By: Paul Ormerod

Paul Ormerod is an economist at Volterra Partners LLP, author and an Honorary Professor at the Alliance Business School at the University of Manchester

All 173 Articles

UK universities should focus on excellence, not DEI

Opinion

The UK university sector won’t solve it’s financial problems by prioritising diversity goals over research quality, says Paul Ormerod The university sector in the UK often seems to live in a dream world. Research England, for example, is proposing to order them to “robustly” promote diversity and inclusion in order to qualify for access to [...]
Is choosing not to work a rational response to economic conditions?

Opinion

Economic theory teaches that people will make the optimal allocation of their time between work and leisure, and if they can’t earn why bother to work? That’s a choice neither individuals, nor the country can afford, says Paul Ormerod The rise in worklessness is acknowledged across the political spectrum to be a serious problem. It [...]
If the ONS can’t measure productivity, how are we meant to improve it?

Opinion

The ONS's shortcomings are far from trivial, its bad maths is holding back the UK economy, writes Paul Ormerod.

Method in Trump’s madness? What economic theory teaches us about tariffs

April 9, 2025

Trump's tariffs have sent the world into a frenzy but there could be method yet. Economic theory shows that tariffs reduce prices, writes Paul Ormerod.
Reeves’ black hole alarmism is creating something scarier: A real one

April 2, 2025

Reeves' fearmongering has scared Brits into saving. The consequences will be more frightening than Reeves' 'black hole', writes Paul Ormerod.
Spring Statement: Reeves should abolish the OBR

March 26, 2025

By strengthening the OBR, Reeves has created severe difficulties for herself. Vital decisions about our economic future should be made by politicians, not unelected quangocrats, says Paul Ormerod Later today we will know for certain what is in Rachel Reeves’ Spring statement, a budget to all intents and purposes. But as is usually the case [...]
The bond markets must not be allowed block defence spending

March 19, 2025

The Germans are funding increased defence spending through debt so why can’t we? The Chancellor needs to start telling a better story about the future direction of our economy, says Paul Ormerod President Trump wants European countries to spend five per cent of GDP on defence. Kier Starmer plans to increase UK spending from 2.3 [...]
If crises are the test of a nation, Western Europe is failing

March 12, 2025

The financial crisis and the pandemic have shown how modern Europe deals with crises. And it's not pretty, writes Paul Ormerod.
What ever happened to levelling up?

March 5, 2025

Levelling up has all but disappeared from the government's agenda. That's a big mistake for growth, writes Paul Ormerod.
The West has been free riding on US defence spending

February 25, 2025

The West has been free riding on US defence spending for decades. It's no surprise Trump is now calling us to account, writes Paul Ormerod.

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Premiership run-in: Saints and Bath will impact top four

Here We Are, National Theatre, review: Stephen Sondheim musical is more Severance than sing-a-long

By: Paul Ormerod

All 173 Articles

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