Europe Economics Focus Where will the downturn leave the public finances? While governments across the developed world are stepping in to shore up their ailing economies, the fiscal boost in the euro-zone looks set to be fairly modest. With a gradual economic recovery... 27th November 2008 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update EC’s fiscal stimulus will not save the economy The European Commission’s call for a fiscal stimulus of 1.5% of GDP makes little difference to the economic outlook. Indeed, some European governments will argue that they have already done enough... 26th November 2008 · 1 min read
UK Economics Focus Pre-Budget Report 2008 While the Chancellor was right to try to support the economy with a fiscal boost, he was constrained by the prospect of enormous increases in public borrowing from being able to do nearly enough... 24th November 2008 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update VAT cut won't prevent household spending slump The temporary cut in Value-Added Tax (VAT) set to be announced in this afternoon’s Pre-Budget Report is a bold, headline-grabbing measure which could put extra money into households’ pockets almost... 24th November 2008 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Fiscal boost and lower pound won't do the MPC's job The prospect of a fiscal boost in the forthcoming Pre-Budget Report and the recent sharp fall in the sterling exchange rate are both positive developments for the UK economy. But they will not prevent... 17th November 2008 · 1 min read
UK Economics Focus Pre-Budget Report 2008 – Preview Alistair Darling may be the man at the despatch box, but the main architect of this Pre-Budget Report will be John Maynard Keynes. With the Government having firmly signalled its intention to support... 13th November 2008 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Focus China’s fiscal package may not be quite what it seems 10th November 2008 · 1 min read
China Economics Focus China’s fiscal package may not be quite what it seems China’s announcement of a huge fiscal stimulus package is an attempt to shock and awe Chinese firms and households to keep spending. If it succeeds, the government will end up spending much less than... 10th November 2008 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update What scope for looser fiscal policy? Just how much scope does the Government have to support the economy through looser fiscal policy - i.e. tax cuts or spending increases? At first sight, the answer might appear to be absolutely none at... 27th October 2008 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Icelandic bailout won’t prevent an economic slump Iceland appears to be on the verge of gaining financial assistance from the IMF, Japan and the Nordic region. While this may be the first step in bringing the economy back from the brink of meltdown... 21st October 2008 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update The fiscal implications of the banking measures The recently announced Government measures to support the UK banking sector may have little immediate effect on the public finances. But the downturn in the wider economy is already set to push public... 10th October 2008 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update German deposit guarantee a blow to government finances The German banking sector guarantee provides further confirmation that governments will do all that they can to protect households’ deposits. Although such measures should help to gradually restore... 6th October 2008 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update B&B another blow to the fiscal position The nationalisation of Bradford & Bingley is another blow to the government’s already dire fiscal position. It also highlights just how vulnerable banks are to future mortgage losses, which are likely... 29th September 2008 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Fiscal fears set to deepen Recent figures on the public finances, coupled with growing concerns over the public cost of measures to address the banking crisis, have led to major fears over the UK’s fiscal position. But our... 22nd September 2008 · 1 min read
