Category Archives: Public Sector

Future governments face tough choices – whatever their politics

Posted on 11 June, 2012 by Rick

The CBI and IPPR published a report on the future of public services last week. It warned: Britain faces a longer-term fiscal challenge. The Office for Budget Responsibility has estimated that by 2030 Britain will once again move into deficit … Continue reading →

Posted in Peak State, Public Finances, Public Sector, Uncategorized | 9 Comments

710,000 jobs to go – Austerity will be the new normal

Posted on 2 December, 2011 by Rick

One person who won’t have been surprised by this week’s economic forecast is CIPD Chief Economist John Philpott. Last year, he predicted public sector job losses of 725,000 contradicting the Office for Budget Responsibility’s official forecast of 400,000. During a typical outbreak … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour Market, Peak State, Public Sector | 1 Comment

The great local government fire-sale

Posted on 16 November, 2011 by Rick

Patrick Butler reports on the frantic rush to outsource local government services. Both he and I saw this coming some time ago. When councils have to cut so much so fast, an obvious way of doing it is to look … Continue reading →

Posted in Public Sector | 3 Comments

The public sector will not ‘get back to normal’

Posted on 22 March, 2011 by Rick

The Economist has a series of articles on the future of the state. The paper’s broad conclusion is that western welfare state can’t go on as it is. Its editorial describes the state spending of the 2000s as “one last splurge” … Continue reading →

Posted in Peak State, Public Finances, Public Sector, Uncategorized | 3 Comments