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Reposted by Ben Chu

The Irish Times @irishtimes.com · 23d

Exile Economics: What Happens if Globalisation Fails by Ben Chu – Why the benefits of global trade are at risk

The BBC journalist warns of a dangerous policy spiral as nations reduce their reliance on international trade

www.irishtimes.com

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Reposted by Ben Chu

Ben Chu @benchu.bsky.social · 22d

The latest average monthly wage data means the UK state pension will rise by at least 4.7% next year under the Triple Lock.

The lock is supposed to protect and boost the real income of pensioners.

But it’s worth noting that pensioners - as a group - are not as poor as they used to be...🧵

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Ben Chu @benchu.bsky.social · 22d

Poverty rate data from the IFS: ifs.org.uk/living-stand...

Comparative international pension data from the OECD: stat.link/v8jpaz

Post-2010 policy impact from Resolution Foundation: www.resolutionfoundation.org/app/uploads/...

ENDS

Living standards, poverty and inequality in the UK | Institute for Fiscal Studies

Key research, data and resources that show how and why living standards and poverty have changed since 1961.

ifs.org.uk

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Ben Chu @benchu.bsky.social · 22d

This underlines that money spent on delivering the triple lock today cannot be spent on working age people, who some would argue need the support more...10/11

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Ben Chu @benchu.bsky.social · 22d

Since 2010 government policy has reduced the income of working age people by an average of £1,400 per year relative to where they would otherwise be.

At the same time the triple lock has pushed up the incomes of older people by £900 a year...9/11

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Ben Chu @benchu.bsky.social · 22d

However, another important piece of context in the debate about the inter-generational fairness of the triple lock is the overall impact of benefit changes on different age groups in recent years...8/11

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Ben Chu @benchu.bsky.social · 22d

Triple lock advocates also point out that young people today will benefit from the policy when that age group eventually reaches pension age...7/11

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Ben Chu @benchu.bsky.social · 22d

It’s true that some countries have a more generous system - the state pension currently replaces around 54% of average UK earnings, compared to the developed country average of 61%...6/11

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Ben Chu @benchu.bsky.social · 22d

Defenders of the triple lock argue the UK state pension is still lower than the equivalents in some other rich countries like France and Germany and that the policy is helping to bring the UK into line...5/11

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Ben Chu @benchu.bsky.social · 22d

And the poverty rate of pensioners is now lower than of working age people - with working age non-parents shown in green, at 17% in 2024, and working age parents shown in blue, at 25%...4/11

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Ben Chu @benchu.bsky.social · 22d

But, since then, the poverty rate of the group has fallen quite dramatically to 16% in 2024, reflecting the retirement of many relatively well-off baby boomers...3/11

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Ben Chu @benchu.bsky.social · 22d

In the early 1990s the poverty rate of pensioners - defined as the share of the group living on less than 60% of average incomes after housing costs - was around 40%...2/11

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Ben Chu @benchu.bsky.social · 22d

The latest average monthly wage data means the UK state pension will rise by at least 4.7% next year under the Triple Lock.

The lock is supposed to protect and boost the real income of pensioners.

But it’s worth noting that pensioners - as a group - are not as poor as they used to be...🧵

1/11

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Ben Chu @benchu.bsky.social · 22d

You can order Exile Economics from here 👇

linktr.ee/exileeconomics

EXILE ECONOMICS | Linktree

by Ben Chu

linktr.ee

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Ben Chu @benchu.bsky.social · 22d

"This work will help the reader better understand why the global economy stands at such a critical juncture – how we got here and what is at risk."

Review of my book Exile Economics by Irish Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe in The Irish Times 👇

www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...

Exile Economics: What Happens if Globalisation Fails by Ben Chu – Why the benefits of global trade are at risk

The BBC journalist warns of a dangerous policy spiral as nations reduce their reliance on international trade

www.irishtimes.com

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Ben Chu @benchu.bsky.social · 25d

You can also see the full report on YouTube 📺👇

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m3m...

Israel's war in Gaza and proportionality | BBC News

YouTube video by BBC News

www.youtube.com

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Ben Chu @benchu.bsky.social · 25d

More on this video report on iPlayer here 📺 👇

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

Ros Atkins on Israel's War in Gaza and Proportionality

BBC Verify has spoken to a range of international law experts to ask whether they consider Israel's actions to have been proportionate.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Ben Chu @benchu.bsky.social · 26d

Has Israel's war in Gaza been proportionate?

Comprehensive analysis of this question by Verify colleagues 👇

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Ros Atkins on... Israel's war in Gaza and proportionality

BBC Verify asked experts, in the UK and elsewhere, if Israel’s actions in Gaza have been proportionate.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Ben Chu

Ben Chu @benchu.bsky.social · Sep 5

Do Reform's economic/financial plans add up?

Claims on:

- the costs of net zero
- taxes
- spending
- cutting waste

My analysis for BBC website 👇

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Do Reform's economic plans add up?

The party has pledged to boost spending, but some have questioned how the party intends to pay for its plans.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Ben Chu

Bianca Britton @biancabritton.bsky.social · Sep 5

Reform UK is seeking to maintain the momentum it has gathered since the general election.

BBC Verify has examined what we know - and don't know - about the party’s aspirations when it comes to taxation, spending and borrowing.

Reporting by @benchu.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Do Reform's economic plans add up?

The party has pledged to boost spending, but some have questioned how the party intends to pay for its plans.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Ben Chu @benchu.bsky.social · Sep 5

Do Reform's economic/financial plans add up?

Claims on:

- the costs of net zero
- taxes
- spending
- cutting waste

My analysis for BBC website 👇

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Do Reform's economic plans add up?

The party has pledged to boost spending, but some have questioned how the party intends to pay for its plans.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Ben Chu @benchu.bsky.social · Sep 2

...Home Office data here: www.gov.uk/government/s...

Immigration system statistics data tables

Listing of the data tables included in 'Immigration system statistics'.

www.gov.uk

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Ben Chu @benchu.bsky.social · Sep 2

By contrast asylum claims from people who arrived by small boats are still rising - and at a higher level - 43,600 in the year to june...

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Ben Chu @benchu.bsky.social · Sep 2

The Home Secretary is focusing today on students who go on to claim asylum.

Home Office data shows the numbers of asylum seekers who were previously issued with a student visa are up in recent years, to 14,800 in the year to June, though some signs of a peak...

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Reposted by Ben Chu

BBC Newsnight @bbcnewsnight.bsky.social · Aug 29

How many illegal immigrants are living in the UK?

Are they put up in ‘four star hotels’?

Are phones and iPads provided?

Following comments made by Rylan Clark, BBC Verify Policy Correspondent Ben Chu goes through the data and information for #Newsnight

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