COVID-19 is more than a severe health crisis – it tells us about the current state of the world

As new cases of the Coronavirus – COVID-19 – outside of China exceed those inside for the first time, we have to ask ourselves what next? Looking at the reactions of financial markets, governments and people around the world, fear seems to be settling in. The reaction of the financial markets has been growing in …

UK 2019 economy to be dominated by Brexit?

Chart 2: Employment growth in the UK has slowed sharply

Well, that was an exciting year. With article 50 triggered, negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU dominated politics and consumed government energy.  Negotiations were fraught, with frantic toing and froing between the UK and Europe as the deal evolved to its conclusion through 2018. But it also impacted the economy. In particular, uncertainty …