Green Politics
Little evidence fiscal austerity triggers growth
Economics writer Paul Mason has pointed to a powerful implied critique of the Spending Review in an IMF document published this month. Speaking as guest lecturer at a seminar for the New Political Economy Network on Monday night, Mason called for a “forensic” analysis of what he described as “the large theoretical variability” of the outcome of George Osborne’s fiscal tightening proposals.
More evidence housing market has lost its momentum
Figures released today by the Bank of England suggest households’ demand for borrowing remained weak in September. Net lending secured on dwellings (i.e. mortgage borrowing) increased by only £0.1 billion in the month and was just 0.8 per cent higher than in September 2009.
Freezing of science budget could hit UK’s global reputation
The freezing of the £4.6 billion budget for scientific research could mean a cut of 8.9 per cent in real terms – though it could have been a lot worse, “it’s not as bad as we were expecting” being the common refrain among scientists at a Young Fabians policy network event this week on the impact of the Comprehensive Spending Review in on research and development and science.
Cable’s folly conceals 80 per cent funding cut to regions
This afternoon the government confirmed the first trickle of successful Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), the bodies designed to replace the eight regional development agencies in England.
Former Cabinet Sec: Britain never on “brink of bankruptcy”
A key premise of George Osborne's argument for rapid spending cuts has been questioned by former civil service boss, Lord Andrew Turnbull.
The truth about Britain’s “bloated welfare” system
Britain does not have a "bloated welfare" system despite George Osborne's rhetoric. The truth is that welfare spending is lower than at any time from 1979 to 1997.