The report says anti-austerity measures have increased employment and growth and cut down the deficit.
A new report has claimed that anti-austerity policies pursued by the left-wing government of Portugal have boosted the Portugese economy.
The report, authored by Red Pepper founder Hilary Wainwright, argues that increasing spending and cutting taxes created jobs, increased economic growth and reduced public debt.
In return for a bailout, the European Union imposed privatisations and cuts in salaries, social security and services on Portugal – through a centre-right Portugese government.
After elections in 2015, the centre-left Socialist Party formed a coalition with the Communist Party and another left-wing group called Bloco Esquerda.
These left-wing groups helped pressure the Socialist Party into an anti-austerity programme.
Recently privatised companies were re-nationalised, the minimum wage rose by 20%, four national holidays were re-established and pensions were unfrozen.
As well as spending increases, taxes were cut on consumption in restaurants and on wages – although taxes were increased on luxury real estate and large firms.
The economic effect of this, the report says, was the return of economic growth. This was 4.3% in 2016/2017 after falling 7.9% during the austerity measures.
Unemployment fell from 17.5% in 2013 to 7.4% now and the public deficit reduced from 3.1% of GDP in 2015 to virtually zero now.
A public deficit is when a country’s spending is more than its income – the UK’s deficit is 1.9% of GDP.
The report points out that this was all possible while remaining in the European Union – and while following the EU’s rule that budget deficits should not exceed 3%.
In his foreword to the report, Labour MP Clive Lewis said that the Portugese example had lessons for the UK. He said:
““Portuguese socialists were able to prove that austerity measures had been broadly economically damaging as well as ideologically driven. In doing so
the country proved both an inspiration to others and a test bed for a new relationship between individual nations and the institutions of the EU.”
“This is a significant intervention for those on the left who argue for a Brexit, or “Lexit”. Many of the rules that are seen as obstructive to the socialist vision, whether on public ownership, outsourcing or state aid, are either misunderstood, have been superseded or are flexible.”
“You do the EU no favours by ignoring its faults, but it is not a fixed entity, and what look to be its long‑term strategic goals are subject, always, to the will of its members. It can only realise the ambitions of its founders, of peace, reconciliation, solidarity and broadly distributed prosperity, if its component nations are fighting for those ends.”
20 Responses to “In Portugal, anti-austerity policies have boosted the economy, says report”
Dave Roberts
So, we must assume that the writer of this article is a liar?
Rula Law
Not so tough to find. Stress on having a functioning constitution and PR – enabling small parties on the left to – remain / reform : http://longreads.tni.org/in-and-against-the-european-union/
Janet Marks
Dave Roberts blames immigrants for the housing crisis which was begun under Thatcher (when the money from Right to Buy was refused to Local Authorities who wanted to build more social housing). Blair didn’t change this, just let RtB carry on. And then the Coalition govt brought in the Bedroom Tax and the housing benefit cap – Bingo! Housing crisis. Its clear that it has been building up for decades. Of course the increase in population has put pressure on this shortage, but to blame the shortage on immigrants is wrong.
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