Justice in trade is not simply a moral question
The trade justice day is an opportunity to reframe accurately the discussion on international trade.
Political decisions are not a matter of statistics
The report regarding the Chancellor’s five tests for joining the Euro might provide an impressive economic analysis; yet as we all know it will be a pointless one too
Bedpans should be heard no more in Whitehall
A discussion regarding foundation hospitals, in a pluralist versus centralist context, reveals some difficult choices.
The real economy: May 2003
The last fifteen years has been one of the most remarkable periods in economic history. But the American model on which most economic thinking and policy making has been based is not only unattractive, it is inaccurate - both about human motivation and how socially embedded markets actually operate
A waiter calls the top of the property market
A revealing dinner party conversation on house prices.
The real culprits in Europe’s pensions crisis
The problem of the European pension gap cannot be tackled by the kind of financial engineering proposed by the European Financial Services Round Table. This is not the moment in history to argue that private pension funding is necessarily superior to state provision.
Take the politics out of fiscal policy
Even though there is a case for leaving the responsibility of fiscal policy to the government, there is an even greater need for achieving the discipline and the same kind of objective assessment that has worked so well for monetary policy
The visible hand of the Treasury
The effort to define the 'third way' for the centre left after socialism continues with Gordon Brown's extended essay on economic philosophy to the Social Market Foundation. His analysis has many attractions - and many unresolved problems.
Reflections on the New Economy
John recalls his thinking during the extraordinary years of the 'new economy'.
Travels with an economist
Where do economists go on holiday? Unmoved by glossy travel brochures they turn straight to the concept of purchasing power parity.