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David Smith

@dsmitheconomics.bsky.social

1.8K followers 11 following 120 posts

Economics Editor, The Sunday Times.

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David Smith @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social · 9h

Thanks, Thomas

Thomas Aubrey @thomasaubreycca.bsky.social · 9h

Great article from @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social who
kindly quoted my research on funding & financing infrastructure without negatively impacting the public finances. The Chancellor can pursue an alternative path.. @greenmirandahere.bsky.social @tonytassell.bsky.social @pmdfoster.bsky.social

David Smith @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social · 22h

My Times piece: We can learn from the Netherlands on how better to finance infrastructure spending and more house building, without spooking the markets:

It’s time to go Dutch to solve Britain’s housing crisis

www.thetimes.com/article/ce46...

Reposted by David Smith

Thomas Aubrey @thomasaubreycca.bsky.social · 9h

Great article from @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social who
kindly quoted my research on funding & financing infrastructure without negatively impacting the public finances. The Chancellor can pursue an alternative path.. @greenmirandahere.bsky.social @tonytassell.bsky.social @pmdfoster.bsky.social

David Smith @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social · 22h

My Times piece: We can learn from the Netherlands on how better to finance infrastructure spending and more house building, without spooking the markets:

It’s time to go Dutch to solve Britain’s housing crisis

www.thetimes.com/article/ce46...

It’s time to go Dutch to solve Britain’s housing crisis

Using public corporations to finance infrastructure promises to revolutionise the nation’s prospects

www.thetimes.com

David Smith @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social · 22h

My Times piece: We can learn from the Netherlands on how better to finance infrastructure spending and more house building, without spooking the markets:

It’s time to go Dutch to solve Britain’s housing crisis

www.thetimes.com/article/ce46...

It’s time to go Dutch to solve Britain’s housing crisis

Using public corporations to finance infrastructure promises to revolutionise the nation’s prospects

www.thetimes.com

Reposted by David Smith

John Peters @johnthejack.bsky.social · 3d

A brief history of the UK's two official economic forecasts a year, and why we still need them.
(£) www.thetimes.com/business-mon...
By @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social

Don’t shoot the messenger by burying OBR forecasts

Rachel Reeves should avoid making the UK less transparent than competitor economies by cutting down the number of official forecasts

www.thetimes.com

Reposted by David Smith

David Smith @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social · 3d

My Sunday Times piece: The chancellor has hinted at cutting official forecasts to one a year, which would be a mistake. Just treat one of the OBR’s two forecasts as advisory, not a call for immediate action:

Don’t shoot the messenger by burying OBR forecasts

www.thetimes.com/article/6040...

Don’t shoot the messenger by burying OBR forecasts

Rachel Reeves should avoid making the UK less transparent than competitor economies by cutting down the number of official forecasts

www.thetimes.com

David Smith @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social · 3d

My Sunday Times piece: The chancellor has hinted at cutting official forecasts to one a year, which would be a mistake. Just treat one of the OBR’s two forecasts as advisory, not a call for immediate action:

Don’t shoot the messenger by burying OBR forecasts

www.thetimes.com/article/6040...

Don’t shoot the messenger by burying OBR forecasts

Rachel Reeves should avoid making the UK less transparent than competitor economies by cutting down the number of official forecasts

www.thetimes.com

Reposted by David Smith

David Smith @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social · 7d

My Times piece: Donald Trump’s tariffs haven’t crashed the economy - they take time to work through - but they are slowly damaging it:

Trump tariffs are taking their toll on America by stealth

www.thetimes.com/article/b0fd...

Trump tariffs are taking their toll on America by stealth

US economy is showing signs of resilience but an employment slowdown suggests a hidden cost to Donald Trump’s protectionist tariff policies

www.thetimes.com

David Smith @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social · 7d

My Times piece: Donald Trump’s tariffs haven’t crashed the economy - they take time to work through - but they are slowly damaging it:

Trump tariffs are taking their toll on America by stealth

www.thetimes.com/article/b0fd...

Trump tariffs are taking their toll on America by stealth

US economy is showing signs of resilience but an employment slowdown suggests a hidden cost to Donald Trump’s protectionist tariff policies

www.thetimes.com

Reposted by David Smith

John Peters @johnthejack.bsky.social · 10d

Will Reeves reach for a grab bag of tax raisers that further complicate system, or set out a proper tax strategy, including some least economically damaging tax rises, even if going against one of Labour’s manifesto commitments?
(£) www.thetimes.com/business-mon...
By @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social

Will Rachel Reeves dare to be bold in her budget?

The chancellor could go down the path of least resistance with make-do-and-mend measures, or undertake some serious tax reform

www.thetimes.com

Reposted by David Smith

David Smith @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social · 10d

My Sunday Times piece: The budget process will get going when the OBR presents its first forecast next Friday. Will the chancellor, under pressure, opt for a “make do and mend” budget or go for something bolder?

Will Rachel Reeves dare to be bold in her budget?

www.thetimes.com/article/ba9e...

Will Rachel Reeves dare to be bold in her budget?

The chancellor could go down the path of least resistance with make-do-and-mend measures, or undertake some serious tax reform

www.thetimes.com

David Smith @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social · 10d

My Sunday Times piece: The budget process will get going when the OBR presents its first forecast next Friday. Will the chancellor, under pressure, opt for a “make do and mend” budget or go for something bolder?

Will Rachel Reeves dare to be bold in her budget?

www.thetimes.com/article/ba9e...

Will Rachel Reeves dare to be bold in her budget?

The chancellor could go down the path of least resistance with make-do-and-mend measures, or undertake some serious tax reform

www.thetimes.com

Reposted by David Smith

David Smith @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social · 14d

My Times piece: People expect inflation to stay high - their expectations are “elevated” - and that adds to the challenge of getting it back down to the 2% target again:

High expectations make it harder to get inflation down

www.thetimes.com/article/b71d...

High expectations make it harder to get inflation down

When consumers expect prices to rise sharply, it becomes more likely to happen

www.thetimes.com

David Smith @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social · 14d

My Times piece: People expect inflation to stay high - their expectations are “elevated” - and that adds to the challenge of getting it back down to the 2% target again:

High expectations make it harder to get inflation down

www.thetimes.com/article/b71d...

High expectations make it harder to get inflation down

When consumers expect prices to rise sharply, it becomes more likely to happen

www.thetimes.com

David Smith @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social · 17d

Thanks Jonathan

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 17d

Very good explainer by @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social on the UK's productivity underperformance vs the US - exaggerated but real.

www.thetimes.com/article/54cd...

America is leaving the UK economy behind. How can we catch up?

The UK’s productivity gains are poor, while the US economy has proved more resilient to the economic shocks of the past two decades

www.thetimes.com

Reposted by David Smith

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 17d

Very good explainer by @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social on the UK's productivity underperformance vs the US - exaggerated but real.

www.thetimes.com/article/54cd...

America is leaving the UK economy behind. How can we catch up?

The UK’s productivity gains are poor, while the US economy has proved more resilient to the economic shocks of the past two decades

www.thetimes.com

Reposted by David Smith

David Smith @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social · 17d

My Sunday Times piece: Weak productivity, poor resilience and self inflicted damage mean UK GDP per capita, properly measured, is falling well behind the US. We’ve closed the gap before, can we again?

America is leaving the UK economy behind. How can we catch up?

www.thetimes.com/article/54cd...

America is leaving the UK economy behind. How can we catch up?

The UK’s productivity gains are poor, while the US economy has proved more resilient to the economic shocks of the past two decades

www.thetimes.com

David Smith @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social · 17d

My Sunday Times piece: Weak productivity, poor resilience and self inflicted damage mean UK GDP per capita, properly measured, is falling well behind the US. We’ve closed the gap before, can we again?

America is leaving the UK economy behind. How can we catch up?

www.thetimes.com/article/54cd...

America is leaving the UK economy behind. How can we catch up?

The UK’s productivity gains are poor, while the US economy has proved more resilient to the economic shocks of the past two decades

www.thetimes.com

Reposted by David Smith

David Smith @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social · 21d

My Times piece: There is little chance of a Bank of England rate cut this week but, following bond market turbulence, its decision on gilt sales over the next 12 months is important:

A rate cut is unlikely, but the Bank has a big decision to announce

www.thetimes.com/article/f68b...

A rate cut is unlikely, but the Bank has a big decision to announce

With the government holding a lot of debt, the Bank of England risks provoking the markets unless it eases its bond selling

www.thetimes.com

David Smith @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social · 21d

My Times piece: There is little chance of a Bank of England rate cut this week but, following bond market turbulence, its decision on gilt sales over the next 12 months is important:

A rate cut is unlikely, but the Bank has a big decision to announce

www.thetimes.com/article/f68b...

A rate cut is unlikely, but the Bank has a big decision to announce

With the government holding a lot of debt, the Bank of England risks provoking the markets unless it eases its bond selling

www.thetimes.com

Reposted by David Smith

Austinho @ealinghaaland.bsky.social · 24d

@dsmitheconomics.bsky.social we would all benefit from politicians doing more of the prosaic and much much less of the “world-leading”.

Don't fall for political parties selling economic snake oil. www.thetimes.com/article/63d1...

I had my passport checked on the train from Copenhagen to Malmo btw

Don’t fall for political parties selling economic snake oil

Labour, the Conservatives and the Lib Dems have all had the dilemma of how to balance the books. But Reform UK and the Greens just wish that away

www.thetimes.com

Reposted by David Smith

David Smith @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social · 24d

My Sunday Times piece: Mainstream political parties are under pressure but they are the ones who have had to deal in office with economic reality, rather than the fantasies peddled by the populists:

Don’t fall for political parties selling economic snake oil

www.thetimes.com/article/63d1...

Don’t fall for political parties selling economic snake oil

Labour, the Conservatives and the Lib Dems have all had the dilemma of how to balance the books. But Reform UK and the Greens just wish that away

www.thetimes.com

David Smith @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social · 24d

My Sunday Times piece: Mainstream political parties are under pressure but they are the ones who have had to deal in office with economic reality, rather than the fantasies peddled by the populists:

Don’t fall for political parties selling economic snake oil

www.thetimes.com/article/63d1...

Don’t fall for political parties selling economic snake oil

Labour, the Conservatives and the Lib Dems have all had the dilemma of how to balance the books. But Reform UK and the Greens just wish that away

www.thetimes.com

David Smith @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social · Sep 7

Sigh, the usual economically illiterate nonsense.

Eddy Canfor-Dumas @ec-d.bsky.social · Sep 6

Sigh. The usual fairy tale that the UK government, which *owns and controls its own bank*, needs to borrow from the private sector to finance its activities. And the OBR is long past its sell-by date – a political gimmick created by Osborne to police his disastrous austerity programme.

David Smith @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social · Sep 6

My Sunday Times piece: The chancellor has 11 weeks to convince the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) and the gilt market that she is on the right track. It won’t be easy:

How Rachel Reeves hopes to win over her doubters — and the markets

www.thetimes.com/article/8ac5...

David Smith @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social · Sep 6

My Sunday Times piece: The chancellor has 11 weeks to convince the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) and the gilt market that she is on the right track. It won’t be easy:

How Rachel Reeves hopes to win over her doubters — and the markets

www.thetimes.com/article/8ac5...

How Rachel Reeves hopes to win over her doubters — and the markets

Rachel Reeves has set a date of November 26 for her budget. That’s plenty of time for tax-rise fever to intensify, but bonds and productivity loom larger

www.thetimes.com

Reposted by David Smith

David Smith @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social · Sep 2

My Times piece: Labour’s ambition of 1.5m new homes this Parliament is badly off track. Giving builders the freedom to build the houses they want to could help, and ease the affordability crisis:

Could luxury homes be the key to solving UK’s housing crisis?

www.thetimes.com/article/1897...

Could luxury homes be the key to solving UK’s housing crisis?

Research in America suggests that increased availability at the top of the market is ‘better for prices and for rents, even at the lower end’

www.thetimes.com