As my mum used to say (eyes rolling): “Well you don’t want much, do you?”

My Sunday Times piece, in which I reflect on an economy which was good on parts, but not that many parts, because it was mainly disappointing: A year in which the bad easily outweighed the good www.thetimes.com/article/1dca...

Good article from @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social that reads like a school report for the economy. Could do better it seems! #EconSky

My Sunday Times piece, in which I reflect on an economy which was good on parts, but not that many parts, because it was mainly disappointing: A year in which the bad easily outweighed the good www.thetimes.com/article/1dca...

My Times piece: If the three wise men have any gifts for the UK economy, a sustained productivity revival, low and stable inflation, and stability for the public finances would be very welcome: What do you get the troubled UK economy for Christmas? www.thetimes.com/article/76ef...

My Times piece: If the three wise men have any gifts for the UK economy, a sustained productivity revival, low and stable inflation, and stability for the public finances would be very welcome: What do you get the troubled UK economy for Christmas? www.thetimes.com/article/76ef...

Thank you. Quiz answers by email please, which is at the end of the column.

Another interesting column by @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social about fiscal rules but this week, it comes with a quiz for students to answer!! Why not get involved? How do they send you answers David? And Merry Christmas btw! 🎅🤶

My Sunday Times piece: This has been a pretty disastrous year for fiscal policy, not least because of the government’s flawed fiscal rules, which are crying out to be reformed: Reeves has bought herself time to write smarter fiscal rules www.thetimes.com/article/2659...

My Sunday Times piece: This has been a pretty disastrous year for fiscal policy, not least because of the government’s flawed fiscal rules, which are crying out to be reformed: Reeves has bought herself time to write smarter fiscal rules www.thetimes.com/article/2659...

My Times piece: Construction is in what looks to be a sustained downturn, the mood in house building is bleak, and it wasn’t all due to pre-budget uncertainty: Builders aren’t building – and that’s a worry for the economy www.thetimes.com/article/01c8...

My Times piece: Construction is in what looks to be a sustained downturn, the mood in house building is bleak, and it wasn’t all due to pre-budget uncertainty: Builders aren’t building – and that’s a worry for the economy www.thetimes.com/article/01c8...

We know we saw it last night but we're still extremely excited and happy that we're mentioned in a The Sunday Times economics article. Thanks @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social for a lovely early Christmas present. 🎅🕺🎄 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/e...

My Sunday Times piece: Friday’s weak GDP figures probably guarantee a cut in UK interest rates in a few days’ time but the vote will be close, as will the next few decisions on rates: More interest rate cuts loom, but each will be a battle www.thetimes.com/article/666b...

My Sunday Times piece: Friday’s weak GDP figures probably guarantee a cut in UK interest rates in a few days’ time but the vote will be close, as will the next few decisions on rates: More interest rate cuts loom, but each will be a battle www.thetimes.com/article/666b...

My Times piece: After the the early 1980s and 1990s recessions, the UK economy emerged with strong, sustained growth. But not after the financial crisis or pandemic, when the economy failed to reboot. We’ve let crises go to waste and emerged with a weakened economy www.thetimes.com/article/76cb...

Oh dear. See last Sunday’s piece.

My Times piece: After the the early 1980s and 1990s recessions, the UK economy emerged with strong, sustained growth. But not after the financial crisis or pandemic, when the economy failed to reboot. We’ve let crises go to waste and emerged with a weakened economy www.thetimes.com/article/76cb...

Analysis in OBR’s paper describes the four big shocks to the economy — the financial crisis, Brexit, the pandemic and the European energy crisis following the Russian invasion of Ukraine — and the UK’s vulnerability to each. (£) www.thetimes.com/business/eco... By @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social

Thank you. Good idea on podcasts.

Excellent article by @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social on the UK's continued 'Productivity Puzzle' and it comes with some book recommendations as well. We've got 'Capitalism and its Critics' but lots of other goodies. Maybe next week podcast recommendations David & we have just the thing... 😉 #EconSky

My Sunday Times piece: A trade slowdown, including what the OBR says is the enduring impact of Brexit, helps explain UK productivity stagnation. Can AI lift it by more than the OBR expects? Britain is in the productivity doldrums. What can lift us out? www.thetimes.com/article/1871...

My Sunday Times piece: A trade slowdown, including what the OBR says is the enduring impact of Brexit, helps explain UK productivity stagnation. Can AI lift it by more than the OBR expects? Britain is in the productivity doldrums. What can lift us out? www.thetimes.com/article/1871...

My Times piece: Even after its worst few days, we need the OBR more than ever to keep the Treasury, and chancellors, in check: A fiscal watchdog that doesn’t growl or bark is not worth having www.thetimes.com/article/a5c7...

My Times piece: Even after its worst few days, we need the OBR more than ever to keep the Treasury, and chancellors, in check: A fiscal watchdog that doesn’t growl or bark is not worth having www.thetimes.com/article/a5c7...

Penetrating commentary as usual from @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social (with an added bonus bit of analysis on how the "dog's breakfast" has changed over time).

Oh dear. Sad.

Thank you

Great piece from @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social reflecting on the Budget and I do hope the story about Mandelson at the end is true. 🤣 Where did that come from? Will certainly be retelling it in the classroom! We're now wondering whether a 'builder's tea' is still a builder's tea or a nice camomile. 🤔

My Sunday Times piece: The budget did nothing to boost growth and without a stronger revival, the public finances will remain vulnerable, and the threat of even higher taxes will persist: Now we really need the growth fairy to wave her magic wand www.thetimes.com/article/a135...

My Sunday Times piece: The budget did nothing to boost growth and without a stronger revival, the public finances will remain vulnerable, and the threat of even higher taxes will persist: Now we really need the growth fairy to wave her magic wand www.thetimes.com/article/a135...

My Times piece: We are promised a cost of living budget, the danger of which is that the government gets locked into expensive price freezes, like the long freeze on fuel duty: Why the prospect of a cost of living budget makes me feel uneasy www.thetimes.com/article/d0ca...

My Times piece: We are promised a cost of living budget, the danger of which is that the government gets locked into expensive price freezes, like the long freeze on fuel duty: Why the prospect of a cost of living budget makes me feel uneasy www.thetimes.com/article/d0ca...

Congratulations on spectacularly missing the point.

My Sunday Times piece: I’ve covered very many budgets over the years but the build-up to this one is the most chaotic and destabilising I can remember: There is no method in this messy pre-budget madness www.thetimes.com/article/aad8...

My Sunday Times piece: I’ve covered very many budgets over the years but the build-up to this one is the most chaotic and destabilising I can remember: There is no method in this messy pre-budget madness www.thetimes.com/article/aad8...

It is right that there is an independent economic and fiscal watchdog in the form of the OBR to mark the chancellor’s homework. Current arrangements, however, provide the OBR with a task that is near impossible and invites ridicule (£) www.thetimes.com/business/eco... By @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social

My Times piece: We need an independent fiscal watchdog like the OBR, but asking it to judge whether fiscal rules will be met in five years’ time, and raising taxes if not, is eccentric: Our obsession with the fiscal rules is a very British problem www.thetimes.com/article/c797...

My Times piece: We need an independent fiscal watchdog like the OBR, but asking it to judge whether fiscal rules will be met in five years’ time, and raising taxes if not, is eccentric: Our obsession with the fiscal rules is a very British problem www.thetimes.com/article/c797...

Things could be worse. Economy battered by higher taxes, budget speculation, US tariffs, delayed effect of higher interest rates, yet OBR will revise up forecast for this year’s growth from 1% predicted in March to nearer to 1.5% (£) www.thetimes.com/business-mon... By @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social

My Sunday Times piece: In which, amid extraordinary budget chaos and disappointing economic news, I look for reasons to be cheerful, or at least not excessively miserable: As economic gloom descends, it’s time to unleash my inner Tigger www.thetimes.com/article/d6a2...

My Times piece: Hopes that the job market was stabilising were dashed by the latest official figures, which send a warning to the government not to risk further job-destroying policies: Job market hit by budget fears while still reeling from past one www.thetimes.com/article/896e...

My Times piece: Hopes that the job market was stabilising were dashed by the latest official figures, which send a warning to the government not to risk further job-destroying policies: Job market hit by budget fears while still reeling from past one www.thetimes.com/article/896e...

In some ways, the breaking of the taboo on ever raising income tax rates should be welcomed. It would be much better, though, if it were the product of a carefully thought-out tax reform strategy. (£) www.thetimes.com/business-mon... By @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social Hard to disagree.

Excellent article by @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social & the PS is fascinating also. Surprised this didn't happen already. We had a vote in class about IR - 2 went higher, 8 or 9 went lower & the rest held. Students had to justify their choice, so it seems reasonable MPC members should as well! #EconSky

My Sunday Times piece: A rise in income tax rates would be no bad thing if part of a proper tax reform strategy, but not as a panicked response to a failed budget deficit reduction policy, which is the reality: Rachel Reeves’ raid on income tax could work www.thetimes.com/article/6c0f...

My Sunday Times piece: A rise in income tax rates would be no bad thing if part of a proper tax reform strategy, but not as a panicked response to a failed budget deficit reduction policy, which is the reality: Rachel Reeves’ raid on income tax could work www.thetimes.com/article/6c0f...

My Times piece: Why the Bank of England should not cut interest rates this week, ahead of the budget, and probably not again this year: Bank of England would boost its credibility by not cutting rates www.thetimes.com/article/e67e...

My Times piece: Why the Bank of England should not cut interest rates this week, ahead of the budget, and probably not again this year: Bank of England would boost its credibility by not cutting rates www.thetimes.com/article/e67e...

My Sunday Times piece: Rachel Reeves’s fiscal consolidation in the budget will have a lot more chance of success if it includes spending cuts as well as tax hikes: Spending cuts are crucial for Reeves to get out of this fiscal hole www.thetimes.com/article/6105...