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Patently Absurd
Despite world-class universities and a strong science base, Britain produces fewer patents per person than most major economies. More concerning still, innovation in Britain is declining at the same time as it is accelerating in other global markets.
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The Kindness of Strangers
The Bank of England must stop ‘depending on kindness of strangers’ to bolster the UK economy.
Time for a DfiD diet?
Over 30 years, extreme poverty has fallen from one in two to one in five in the developing world. Evidence shows that international trade rather than overseas aid has achieved this
Brexit, Agriculture and Agricultural Policy
Agricultural policy has huge potential for Britain, both in the negotiations before Brexit and benefits afterward.
Get Rail Competition Back on Track
UK rail passengers are suffering from militant Trade Union action and poor performance by Network Rail. In response, the Government should publicly support competition on UK rail.
80% of fund management industry redundant
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is to be congratulated on its recent interim Asset Management Market Study. Its robust, independent and damning evidence skewers any justification that active fund management of listed assets is worth the candle. The consequences for the asset management industry are potentially devastating, but radical surgery is long overdue.
Grade B for Hammond’s last Autumn Statement
Daniel Mahoney and Tim Knox provide a detailed examination of the UK final Autumn Statement.
Infrastructure can be a bad investment
Often justified in terms of being “affordable” in a world where the current cost of government borrowing is extraordinarily low, advocating high levels of infrastructure spending is firmly in fashion.
The Free Ports Opportunity
Brexit provides a new trade opportunity for Britain: the creation of Free Ports, writes Rishi Sunak MP.
The State Pension: No Longer Fit for Purpose
The State Pension is facing fiscal calamity. Total spending on it has increased by 25% since 2010-11. Michael Johnson urges the Government to take action.
Labour’s £17,500 bill for families
Labour’s plans on infrastructure, welfare, employment legislation, tuition fees and shale gas could cost every household nearly £17,500 in just one parliamentary term.
Complexity, Uncertainty and Cost
New proposals to address tax avoidance by multi-national corporations could, unintentionally, delay or cancel much-needed UK infrastructure and real estate development.
Are We Heading for Blackout Britain?
Earlier this month a ‘perfect storm’ of circumstances caused electricity prices to rise to record highs with National Grid close issuing an emergency ‘Notice of Insufficient Margin’ to call on extra power.
An ISA-centric framework beckons
The recent publication of the Savings (Government Contributions) Bill confirmed that the Government intends to press ahead with the Lifetime ISA, to be launched in April 2017. This is welcomed.
The City Boys are Here to Stay
The UK’s strengths will mean that London continues to be Europe’s leading financial services centre.
A licence to kill? Funding the BBC
On 1 September the BBC TV licence fee will be extended to the iPlayer. The licence fee is however bad for the BBC and bad for customers and it should be abolished.
