Productivity crisis deepens as public sector continues to stutter Economics Public sector productivity has dropped at its fastest rate in nearly three years, according to fresh official figures that lay bare the government’s multi-year struggle to revive the efficiency of the country’s creaking public services. Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed total productivity at state-owned bodies fell by 0.7 per cent year [...]
Gilt trip: why markets are punishing Rachel Reeves Opinion Without a credible and transparent medium-term fiscal plan, bond markets will continue to price in higher risk and demand higher returns, says Gareth Davies The UK economy faces an uncomfortable reality. On one side, inflation has continued to rise. On the other, government borrowing costs have surged, with gilt yields now at their highest level in [...]
Mandating investment lays bare the Chancellor’s failures Opinion As Latin American countries began to allow for the creation of private pensions in the 1980s and 1990s, they faced a new dilemma on how to maximise domestic investment by these new funds. While they initially opted for a policy of strict capital controls and limits on overseas investments, everyone has to face economic reality [...]
UK’s audit chief ‘open to learning’ from Elon Musk’s DOGE in US February 5, 2025 The head of the government’s spending watchdog has said he is open to learning from Elon Musk’s US “department of government efficiency”, or DOGE. Gareth Davies, the UK’s chief auditor, gave his annual speech to Parliament on Tuesday, warning that money was being “wasted” and public services “compromised” as he stressed that there was a [...]
