Category Archives: Economics

Despite Britain’s New Thatcherites, Only The State Sector Has Recovered

By Michael Burke The British economy is becoming more dependent on the state. This is revealed in the latest preliminary data for GDP in the 1st quarter of 2013. The preliminary data for GDP only provide limited information – it has … Continue reading

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US Playing Politics Over Venezuelan Elections

By Lee Brown Campaigner and researcher on Latin America and its Socialism of the 21st Century Nicolas Maduro’s victory in the Venezuelan presidential election was narrower than anticipated. Nonetheless, it was clear enough. Yet the US government now seems to be playing politics … Continue reading

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Manufacturing’s ‘Winter Of Discontent’ Continues

Claims by the coalition government that the UK’s beleaguered manufacturing sector is beginning to show signs of recovery were dealt another blow this week by the reliable Markit/CIPS purchasing managers’ index (PMI), which showed that manufacturing contracted in the first quarter of … Continue reading

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The Logic Of Privatisation Of The East Coast Mainline

By Michael Burke The Coalition government has announced its intention to privatise the East Coast mainline rail network. The network was nationalised 3 years ago when the previous private operators discontinued their franchise because they could not make a profit. … Continue reading

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Budget Reaction: ‘Borrow To Invest’ & ‘Osborne’s Insulting People’

By Nicola Smith, Head of Economics at the TUC With the economy flatlining, the chancellor can do what he should have done two years ago and prioritise economic growth. In the immediate term, this means boosting the capital budgets – … Continue reading

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Highly recommended – an event worth going to…

In Conversation with Robert Reich – 21st May 2013 The TUC have announced Robert Reich is to make his only scheduled 2013 UK appearance on Tuesday 21st May at Congress House in London. Reich is Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy … Continue reading

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Lecture at University of Toronto – Global Unions

Sefton Lecture, University of Toronto, 7th March 2013   Tony Burke, Unite Assistant General Secretary “Labour’s Responses to Globalisation – Alternative Forms Of Organisation” Why Unite and the USW created Workers Uniting – the Global Union First of all can … Continue reading

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Shock manufacturing contraction leaves Osborne’s credibility in tatters

Figures published yesterday, (March 1st) showed a shock contraction in manufacturing which rounded off another dire week for the UK economy and signalled yet more misery for ordinary working families at the hands of government austerity. The Markit/CIPS purchasing mangers’ … Continue reading

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A falling pound will lower the living standards of workers and the poor

By Michael Burke  The British pound has begun to fall once more on the international currency markets. It may be further helped on its way by the loss of the AAA credit rating. This will have important domestic economic consequence. The … Continue reading

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