DEBATE: MPs are about to get a pay rise – but do they deserve it? March 4, 2019 MPs are about to get a pay rise – but do they deserve it? John Oxley, a Conservative commentator, says YES. MPs will soon earn £79,468. It’s far more than most people, but still not enough to lure the most talented individuals into our legislature. An ambitious and highly capable graduate in the City or [...]
UK private sector growth stagnates as businesses prepare for Brexit March 3, 2019 Growth in the UK’s private sector stagnated in the quarter to February and activity could be set to fall in the coming months. A Confederation of British Industry (CBI) survey revealed the balance of distribution, manufacturing and services firms reporting growth had fallen to -3 per cent – its weakest since April 2013. Read more: [...]
The magic of finance can help make the world a better place March 1, 2019 When Hollywood created a sequel to the original Mary Poppins film, the producers introduced a new character: a villainous banker who could give everybody a good scare. But why exactly is the banker the villain? After all, a healthy economy requires a healthy financial sector that is at the service of people as they pursue [...]
Goldman Sachs cuts no-deal Brexit risk to just 10 per cent and hikes chance of delay February 28, 2019 The chances of a no-deal Brexit have fallen to just 10 per cent following a cabinet revolt this week, according to analysts at Goldman Sachs. The US investment bank’s analysts said Theresa May had created a “clear route” for parliament to rule out a no-deal Brexit after promising MPs a vote on the matter if [...]
Comrade Corbyn’s statist policies would tank the British economy February 28, 2019 The journalist Tom Bower has a new book: Dangerous Hero – Corbyn’s Ruthless Plot for Power. With all the current headlines about the Labour leader centring around his U-turn on a second referendum and the worsening crisis of antisemitism in his party, Bower’s biography is a timely reminder of Corbyn’s economic ideology. The leader of [...]
Eurozone economic confidence falls to fresh two-year low as UK sentiment also falls February 27, 2019 Eurozone economic sentiment has fallen for the eighth consecutive month as the bloc continued to be plagued by weaker industry and construction confidence. Consumer, retails and services confidence improved in February but the manufacturing sector fell for a third month in a row. Read more: Eurozone inflation falls in January as energy prices continue to [...]
Arm boss warns delays to 5G could hurt Europe’s economy February 27, 2019 The boss of British chipmaker Arm has warned that any delays to rolling out 5G across Europe could have a "detrimental" effect on the economy. Speaking at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Arm chief executive Simon Segars said that Europe falling behind the rest of the world in 5G development would be "detrimental to Europe’s GDP [...]
It makes smart business sense to invest in the future of refugees February 27, 2019 Amid scenes of refugees’ flight from Venezuela, it is easy to forget that the world’s largest refugee crisis remains Syria. And that’s why the UK-Jordan Conference in London tomorrow is so important. Jordan has generously provided refuge for more than 670,000 Syrian refugees fleeing their homes amid a brutal war. Its role in the stability [...]
If we’re going to get serious climate action, we need to talk honestly about the economic costs February 27, 2019 Sydney University’s Centre for Complex Systems does innovative work on a broad range of topics. But spending the last couple of weeks there has also given me a wider perspective on some familiar themes. Climate change is, quite literally, a hot topic in Australian politics. The country melted in 45-degree record temperatures in January, and [...]
No-deal Brexit could hit Germany’s economy, industry body warns February 26, 2019 A no-deal Brexit could wipe at least 0.5 per cent off Germany’s GDP, a German industry body warned today. Read more: Carney: UK growth 'guaranteed' to fall in no-deal Brexit Joachim Lang, managing director of Germany’s BDI industry association, predicted a hard Brexit would slash €17bn (£14.7bn) from Germany's economy. The German government forecasts that economic growth [...]
