I should perhaps have been more explicit when I said ‘Signing Off’. This is the last post on this blog until further notice. I have unexpectedly been offered an advisory position to the new government, and so for many different reasons can no longer keep this going.
Many thanks to all of you for making this last 8.5 months such a success and education for me. CentreForum is starting a new blog at centreforumblog.wordpress.com – I hope that gets off the ground like this one did.
For the curious, these were the final stats
Total views: 76,220
Busiest day: 1,848 — Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Posts: 502
Comments: 3,319
———————–
UPDATE: Thanks to you all below. You’ve all made this much more fun than it had a right to be. And I’ve learned an awful lot – this has been a thinking aloud tool, after all.
Posted by Andrew on May 25, 2010 at 12:01 pm
Congratulations!
Reading this blog has been a pleasure, and I know a couple of my A2 students are regulars too.
You will be missed.
Posted by Peter Russell on May 25, 2010 at 12:13 pm
I’m very sorry you’re suspending the blog. I’ve only recently discovered it, but I’ve been very much enjoying it. Your writing is engaging enough that I struggle through the parts that are beyond my very limited understanding of economics, with the result that I’ve found myself learning all sorts of things. So thanks for that, thanks very much indeed.
Posted by Prateek Buch on May 25, 2010 at 12:21 pm
Many congratulations Giles, really pleased – best of luck on all you do, and here’s to seeing many of your CentreForum publications making it into policy now!
Cheers!
Posted by Philip Walker on May 25, 2010 at 12:25 pm
Back to dishonest work, then.
Congratulations!
Posted by Duncan on May 25, 2010 at 12:36 pm
Not even all that unexpected. Well done and good luck.
Posted by Zach on May 25, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Congratulations and good luck with the new job Giles! Going to have find somewhere else to go for my econ/political blog fix
All the best.
Posted by Rob on May 25, 2010 at 12:55 pm
The government’s gain is the blogosphere’s loss. I hope you find a way to carry on engaging in public debate though!
Posted by NM on May 25, 2010 at 12:59 pm
Congratulations. You’ve done the economy a favour already, forcing me back to doing some proper work for once. Good luck
Posted by Foregone Conclusion on May 25, 2010 at 1:06 pm
Congratulations. Hopefully you will bring to public service some of your insight which has brought a lot of your readers private satisfaction.
Posted by Paul on May 25, 2010 at 1:15 pm
In your advisory position, could you advise them not to be such bleeding idiots with the economy and that? Tell ‘em I said so.
Never did respond on collective bargaining. Will do so into the void.
Good luck.
Posted by Tom Freeman on May 25, 2010 at 1:27 pm
Pah. How am I supposed to hate them now? Well done, and your writing will be much missed.
Posted by declineofthelogos on May 25, 2010 at 1:32 pm
Good luck in your new position – the speed & efficacy of your analysis of economic matters as demonstrated on this blog is exactly what we need right now.
Posted by New Estonia « Though Cowards Flinch on May 25, 2010 at 1:34 pm
[...] May 25, 2010 paulinlancs Leave a comment Go to comments In the week that both Vince and Giles sell their souls for power and influence, it’s handy to note that there are still economists, [...]
Posted by Anthony Painter on May 25, 2010 at 1:41 pm
Well, congratulations. More reassuring with you in there. I hope it’s DBS rather than HMT? Fingers crossed….
Posted by Luis Enrique on May 25, 2010 at 2:37 pm
yes, many congratulations. No scope for the secret blog of a UK economic advisor?
Posted by Alex on May 25, 2010 at 3:10 pm
Well I’ll join with those above in offering you a hearty congratulations in being invited to join the government. I hope you will put your new guru powers to good use, while not forgetting what you stand for when put under political pressure as governments are wont to do. Best of luck in serving your country. It’ll be sad to see this blog go. But such is the price of getting policies done in government I want done.
Posted by Mark on May 25, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Congratulations Giles and good luck
Posted by Mike Guillaume on May 25, 2010 at 4:50 pm
Congratulations on the assignment, and best of luck, Giles.
I really enjoyed many of your comments and analyses, even though I’ve sometimes disagreed.
So you’ve considered you can achieve progressive ends through liberal means out there?
Whatever your position, I hope you’ll keep on striving for… free thinking!
Posted by Richard W on May 25, 2010 at 5:17 pm
Congratulations Giles. As others have said I will be sorry to see your blog end. The blog always had interesting posts and some well informed commenters with any disagreement conducted in a good spirit. Good luck with your new position.
Posted by Grace on May 25, 2010 at 7:52 pm
Thanks for writing a fascinating blog (and helpful too – I’m an A Level student).
Will be missed!
Posted by Paul Sagar on May 25, 2010 at 9:31 pm
Well given the distinct lack of linky-love coming out of this place the last month or so, I say good riddance!
No, seriously, this is a big loss to the UK blogosphere. A big gain to the government, no doubt, and I’m glad a sane voice will be heard in Whitehall.
It’s been a good 8.5 months, thanks for a lot of stimulating discussion and thoughtful analysis.
Don’t forget, however, that there’s always the power of anonymity, and BC will always be receptive to the leak…
Posted by Tim Worstall on May 26, 2010 at 9:23 am
Bleedin’ typical.
We used to get your analysis for free on these ‘ere intertubes. Now we have to pay for them through our taxes?
And not get to read them either?
Posted by Paul Sagar on May 26, 2010 at 9:32 am
S’ok Tim, he’s advising the British Government, not the Brussels Overlords. Your Portuguese taxes won’t be paying for Giles at all.
Posted by Tim Worstall on May 26, 2010 at 9:47 am
Tsk….read up on hte tax system. As UK domicile I still pay UK tax on income arising in the UK….
Posted by Neil Craig on May 26, 2010 at 2:03 pm
“offered an advisory position to the new government”
Which I suppose shows that the prime lesson of economics is that governments hire “Keynsians” of their own political stripe.
Posted by Sunny H on May 27, 2010 at 3:23 am
congratulations!
I hope you’ll be as dismissive of idiotic Tory thinking while in your advisory position as you have been on here and on LC.
Posted by Saying goodbye to a voice of reason against illiberal nonsense « Left Outside on May 27, 2010 at 5:02 pm
[...] Giles Wilkes of freethinkingeconomist is the first blogger I’ve been regularly following to have committed autolysis before my very eyes. [...]
Posted by Daniel Hoffmann-Gill on May 27, 2010 at 5:20 pm
A sad loss, good luck in all your new endeavours!
Posted by Sean on May 27, 2010 at 9:50 pm
Giles, you will be missed–this was my favourite blog.
But the silver lining is that you have provided us all with a state-contingent insurance policy: _either_ the coalition proceeds smoothly and we get better government as a result of your advice, _or_ the coalition gets torn to shreds and we get you back as a blogger. It’s not quite a win-win, but it’s better than getting poked in the eye with a sharp stick.
Best of luck with your new position, and may you continue to be as reasonable and as persuasive in person as you have been here on your blog.
Posted by AJ on May 28, 2010 at 11:36 am
Very well deserved – it’s a comfort to think this government is taking on enquiring, intelligent, open minds like yours. Good luck with it!
Posted by Postcard | Flip Chart Fairy Tales on May 28, 2010 at 3:24 pm
[...] I’m sure Giles would have had something to say too but it seems he’s gone over to the other side. [...]
Posted by Rick on May 28, 2010 at 3:28 pm
Just as I discover this great blog, its author goes and takes the King’s Shilling!
Good luck Giles. I’m sure we haven’t heard the last of you.
Posted by Tyler on May 29, 2010 at 2:38 pm
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
Don’t go Giles – where are we going to go for reasoned, informed and inteleectual economic debate?
Good luck in your new post though.
Tyler.
Posted by Niklas Smith on May 30, 2010 at 12:19 pm
Congratulations, but what a void in the economic blogosphere! Sadly your sane advice will be even more necessary now that David Laws has been hounded from office.
Posted by Rick on May 30, 2010 at 12:53 pm
Thought I had sent you a congrats but obviously didnt.
Sorry to see you go but somehow I doubt that we have heard the last of you. Well done!
Posted by John Bolitho on May 30, 2010 at 6:56 pm
Giles
Just as I was catching up with you!
You absolute b-gger!
Well deserved, and your country needs you.
Hope we stay in touch.
John
Posted by GD on June 1, 2010 at 2:22 am
I’ve been reading since the beginning, and am probably responsible for an unreasonably large number of your total hit count. Just to say thank-you, and good luck.
P.s It’s reassuring to see the government are giving credit where it’s due….(sorry couldn’t resist)!
Posted by Tim on June 1, 2010 at 6:21 pm
Only just saw this.
I’ve delighted in reading your blog – all the best in the new post.
Posted by Harry D on June 15, 2010 at 11:15 am
I’ve been following your blog for what mst be its entire time – though i didn’t realise when I started. But thank you – not only did I never pay, but probably neer recorded as I got it from google reader.
But wel done, thank you – you should be given a 6 figure newspaper column and a government job!