I'm not looking forward to when something breaks, but nor do I want continuing stagnation and decline. This country has been atrociously managed for decades and none of the people responsible show any shame.
Productivity is over-rated. It's easy to imagine a country where there was more production, freedom and happiness but in which productivity went down. Sadly George Osborne made that possibility illegal when in July 2015 he took powers away from the Low Pay Commission.
So we end up where we are - my diminishing skills as a 60 year old are worth £10 an hour, so I'm out of work, while nearly a million NEETS cannot realistically increase their skills while working.
I can't tell you enough how these UK governments hate its own people.
It’s almost like there was some big event in 2008 that put capitalism and the economy permanently on hold…
Seriously it’s not incompatible with your thesis. Since 2008 the state has taken control of the economy. Just as it was trying to let go, COVID hit in 2020. As COVID segued into forever-war. I’m not saying it’s a conspiracy, but a conspiracy wouldn’t look much different.
You’ve written a piece covering many decades. For me, an aside from @Johnspringford on BlueSky was helpful re recent productivity problems: Brexit uncertainty led to an investments strike by many companies.
I have read that UK welfare expenditure isn’t so wildly different from comparable countries.
I'm not looking forward to when something breaks, but nor do I want continuing stagnation and decline. This country has been atrociously managed for decades and none of the people responsible show any shame.
As a child of Thatcher (at its simplest, you are responsible for you) you are singing to the converted.
However, try telling the unproductive that you aren't going to tax the productive and make them work more efficiently......
Productivity is over-rated. It's easy to imagine a country where there was more production, freedom and happiness but in which productivity went down. Sadly George Osborne made that possibility illegal when in July 2015 he took powers away from the Low Pay Commission.
So we end up where we are - my diminishing skills as a 60 year old are worth £10 an hour, so I'm out of work, while nearly a million NEETS cannot realistically increase their skills while working.
I can't tell you enough how these UK governments hate its own people.
No growth since 2008 eh?
It’s almost like there was some big event in 2008 that put capitalism and the economy permanently on hold…
Seriously it’s not incompatible with your thesis. Since 2008 the state has taken control of the economy. Just as it was trying to let go, COVID hit in 2020. As COVID segued into forever-war. I’m not saying it’s a conspiracy, but a conspiracy wouldn’t look much different.
You’ve written a piece covering many decades. For me, an aside from @Johnspringford on BlueSky was helpful re recent productivity problems: Brexit uncertainty led to an investments strike by many companies.
I have read that UK welfare expenditure isn’t so wildly different from comparable countries.