Daily Archives: December 28, 2015

David Cameron in wellies won’t mollify flood victims in the north | Martin Kettle | Opinion | The Guardian

December 28, 2015 By in Architecture, Business Administration, David Cameron, People, Politics, Public Sector, Public Services Reform, Reform Tags: , 1 Comment
English: Main Stage at (Wet) Weston Park - 2007

English: Main Stage at (Wet) Weston Park – 2007 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is a powerful and insightful article from Martin Kettle in the Guardian, He claims that Northerners are angry and feel the government would never have allowed this to happen in the south of England.

Source: David Cameron in wellies won’t mollify flood victims in the north | Martin Kettle | Opinion | The Guardian

Of course, there aren’t too many Tory strongholds in the flooded north but there are some areas, like York, which have traditionally been important centers for civil servants, viz. until they were weakened by austerity.

Some wonder whether the Northern powerhouse is an exercise in political spin designed to mollify voters.

Perhaps, David Cameron’s Government really doesn’t understand Northerners?

Thoughts?

 

China’s Institutional Challenge by Andrew Sheng and Xiao Geng – Project Syndicate

December 28, 2015 By in Business Administration, Central banks, Central Government, Economics, Education, Fiscal Policy, Growth, Healthcare, Keynesian, People, Politicians, Politics, Reform Tags: 1 Comment
Project Syndicate

Project Syndicate (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is an excellent article from Project Syndicate. It’s a recommended read.

The article features the work of the Nobel laureate economist Douglass North, who died last month, citing it as going a long way toward explaining China’s dramatic changes over the last three decades, as well as illuminating the challenges that lie ahead. It argues that North’s message should temper the pessimism that pervades most current discussion of China’s prospects.

Source: China’s Institutional Challenge by Andrew Sheng and Xiao Geng – Project Syndicate

John Gelmini and I have used this blog repeatedly to challenge assumptions about a hard-landing for China. It is important to remember that China has already challenged many traditional assumptions about economic growth, social change and political liberalism.

Thoughts?