France and the UK have a long shared history – at times rivals at times allies. Their economies have very similar levels of living standards – ranking 23rd and 24th in global GDP per capita. Yet there are also big differences on the attitude to work, pensions and housing. Not many people know, but since …
The US economy is booming. It was the fastest-growing economy in 2023 and will be the fastest in 2024. The World Bank claims the US is the world economic dynamo and the contrast between the UK and US is stark. Whilst the UK is stuck in economic stagnation, the US shows a different outcome is …
There was a time when Britain led the way in building. Britain built the first railway, the first iron bridge, the first underground system. Isambard Kingdom Brunel was voted the 2nd greatest Britain for his exploits, in transforming the country. But, if Brunel were alive today, would he find himself thwarted by red tape, NIMBY’s …
The post-war period saw a golden era of home-ownership. Workers from all social classes were able to buy their own home. Home ownership rates rose, and the idea of getting on the housing ladder was a key part of the national psyche. The American dream is perhaps to get rich, the British dream was to …
The UK economy remains on a knife edge, after a year of stop-start economic growth, the Bank of England forecasts continued economic stagnation into 2024. Other forecasters are marginally less pessimistic, hopeful that a fall in inflation will help to increase real wages and consumer spending. UK Economic Forecasts for 2024Watch this video on YouTube …
After years of delays and rising costs, HS2 has been severed. The most valuable part of the route, connecting the north to London has been cancelled leaving the least valuable section a suburb of Birmingham to a suburb of London (hopefully it will make it to Euston but no guarantee). It risks being a £50 …
Since the great financial crash of 2007, the UK economy has struggled. Although the past 15 years have been challenging from a global perspective, compared to many international competitors, the UK has slipped behind. Economic growth before global financial crisis of 2007-09 was 2.7%, the new normal is now closer to just 1.5% and with …
The UK population is projected to increase by 9.7 million over the next 25 years from an estimated 64.6 million in mid-2014 to 74.3 million in mid-2039. (ONS). Approx. 50% of the population increase is expected due to net migration. This is a look at the economic and social impact of a rise in the …