There was an interesting discussion on Universal Basic Income here form the ‘Basic Income Conversation’ and in particular, of course how it would be paid for. Actually, I have already discovered that a straightforward basic income is simple to ‘pay for’ when conventionally required. But this discussion was especially with regard to new monetary thought… Read more
Category:
Industry
Why furlough should be available permanently
Germany has had a partial unemployment or short time working scheme since the 1900s. According to the FT: The tool is Kurzarbeit, or shorter work-time, a policy that has been copied by so many other countries that one economist called it one of Germany’s “most successful exports”. Under the scheme, companies hit by a downturn… Read more
A Fond Farewell to the UK from an EU27 citizen? – part II (Education, Industry and Media)
Introduction In Part I, I discussed origins, but three cultural and historical differences struck me fairly immediately when I came to work in England in 1981. First, many scientists I met seemed to have little knowledge of the humanities. Correspondingly, knowledge of science seemed lacking among non-scientists. I was hardly the first to notice. C.P…. Read more
At last! The Japanese speak out (but too late to stop disaster)
And so, at last, members of one of the major manufacturing sectors in the UK – Japanese car makers – backed up by their government, meet with our powerless Prime Minister to publicly express their concern at the direction in which Brexit is heading. In so doing they unambiguously emphasise that should it come to… Read more
Industrial Strategy White Paper
Overview The “Industrial Strategy” mixes strategy with tactics, with the latter overwhelming any sense of strategy. There should have been two documents: A strategy document: max 10 pages which would have identified What’s wrong (there must be something wrong otherwise why bother with an Industrial Strategy after 50-odd years) why is it wrong – from… Read more