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Economics & Social Policy Blogs

Dr Graham Gudgin examines the likely options for a future trade relationship between the UK and EU
Policy Exchange’s Chief Economic Adviser, Dr Graham Gudgin, outlines the likely proposals to be put before Friday’s Cabinet and explores how they might work.

Monetary policy after the Great Recession – time for the eurozone to grasp the nettle?
Policy Exchange’s Head of Economics – Warwick Lightfoot – argues that the deepening tensions in the eurozone make it all the more important that an exit strategy is developed for countries that no longer fit the model.

The limits of central banks’ independence – public support?
Reflecting on the discussion of Paul Tucker’s new book on unelected power, Policy Exchange’s Head of Economics, Warwick Lightfoot – former Special Adviser to three Chancellors – argues that central banks have used their independence to maintain price stability by allowing asset prices to inflate separately. As was observed at the event, perceived gains to those with such assets may limit popular support for such measures when the next crisis hits.

Fixing roofs in the sunshine – why central banks must reconsider loose monetary policy
Central banks should use the relatively benign economic conditions to reorientate money policy argues Warwick Lightfoot – himself former special adviser to three chancellors. As the world economy has recovered, central banks need to re-examine their lax approach to tools such as interest rates so that they can respond to any future crisis. Not doing so will leave their arsenals worryingly empty.

Why isn’t the FinTech market a fin4all?
Policy Exchange’s latest recruit, Jos Henson-Gric, who previously worked in FinTech in the UK and Europe, looks at the Chancellor’s speech on FinTech and the Government’s new strategy and asks if it’s missing a trick when it comes to banking for those on low incomes.

The Spring forecast – better news but still too pessimistic
Policy Exchange’s head of economics Warwick Lightfoot – former Special Adviser to three Chancellors – argues the Spring Statement was slightly more positive than the forecast published at the time of the November Budget last year, but remains too pessimistic about the future course of the economy.

The Spring Statement: a brighter economic picture that should in future be more clearly presented
Ahead of the Chancellor’s Spring Statement, Warwick Lightfoot looks ahead to improving economic conditions but makes a plea for clearer documents with which the public can engage.

UK economy doing well – but there’s little spare capacity
Policy Exchange’s Head of Economics and former Special Adviser to three chancellors – Warwick Lightfoot – assesses new economic data and finds the UK economy in good health. But with a warning, too.

The EU’s own report confirms that the Irish Border issue can be resolved with technology – does this expose other motivations in Dublin and Brussels?
Dr Graham Gudgin – himself a former special adviser to the First Minister of Northern Ireland – finds that the EU’s own research group has identified technological solutions to avoid a ‘hard border’, raising questions about Dublin and Brussels’ intransigence on this issue.

Democracy and Brexit
Reflecting on the Foreign Secretary’s speech at Policy Exchange last week, Director of Research and Strategy Rupert Oldham-Reid summarises the speech.