Headline unemployment fall is good news, but underlying picture remains grim
The ‘recovery’ in the labour market over the most recent quarter has been characterised by part-time work and slowing wage growth; this is not good news.
Green Politics
Select committee calls on coalition to tackle Britain’s outsourced emissions
The UK government cannot ignore the huge issue of outsourced emissions any longer, writes Guy Shrubsole.
We need a firm limit on the time we are prepared to tolerate anyone being unemployed
Society should place a firm limit on the amount of time we are prepared to tolerate anyone being unemployed, writes IPPR’s Graeme Cooke.
Tories mount a campaign against their own energy policy
Quite how David Cameron thinks this can be the greenest government ever if he isn’t serious about household energy use is anyone’s guess, writes Charlie Samuda.
Economic update – April 2012: Coalition failures put Britain in the slow lane
IPPR chief economist Tony Dolphin presents his latest Left Foot Forward economic update, for April 2012.
39% price hike – 163% over past 10 years – sees “unprecedented” run on stamps
Huge increases in the cost of stamps – up 14p (30%) to 60p for first class, and 14p (39%) to 50p for second class – have prompted a surge in sales of stamps.
The next sub-prime crisis may be an educational lesson just a little too late
In the US, commentators are now warning of the next group of loans that seem reckless and ready to collapse that could lead to the “the next financial crisis”.
Is George Osborne questioning capitalism?
Is George Osborne joining other Tories who have lately voiced concerns about capitalism, indeed is he suggesting capitalism itself is “morally repugnant”?
What does ‘The Fixer’ tell us about Labour’s approach to the economy?
Tess Lanning, research fellow at the Institute for Public Policy Research, looks at what The Fixer Alex Polizzi can tell us of Labour’s approach to the economy.
On jobs, Wales shows Clegg the way
The Welsh government yesterday outlined plans for 12,000 new jobs for young people over the next three years, reports Left Foot Forward’s Ed Jacobs.