Unlucky millennials, and why we’re better than the French Top of the Charts 7 December 2018 Afternoon all, Enough of the gloom – it’s time for a bit of national pride. Yes things are messy in Westminster, but we shouldn’t let this damage our national psyche – after all the REAL lesson of this week is that we’re better than the French*. Here are three reasons why. 1) Yes … Continued READ MORE
Wealth & assets· Housing· Intergenerational Centre The Bank of Mum and Dad pays out at least three times in life 4 December 2018 by Torsten Bell Times change, Britain changes, and it doesn’t stop changing just because we’re all naturally obsessed by Brexit. Our need to understand and respond to those changes is as big as ever – and nowhere is that more true than in the growing importance in our society of wealth, which has risen from three times our … Continued READ MORE
Living standards· Productivity & industrial strategy· Pay· Economic growth Decoupling wages and recoupling living standards Top of the Charts 30 November 2018 Afternoon all, This week saw several major studies on the economic impacts of Brexit end games. Obviously you shouldn’t read them all, partly because you’ve got lives to lead, but also because it’s blindingly obvious what they say. And anyway who needs to bother with the serious business of weighing up the economic cost of a … Continued READ MORE
Counting snores and learning from wars Top of the Charts 23 November 2018 Afternoon all, Had enough of the Brexit chat yet? Thought so. Luckily we’re definitely not going to spend the next 10 years having the same conversation over and over and over again… Oh yes we are. It’s going to be like Groundhog Day. Without the happy ending. To get through the week I’ve been focusing … Continued READ MORE
Sex-starved youths and savings-starved pensioners. Top of the Charts 16 November 2018 Afternoon all, So the UK’s live broadcast episode of “Deal or No Deal” is in full swing and I’m sure we all feel very proud of ourselves. The only good news is that Noel Edmonds hasn’t yet made an appearance, although we’re not exactly short of badly dressed men from a time long past wandering … Continued READ MORE
The dangers of excess cash bags and hashtags Top of the Charts 9 November 2018 Afternoon all, I know you’re all obsessed with the US mid-term elections this week, but I’ve got some lifestyle advice for you: it’s not good for your blood pressure. Not only does reading lots about it remind you that Donald Trump exists, but you may have noticed that – unless you’re a US citizen over … Continued READ MORE
Shame, Zombies and Die Hard Top of the Charts 2 November 2018 Afternoon all, Good lord we’ve had (almost) an entire week without Brexit chat. Yes, it’s cost us £55bn via a giveaway Budget to make it happen – but frankly that feels like money well spent (especially the £1.7bn going back into Universal Credit). Our gratitude to the Chancellor has however been severely tested. No, not … Continued READ MORE
Budgets & fiscal events· Public spending· Economy and public finances The Budget marks a very significant easing – but not an end of austerity 30 October 2018 by Torsten Bell Marriages require compromise. So we shouldn’t be surprised that the reluctant political marriage between Theresa May and Phillip Hammond has delivered a compromise Budget. Caught between the Prime Ministers promise to “end austerity”, the wish to see debt falling, and the reality of the parliamentary arithmetic making significant tax rises difficult the Chancellor has taken … Continued READ MORE
Economy and public finances Budget special: Debt, bad bosses and a 31bn pound question Top of the Charts 26 October 2018 Bad jokes, disappointing reveals, a tradition of alcohol consumption and a hangover the day after when we realise it all has to be paid for – yes it’s just 60 days until Christmas 3 days until the Budget. We’re casting Robert Chote of the Office for Budget Responsibility as Santa Claus for the purposes of … Continued READ MORE
Labour market Angry tweets, hungry millennials and useless entrepreneurs Top of the Charts 19 October 2018 Afternoon all, I think Theresa May might have good reason for feeling miffed as we head into the weekend. We’ve had a triple whammy of pretty good economic news – the fastest rising pay packets since the financial crisis, lowest borrowing in over a decade and lower than expected inflation. And what gratitude does … Continued READ MORE
Welfare The have-docs vs. the have-yachts, and good news for rich idiots Top of the Charts 12 October 2018 Afternoon all, We start with a warning about turning on the radio – whenever I’ve risked it this week I’ve kept hearing the words John Major and poll tax. It’s like the 1990s all over again. Even Noel Gallagher seems to have re-emerged from some Brit-pop time machine and Brexit definitely has a mid-90s vibe … Continued READ MORE
Welfare Universal Credit: the honesty we owe and the changes we need 12 October 2018 by Torsten Bell and Resolution Foundation Analysis All is not well in the land of Universal Credit (UC). Cabinet ministers are angsting in private about the challenges of rolling out this government’s single biggest domestic policy reform. Two ex-Prime Ministers are worrying in public that the benefit risks becoming a new poll tax. And Labour has (rhetorically at least) promised to scrap … Continued READ MORE
Economy and public finances Good firms, loyal partners and a Chinese spy-thriller Top of the Charts 5 October 2018 Morning all, It’s back to business as usual at TOTC. And we are very perky indeed here at Resolution Foundation HQ. Reason for perk 1: conference season is not only over but it involved Abba – as most things worth doing in life do. Reason for perk 2: apparently so is austerity* Reason for perk … Continued READ MORE
Public spending· Economy and public finances The end of austerity? Not so much 3 October 2018 by Torsten Bell and Resolution Foundation Analysis The Prime Minister made a big bold statement today. No, not that she likes to dance to Abba (who doesn’t) but that she was “ending austerity”. Announcing the end of austerity is sensible politics. After all who, apart from a few fringe think-tanks, says they want more austerity in of itself? There are also signs … Continued READ MORE
Economy and public finances Conservative Party conference special: Fighting non-Brexit battles on multiple fronts Top of the Charts 28 September 2018 Afternoon all, Labour conference and their Brexit bun fight* is done. Luckily nothing like that is going to happen when the Conservatives gather in Birmingham this weekend. They don’t call Boris Johnson a backstabber team player for nothing… More interesting in Liverpool than Labour’s Brexit shuffle was the extra detail of and focus on the Party’s plan for economic … Continued READ MORE
Demographics· Intergenerational Centre· Political parties and elections Demography is the new class war 21 September 2018 by Torsten Bell The real question about this year’s Labour Party conference is what on earth everyone will talk about for four days. The supposed Brexit barney will be a damp squib and leadership rows have disappeared. So here’s a suggestion to fill the awkward silences: it’s time Labour talked about the arrival of generational divides in our … Continued READ MORE
Labour Party Conference special: Fully automated luxury communism Top of the Charts 21 September 2018 Afternoon all, I have the absolute pleasure of spending large parts of this weekend and the next fortnight up in Liverpool and Birmingham for the main party conferences – and don’t think I’m just going to suffer alone. Oh no, when it comes to the state of British politics we are all in this together. … Continued READ MORE
Labour market Lehman Brothers Anniversary special: The cause of, and lessons from, Britain’s pay squeeze Top of the Charts 14 September 2018 Afternoon all, Top of the Charts is in a reflective mood this week – what with tomorrow marking the 10th anniversary of the collapse of Lehman Brothers. So, instead of the normal selection of pieces, I’ve written a long read on both what caused the unprecedented post-crash pay squeeze that we are still living with … Continued READ MORE
Bad Policies And The Benefits For Working In Berlin Over Boston Top of the Charts 7 September 2018 Afternoon all, It’s been an emotional week – separation anxiety, tears, tantrums and every parent’s worst fear – bullying in the playground. Yes, it’s been an emotional return to Westminster for our elected officials, and the school run’s back too. One of the features of modern politics is lots of depression about the inability for any … Continued READ MORE
Booze, sexists and massive misperceptions Top of the Charts 31 August 2018 Afternoon all, Welcome back to Top of the Charts – hope everyone’s had a good August and holidays/empty offices have refreshed reading appetites. I’ve enjoyed a glamorous drizzly break in Cornwall – the drizzle part of which I hold each and every one of you who moaned about the heatwave personally responsible. To cope with … Continued READ MORE
History lessons as May joins Macron in Brexit Love Island Top of the Charts 3 August 2018 Morning all, Britain faces some big challenges – but I bring news of significant progress. Love Island is over, fini, terminado. Praise be – it’s destroyed both productivity and conversation quality in RF towers. But don’t worry if you like nothing better than Brits flying off to awkwardly stay with people they hardly know in … Continued READ MORE
Economy and public finances Heatwaves, grannies and capitalism Top of the Charts 27 July 2018 Afternoon all, I don’t want to worry you – but I’m pretty sure this is what the end of days would look like. Tonight the moon is going to turn the colour of blood – which apparently we’re all meant to think is fun, rather than a sign of impending doom… And if that wasn’t … Continued READ MORE
Firms· Productivity & industrial strategy· Economy and public finances· Economic growth Time to concentrate on our capitalism 26 July 2018 by Torsten Bell and Daniel Tomlinson Our politicians are anxious. And not just because no-one has a decent poll lead or idea where Brexit will end up. No, some are finding the time to get anxious about other things too, including the state of capitalism in the UK. The angst isn’t limited to the left either, with Michael Gove becoming a … Continued READ MORE
Inequality & poverty· Childcare· Welfare A history lesson wouldn’t hurt – at least when it comes to child poverty 24 July 2018 by Torsten Bell and Adam Corlett This blog originally appeared on Times Red Box. A few years back there was an outbreak of national angst about no one studying history any more. The House of Lords even managed a debate on it. That worry seems a long way down the list of concerns these days, when everyone has the latest Donald … Continued READ MORE
Multi-jobbers, pay gaps and the hipster index Top of the Charts 20 July 2018 Afternoon all, Half the government seems to have quit (we’re on to people you’ve never heard of) and Labour MPs are getting in on the act. But MPs aren’t the only ones shedding jobs – this week’s reading brings confirmation that the idea ever more people are doing two or three jobs is a myth. … Continued READ MORE
