For those of you who buried in the spending-tax-cuts and what-caused-the-deficit debate. Policy Exchange have released a very stimulating document about tax options. It takes a number of striking positions, in particular a surprise attack on VAT as an income-tax equivalent that I hope to address later today, and an analysis of the idea of [...]
Posts Tagged ‘Spending cuts’
15 Mar
Straw men slaughtered in today’s FT
George Osborne continues the sense of strategic confusion about Conservative fiscal policy with a column in the Financial Times today, in which he argues for – surprise surprise – early cuts to the deficit. Although the conclusions at the end are mild (‘a medium-term fiscal framework, with the first steps starting this year’), the rhetoric [...]
4 Mar
Non-Keynesian effects: or, how cutting the government can boost the economy
There are some sound theoretical reasons why less government consumption can lead to higher growth, particularly in the long run. But not always and everywhere. Neither for the opposite. Pragmatism needs to rule
27 Jan
What does weak growth mean for the end of stimulus?
This issue affects both the US and the UK. We’ve had our Q4 preliminary figures. Again, a surprise on the downside. Despite the silly fuss about a mostly-predictable inflation blip, it is probably growth figures – nominal GDP, as Simon Ward points out – that will drive future MPC decisions. Even Tories get this – [...]
12 Jan
The only not-confused leader right now is Clegg
The Lib Dems’ willingness to sacrifice items from the era of shopping list politics demonstrates how they can be trusted in power by the bond market, and is a welcome, mature move from the leader
4 Jan
On the subject of impossible promises
A Conservative announcement to cut the deficit without touching the £110bn NHS budget only draws attention to the thinness of their deficit cutting plans announced so far.
4 Jan
Brown demonstrates how to drive away the wavering voter
There are no easy answers to the fiscal dilemmas of 2010-15 – but Brown’s outright denialism is plain irresponsible, and will not win votes
3 Nov
Conference on 12th November
CentreForum are hosting a major event on public spendng, on 12th November.
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