John Springford
@johnspringford.bsky.social
Economist and occasional politics dabbler. Working on a project to improve labour markets. Associate fellow, Centre for European Reform. Visiting fellow, Institute for Policy Research, Bath University.
I would like some well-funded science research to explain why cats are so insistent on getting between humans and laptops.
November 18, 2025 at 7:31 PM
I would like some well-funded science research to explain why cats are so insistent on getting between humans and laptops.
Mehreen Khan picks up my and @acjsissons.bsky.social's paper for The Times. You can read it here getting-out-of-the-hole.uk
November 18, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Mehreen Khan picks up my and @acjsissons.bsky.social's paper for The Times. You can read it here getting-out-of-the-hole.uk
That doesn't seem to be the position of the member-states. www.politico.eu/article/uk-s...
November 17, 2025 at 10:26 AM
That doesn't seem to be the position of the member-states. www.politico.eu/article/uk-s...
What should be done?
November 17, 2025 at 8:20 AM
What should be done?
The Conservative-led governments from 2010-24 reduced taxes on the upper half of the income distribution, bar the very richest, while sharply cutting benefit payments to the bottom half. Labour’s reversal of that policy has, so far, been limited.
November 17, 2025 at 8:19 AM
The Conservative-led governments from 2010-24 reduced taxes on the upper half of the income distribution, bar the very richest, while sharply cutting benefit payments to the bottom half. Labour’s reversal of that policy has, so far, been limited.
5. The state. An increasingly threadbare state is only just covering people against the worst risks - of illness, social care, unemployment. But there is not enough room for investment to support growth. Spending on older people will rise - public spending has been creeping up since the ‘90s.
November 17, 2025 at 8:18 AM
5. The state. An increasingly threadbare state is only just covering people against the worst risks - of illness, social care, unemployment. But there is not enough room for investment to support growth. Spending on older people will rise - public spending has been creeping up since the ‘90s.
What should be done?
November 17, 2025 at 8:17 AM
What should be done?
In recent years, the problem seems to have been concentrated in utilities, transport and telecoms - as shown by the big jumps in April, when many companies raise prices for the year.
November 17, 2025 at 8:16 AM
In recent years, the problem seems to have been concentrated in utilities, transport and telecoms - as shown by the big jumps in April, when many companies raise prices for the year.
4. Inflation. Even before the Great Inflation of 2022-4, Britain was a relatively high inflation economy compared to its peers, with inflation in the services sector being the main culprit.
November 17, 2025 at 8:16 AM
4. Inflation. Even before the Great Inflation of 2022-4, Britain was a relatively high inflation economy compared to its peers, with inflation in the services sector being the main culprit.
What should be done?
November 17, 2025 at 8:15 AM
What should be done?
3. Energy. High energy prices in Britain are hard to fix. It is caught between a system with high gas use and a clean energy investment programme that has become more expensive as interest rates have risen.
November 17, 2025 at 8:14 AM
3. Energy. High energy prices in Britain are hard to fix. It is caught between a system with high gas use and a clean energy investment programme that has become more expensive as interest rates have risen.
What should be done?
November 17, 2025 at 8:13 AM
What should be done?
Many smaller cities and towns don’t have much scope for knowledge services. That makes manufacturing more important, providing the scale and productivity to raise spending locally.
November 17, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Many smaller cities and towns don’t have much scope for knowledge services. That makes manufacturing more important, providing the scale and productivity to raise spending locally.
There have been some improvements recently. ‘Knowledge’ jobs in Birmingham and Manchester have been growing quickly. These knowledge service clusters are normally based in city centres, rely on a high share of graduate workers, have high productivity and wages, and trade internationally.
November 17, 2025 at 8:10 AM
There have been some improvements recently. ‘Knowledge’ jobs in Birmingham and Manchester have been growing quickly. These knowledge service clusters are normally based in city centres, rely on a high share of graduate workers, have high productivity and wages, and trade internationally.
What should be done? Some proposals.
November 17, 2025 at 8:08 AM
What should be done? Some proposals.
It has performed better in services. But even here - especially in finance and transport services, the two sectors the single market helps most - Britain has struggled.
November 17, 2025 at 8:08 AM
It has performed better in services. But even here - especially in finance and transport services, the two sectors the single market helps most - Britain has struggled.
Since the UK left the EU, it has become less open to trade in goods. The EU single market is very effective at facilitating trade in goods, and Britain has fallen behind peer countries since it lost access.
November 17, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Since the UK left the EU, it has become less open to trade in goods. The EU single market is very effective at facilitating trade in goods, and Britain has fallen behind peer countries since it lost access.
The UK's population has never been static; people have always emigrated from Britain, and have increasingly immigrated here as well. While the post-pandemic spike in net migration was unusual, the UK has generally benefited from levels of net inward migration around 200,000 to 300,000 each year.
November 17, 2025 at 8:06 AM
The UK's population has never been static; people have always emigrated from Britain, and have increasingly immigrated here as well. While the post-pandemic spike in net migration was unusual, the UK has generally benefited from levels of net inward migration around 200,000 to 300,000 each year.
1. Openness. Britain has flourished when it has been open. Britain's remarkable economic success during the 19th century was powered by a huge increase in trade, as was the long post-war boom. Darker periods, such as the early 20th century, have coincided with a drop in trade.
November 17, 2025 at 8:06 AM
1. Openness. Britain has flourished when it has been open. Britain's remarkable economic success during the 19th century was powered by a huge increase in trade, as was the long post-war boom. Darker periods, such as the early 20th century, have coincided with a drop in trade.
And since Brexit, it has been actively undermining its economic model, which is founded on openness to trade, ideas and people. Our top industries have all struggled since the shocks of 2008 and 2016.
November 17, 2025 at 8:04 AM
And since Brexit, it has been actively undermining its economic model, which is founded on openness to trade, ideas and people. Our top industries have all struggled since the shocks of 2008 and 2016.
Britain is in a hole. Real wages have barely risen in 17 years, and the public realm is fraying. Our politics is increasingly fractious as a result. The underlying reason? The biggest productivity slowdown in the G7.
November 17, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Britain is in a hole. Real wages have barely risen in 17 years, and the public realm is fraying. Our politics is increasingly fractious as a result. The underlying reason? The biggest productivity slowdown in the G7.
Re the death of Dick Cheney, it is worth reflecting on the inflection point in this chart when considering his legacy.
November 4, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Re the death of Dick Cheney, it is worth reflecting on the inflection point in this chart when considering his legacy.
Britain carving out some export niches. Good to see.
November 3, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Britain carving out some export niches. Good to see.
I've seen a lot of 'Poland had fast growth and a far-right government'. The economics of populism is more complicated than that. Last plug for this one.
www.cer.eu/insights/pol...
www.cer.eu/insights/pol...
October 30, 2025 at 5:25 PM
I've seen a lot of 'Poland had fast growth and a far-right government'. The economics of populism is more complicated than that. Last plug for this one.
www.cer.eu/insights/pol...
www.cer.eu/insights/pol...
But wine importer Bill DeBlasio did give the reporter what they wanted to hear
www.semafor.com/article/10/2...
www.semafor.com/article/10/2...
October 30, 2025 at 7:32 AM
But wine importer Bill DeBlasio did give the reporter what they wanted to hear
www.semafor.com/article/10/2...
www.semafor.com/article/10/2...