ECONOMISTS

According to newspaper reports today, economists are divided over the coalition plans to cut the deficit. Some say that it is too fast, too soon, while others say that the UK is still in growth and that to change course now would be fatal.

There is something to be said about not changing course mid-stream, indeed in our latest issue Mark Roeder, author of The Big Mo makes this very point.

With the IMF making its judgement today, the Treasury will be hoping for a grand endorsement - both for political and economic reasons - but if I was the Chancellor I wouldn't be too worried.

As the old saying goes, when economists agree then the world really is in trouble.

CREATING EMPLOYMENT

This morning, the OECD published its latest Economic Outlook.

Despite the recovery there are still many risks around and one of the keys to maintaining the recovery is apparently employment.

But how can this be achieved? Here in the UK we are facing the potential of state employees flooding onto the jobs market where the government hopes the private sector will pick up the slack.

Yet nothing is that simple.

How can people become employed? Where is the room for further workers when downsizing has been the rationale in this so-called post-industrial age?

These are questions that can challenge the most erudite academic let alone policymakers but they are questions that, according to the OECD, must be addressed for all our sakes.