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

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We can’t borrow our way back to growth

June 12, 2024

When 7.3 per cent of public spending goes on interest spending, the debt burden is completely unsustainable – and it’s only getting worse, says Paul Ormerod This week’s manifesto launches have made the poor state of the public finances clear – simply put, there’s very little money for any party to play with. One reason [...]
We’re still paying for lockdown, so why is no one talking about it?

June 7, 2024

We borrowed billions to pay for lockdown but neither Starmer nor Sunak will admit that the resulting debt is holding the public finances in a vice-like grip, says Paul Ormerod To borrow a famous phrase from Karl Marx, a spectre is haunting the election campaign. Despite the frantic efforts by the Conservatives to portray Keir [...]
Economic performance under Labour and Conservative governments: a reckoning

May 29, 2024

Voter apathy over the upcoming election is rational – history suggests the economic outcome will be broadly the same regardless of whether Labour or the Conservatives form the next government, says Paul Ormerod The election campaign has kicked off and already the air is thick with promises and counter-promises. Despite all the efforts of politicians [...]
Does Manchester City prove you can buy success?

May 22, 2024

Manchester City's fourth consecutive Premiership victory is just one example of the concentration of success in football among a few clubs
Starmer’s labour market reforms will put people out of work

May 15, 2024

Keir Starmer's plans to expand workers' rights will push up the cost of hiring people and push some people out of their jobs
The history of rail suggests renationalisation will make little difference

May 3, 2024

Britain has never cracked the formula for cheap, efficient, reliable rail, so what makes Labour think renationalisation is the answer?
Have we passed peak electric car?

April 24, 2024

Electric cars have not become better or cheaper fast enough, and without rapid improvements the market will run out of road, says Paul Ormerod This week I got rid of my electric car. As a car, it was a pleasure to drive. I also enjoyed the fact that it disconcerted at least some of my [...]
Beneath the jargon, Bernanke delivers devastating critique of the Bank of England

April 17, 2024

Leading economist Ben Bernanke has exposed the flawed modelling and out-of-date technology behind the Bank’s failures to forecast inflation, says Paul Ormerod Last week, Ben Bernanke, former chairman of the US Federal Reserve Bank and Nobel Laureate in economics, published his review into the process of forecasting and policymaking at the Bank of England. You [...]
Scotland’s risible hate crime law is an incentive for the police to fail

April 10, 2024

It’s easy to laugh at the latest example of SNP incompetence, but new hate crime laws will have serious consequences – not last for the police’s ability to solve actual crimes, says Paul Ormerod The Scottish hate crime law has been a prominent feature in the media ever since it came into force just over [...]
As Derby’s historic rail industry declines, it should look to Redcar for a model of letting go

April 3, 2024

From steelworks to freeport, Redcar's redevelopment offers a model for moving on which Derby may wish to follow, writes Paul Ormerod.

Budget chaos takes toll on October growth as ‘prospects remain poor’

LIV Golf is Formula 1 and PGA Tour is IndyCar, says CEO O’Neil

Your guide to what’s new for the 2025/26 ski season

By: Paul Ormerod

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