repay their student borrowings, [...]
Warnings on AI from the Industrial Revolution

February 11, 2026

The mechanisation of weaving in the 19th century didn’t just affect jobs, it led to years of political unrest culminating in the Peterloo Massacre. Leaders had better be ready for what’s coming with AI, says Paul Ormerod Last week the US AI company Anthropic released a tool which it says can automate legal work such [...]
The economics of superstars: Can Taylor Swift her AI era?

February 4, 2026

Claims that AI will make it harder for working class talent to succeed in the creative industries miss the point – the arts are inherently unequal, and not because of technology, says Paul Ormerod The cultural and creative industries have been very much in the news over the past week A report fronted by the [...]
Graduate crisis proves British universities are no longer fit for purpose

January 28, 2026

It's time to accept that a substantial proportion of British universities are simply not fit for purpose, writes Paul Ormerod.
Son-of-a-toolmaker Starmer is a poor workman

January 22, 2026

Successful organisations, from businesses to governments, work best when their leaders are able to articulate a clear, long-term vision, says Paul Ormerod Keir Starmer has been complaining that the machinery of government does not work properly. When he pulls a policy lever, very little happens. This has provoked a public argument with the health secretary, [...]
Labour is leading Britain on an economic death march

January 14, 2026

Keir Starmer’s premiership looks to be over but, unlike great Labour leaders of the past, none of his possible replacements has a vision for growth, says Paul Ormerod To all intents and purposes, an election campaign for the position of leader of the Labour Party is currently underway. In fact, it has been for some [...]
Venezuela proves farce of political forecasting

January 6, 2026

If history teaches us anything, it's that political forecasters almost always get it wrong. Just look at Venezuela, writes Paul Ormerod.
The government is using Brexit as a scapegoat for its own failures

December 10, 2025

Keir Starmer is clearly manoeuvring to get Britain to rejoin the EU – but Brexit is not to blame for Britain’s appalling growth record, says Paul Ormerod David Lammy, the deputy Prime Minister, chose last week to reopen the issue of the UK rejoining the EU. Asked if we will go back into the customs [...]
Here’s what should really bother Chancellor about the OBR

December 3, 2025

An unprecedented row has broken out between the Chancellor and the OBR about short-term productivity forecasts, but what should really worry Reeves is the long-term projections for debt, says Paul Ormerod The row – no, the furore – between the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, and the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is unprecedented. The resignation of [...]
Whatever Reeves announces today, Britain is still paying for lockdown

November 26, 2025

The Labour Party were great enthusiasts for lockdown, demanding longer and harsher restrictions. The costs of this folly have now caught up with them as the Budget today will demonstrate, says Paul Ormerod Regardless of the precise measures brought in by the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, in the Budget to be announced today, a fearful spectre [...]

Formula 1’s reaction to season disruption a lesson for Fifa World Cup

Formula 1’s reaction to season disruption a lesson for Fifa World Cup

Polestar 3: Swedish electric SUV delivers premium performance

By: Paul Ormerod

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