Economics Observatory | Questions and answers about coronavirus and the UK economy

What’s worth reading over the 2024 holiday season?

If you’re in search of Christmas gifts or a good book for yourself to read over the holidays, look no further than recommendations from the Economics Observatory.

Audio recordings

Families & households

What’s changed through two decades of housing market dynamics?

Twenty-first century housing markets have had their ups and downs, but prices continue to rise. It’s win-win for the property-rich. Yet as corporate landlords and intermediaries open the door to institutional investors, it’s unclear where the route is to a fairer housing future.

DATA HUB

Consumer prices rise in November

Over the 12 months leading up to November 2024, the Consumer Prices Index, including owner-occupiers' housing costs (CPIH), increased by 3.5%.

The main upward drivers were housing and household services, restaurants and hotels, and recreation and culture.

Click on the chart to read Leigh Sparks on how the retail sector is faring this festive season.

Thursday 19th December 2024

Nations, regions & cities

Do cities and regions gain from public sector relocation?

Moving public agencies out of London was a major plank of the levelling-up agenda. The effects on local economies seem smaller than hoped – and it’s important to compare them with those of other tools of regional policy: key infrastructure, new institutions and encouraging private sector investment.

MAGAZINE

Read the latest edition of our magazine here

As millions of people cross dangerous terrain to seek refuge in Europe, understanding the factors that drive them to go to particular places is crucial. It is also important to assess whether certain policies in destination countries deter or attract asylum seekers.

Business, big & small

How do corporate payout policies affect the impact of tax cuts?

President-elect Donald Trump has promised tax cuts in the United States. Research indicates that corporate payout policy (dividends and share buybacks) shapes firms’ financial decision-making and, in turn, the wider economy. But there are trade-offs as changes affect public spending and debt levels.

Business, big & small

How is the retail sector faring ahead of the 2024 holiday season?

Household finances have been stretched in recent years, with some families affected far more than others. In the lead-up to Christmas – a crucial time for many businesses – retailers will be looking to translate consumer interest into hard sales, particularly as the outlook for 2025 is so uncertain.

Jobs, work, pay & benefits

What are the links between job vacancies, unemployment and inflation?

Unemployment in the UK has been historically low since the start of 2022, despite rising interest rates and falling numbers of job vacancies. A key question for monetary and fiscal policy-makers is whether this trend will continue into the future.

Transport & infrastructure

Rebuilding social infrastructure: how should we invest in communities?

Investing in our public spaces is vital to address the big challenges of loneliness, mental ill health and social and political disengagement. Such investment also brings economic benefits – and can help to close the gaps between economically disadvantaged and more affluent parts of the country.

Families & households

What are the effects of youth club closures in the UK?

The widespread closing of youth clubs during the 2010s, driven by government austerity measures, led to falling educational performance and increasing rates of youth offending. The long-term financial implications – through reduced lifetime earnings and higher crime-related costs – are also stark.

Banks & financial markets

Why has the price of Bitcoin risen/fallen in the past day/week/month?

The price of the cryptocurrency Bitcoin is determined by some combination of a small number of very large trades, the issuance of Tether, a so-called stablecoin, and organic supply and demand. Finding out what caused a particular price movement requires examination of all three factors.

Pensions, savings & investment

How is pension consolidation likely to affect performance and growth?

UK government proposals to merge some smaller public pensions may improve their performance for beneficiaries. But the scale of this effect is likely to be limited, as is the impact on aggregate investment and the country’s rate of economic growth.

Business, big & small

What is crowdfunding and how is it helping small businesses in the UK?

Crowdfunding unlocks alternative financing for start-ups and small businesses by mobilising pools of small-scale investors via online platforms. The funding model spreads risk, enables innovative projects and democratises investment, allowing individuals to support causes that they care about.

Business, big & small

The video games industry: is more support needed for this UK success story?

The UK’s gaming industry has boomed over the past two decades, driving job creation, export growth and technology benefits spilling over to a range of other key sectors. Continued government support could pay off handsomely in terms of tax receipts and industrial competitiveness.

Lessons from history

Ireland’s economy since independence: what lessons from the past 100 years?

A century ago, advocates and opponents of Irish independence presented arguments about the future of Ireland’s economy outside the UK. With the benefit of hindsight, we can see that predictions made by both sides have come to pass at different points over the past 100 years.

All Answers