Living standards· Intergenerational Centre A new generational compact 3 December 2010 by Gavin Kelly One of the best books written by a politician in recent years is David Willetts’ The Pinch. In it Willetts documents, with great clarity and rich empirical evidence, how the baby boomer generation has been pinching too big a share of the nation’s wealth, enjoying rising house prices and generous pensions while failing to invest … Continued READ MORE
Living standards The ‘squeezed middle’ is a real problem 2 December 2010 by Gavin Kelly Whatever the terminology, politicians cannot afford to overlook a group that feels justified anxiety about its standard of living. The best political phrases grow broad roots, entering the language of all political parties. Today it’s still unclear what fate awaits Ed Miliband’s talk of the “squeezed middle“. But whatever happens to the phrase, the theme … Continued READ MORE
Living standards The real threat to living standards for those on low to middle incomes 1 December 2010 by James Plunkett Defining the squeezed middle will be difficult – but there is a real threat to living standards for those on low to middle incomes. Ed Miliband’s attempt to define the ‘squeezed middle’ has made some people question the point of the term. Liam Byrne tried again yesterday to pin down the concept. But the big question … Continued READ MORE
Living standards The coming crunch 24 November 2010 by Gavin Kelly These are interesting times here at the Resolution Foundation. We’re expanding our team, starting new projects and working in different ways to achieve practical solutions. I hope you’ll keep returning to our new and improved website over the next few weeks and months to follow what we have to say about the position of low-to-middle … Continued READ MORE
Economy and public finances It’s rising prices as much as spending cuts that will give the Coalition a political headache 16 November 2010 by Gavin Kelly and James Plunkett It’s rising prices as much as spending cuts that will give the Coalition a political headache. Last Wednesday, Bank of England Governor Mervyn King forecast that inflation would remain above its 2% target until at least the end of 2011. British Gas has just announced a 7% price hike. It all bodes ill for the … Continued READ MORE
Economy and public finances Some of the spending review’s big losers haven’t realised it yet 2 November 2010 by Gavin Kelly The media may be preoccupied with cuts to child and housing benefits – but all hell will break loose once tax credit cuts bite. There is nothing quite like being in No 10 in the midst of a political storm: entering each day past a pool of journalists that swells in number as the dark … Continued READ MORE
Economy and public finances Investors must learn 29 October 2010 by Louisa Darian The government’s announcements to cut the social housing budget to £4.4 billion will hit many low earning households. Coupled with already low rates of affordable house building under the previous government, these proposals will mean that more and more low earning families will be forced into unsuitable private rented sector accommodation. Those fortunate enough to … Continued READ MORE
Economy and public finances Low income earners will bear the brunt of the cuts 21 October 2010 by James Plunkett To protect those at the very bottom, those in work, but on low and modest incomes, are being asked to make sacrifices Thanks to Danny Alexander’s spotless car windows, we have already had a sneak-peak of two pages of today’sspending review. It’s hardly news: 490,000 public sector jobs will go. But the pages also reveal coalition … Continued READ MORE
