National policy in a global economy : how government can improve living standards and ... balance the books

Palgrave Macmillan is the global academic imprint of the above companies and has companies and representatives throughout the world. Palgrave® and Macmillan® are registered trademarks in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and other countries. This study offers an analysis of the UK's current economic policy options and a plan for improving life for ordinary citizens via a sensible and realistic understanding of governments' limited ability to manage economic performance. It provides a manifesto which political parties could immediately adopt to make life better for all. Great Britain PLC doesn't exist, but politicians have not adjusted to this new reality or to the impact of globalisation on the United Kingdom's economy. Governments act as though they direct a firm with national competitors they have to 'beat', and this prompts 'dashes for growth', 'cuts now, prosper later' and other grandiose projects which divert politicians from what they should be doing - improving life for ordinary citizens. This study offers an analysis of the UK's current economic policy options and a plan for improving life for ordinary citizens via a sensible and realistic understanding of governments' limited ability to manage economic performance. Providing a new exciting manifesto for political parties, it contributes to the debate on improving life for all in the UK Front Matter....Pages i-vi Introduction....Pages 1-5 A British Economy? Boxing with Shadows....Pages 6-27 Globalization and Its Effects....Pages 28-41 What National Governments Can and Can’t Do Well....Pages 42-52 Providing Citizen Support....Pages 53-62 Paying for Support....Pages 63-79 Focusing on Action: A Model Manifesto....Pages 80-91 Putting Policies into Practice....Pages 92-103 Back Matter....Pages 104-113 Cover 1 Half-Title 2 Title 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 Introduction 8 1 A British Economy? Boxing with Shadows 13 2 Globalization and Its Effects 35 3 What National Governments Can and Can’t Do Well 49 4 Providing Citizen Support 60 5 Paying for Support 70 6 Focusing on Action: A Model Manifesto 87 7 Putting Policies into Practice 99 Bibliography 111 Index 115 Annotation This study offers an analysis of the UK's current economic policy options and a plan for improving life for ordinary citizens via a sensible and realistic understanding of governments' limited ability to manage economic performance. It provides a manifesto which political parties could immediately adopt to make life better for all