How about a little accountability for economists when they mess up? | Dean Baker

Dean Baker is co-director of the Centre for Economic and Policy Research. Suppose our fire department was staffed with out-of-shape incompetents who didnt know how to handle a firehose. That would be really bad news, but it wouldnt be obvious most of the time because we dont often see major fires. The fire departments inadequacy […]

US could wait until next summer to raise interest rates, say economists

Surveyed experts predicted last weeks rate rise would be followed by two more next year, not three. The Federal Reserve could wait until at least next summer before raising interest rates again, according to Wall Street economists surveyed by the Financial Times. Expectations that a rate rise last week by the US central bank would […]

Brexit will blow 59bn hole in public finances, admits Hammond

Chancellor attempts to strike cautiously upbeat tone but OBR warns of extra borrowing over next five years. Philip Hammond conceded that Brexit will blow a 59bn black hole in the public finances over the next five years, as he outlined plans to boost investment in infrastructure and housing to equip the UK economy for life […]

Natural disasters push 26m into poverty each year, says World Bank

Study finds floods, storms and droughts cost global economy $520bn a year and highlights need to tackle climate change. Floods, earthquakes, tsunamis and other extreme natural disasters push 26 million people into poverty each year and cost the global economy more than half a trillion dollars in lost consumption, the World Bank has said. A […]

Economic woes create anti-establishment movements around the world

In some western countries frustration with the status quo is boosting populist and rightwing political parties The US is not the only western nation to be undergoing political ructions over the faltering post-crisis recovery. New counter-establishment parties have emerged in several countries and, as in the UK, people have voted for dramatic change. Meanwhile, theres […]