Archive for July, 2011
Fiddling while Rome burns
Posted by Stephen Clarke in Economics on 26/07/2011
Today the ONS released the latest quarterly GDP figures, indicating that the British economy had grown by 0.2 per cent in the second quarter of 2011. The ONS estimated that growth could have been approximately 0.5 per cent higher if it wasn’t for the ‘special events’ of the royal wedding, Japanese earthquake, Olympic ticket sales and the unusually hot weather in April. It is highly questionable that all of these events had a significant, or any impact upon growth. Furthermore, focusing on the quarterly growth figure diverts attention away from long-term economic problems, evident in the underlying statistics.
Coalition neglect blamed for slow economic growth
Posted by David Merlin-Jones in Announcements, Economics, European Union, Politics on 26/07/2011
Government lacks a convincing strategy
Today’s anaemic 0.2 per cent second-quarter GDP figure is not just the result of the international financial crisis. It is also the result of the Coalition’s failure to play its part in promoting economic growth.
A new report from independent think tank Civitas argues that the Government should demonstrate its loyalty to its own people instead of standing helpless on the sidelines. The Bombardier trains contract would have been secured for British workers by a competent government. Instead, ministers claimed to be powerless, insisting ‘the EU made us do it’.
A modern or classical education – must we choose?
Posted by Anastasia de Waal in Education on 22/07/2011
The two aspirations of increasing classical courses and modernising assessment methods may seem incompatible at first sight. On closer examination, however, they may not only work in harmony but actually foster positive outcomes, writes Therese Wallin.
Could a grand jury hang News International high?
Posted by Nick Cowen in Civil Liberty, Crime on 21/07/2011
In the aftermath of the phone hacking scandal, some commentators, including Neil Kinnock, have suggested that now is the time for regulation of the press on a par with TV broadcasters. Besides the dangerous implications for free speech such proposals have, they are fighting what is already the last battle. The mainstream press is at its weakest point economically for generations and is increasingly held to account by other actors, especially independent bloggers. Reform should be focussed on more fundamental problems that have implications for any powerful set of actors that decide they can get away with breaking the law to achieve their own ends. These are our overly centralised institutions of investigation and prosecution that have proved too easy for establishment figures to bypass. In short, we need to bring back grand juries.
EqUality
Posted by Carolina Bracken in European Union on 19/07/2011
Businesses throughout Europe could see the EU seize control of their recruitment policy and transform the composition of their boards, under new plans to promote gender equality. Whilst the underlying aim is undoubtedly laudable, the plans will inevitably prove controversial at state level, and risk skewing recruitment away from merit-based selection.
Between an economic rock and a political hard place
Posted by Stephen Clarke in Economics, Politics on 18/07/2011
One of the more interesting changes resulting from the financial crash and ensuing recession could be the way in which financiers seek to analyse future market movements: it could be a case of out with the economists and in with the politicians.