Good news

Wookster

In an interesting development:

The Paris-based think-tank’s latest composite leading indicators (CLIs), which have a good record for predicting changes six months in advance, pointed to “growth firming” in November alongside signs of a “stabilising outlook in most major economies”.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/9801175/UK-recovery-on-track-OECD-data-show.html

Part of the reason, maybe explained by Britain's history on Why the Industrial Revolution Happened Here on BBC 2 tonight at 9.30:

"Jeremy Black examines the turbulent period of history, explaining the unique economic, social and political conditions that led to Britain becoming the richest and most powerful nation on Earth by the 19th century. He traces the unprecedented explosion of new ideas and technological inventions that transformed an agrarian society into an increasingly industrial and urbanised one."

homelessskilledworker

Wookster wrote: »

In an interesting development:



http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/9801175/UK-recovery-on-track-OECD-data-show.html

Part of the reason, maybe explained by Britain's history on Why the Industrial Revolution Happened Here on BBC 2 tonight at 9.30:

"Jeremy Black examines the turbulent period of history, explaining the unique economic, social and political conditions that led to Britain becoming the richest and most powerful nation on Earth by the 19th century. He traces the unprecedented explosion of new ideas and technological inventions that transformed an agrarian society into an increasingly industrial and urbanised one."

Only to have morphed 150 years later into Chavs, celebrity wannabe's and spivs.

Masomnia

I think it's mainly to do with the fact that our aristocracy and landed gentry were willing to invest their capital to mills, factories etc. As the middle class grew they did likewise.

There was no shortage of engineers or scientists in other countries, but while the rich here were investing money, over in France for example they were too busy killing each other, which held them back.

Wookster

homelessskilledworker wrote: »

Only to have morphed 150 years later into Chavs, celebrity wannabe's and spivs.

That's rather an uncharitable view of the British economy.

BertieUK

Britain's recovery is on track, with the economy in better shape than any of the world’s other leading nations bar the US, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development.

What do you think the Betting odds will be?
Maybe worth an outside bet...

MacMickster

Whilst I would love to see genuine "green shoots" at last, bringing with them the prospect of a return to proper interest rates, I can't help but compare the OECD's reasoning

The Paris-based think-tank’s latest composite leading indicators (CLIs), which have a good record for predicting changes six months in advance, pointed to “growth firming” in November

with the NIESR's pronouncement a few days ago that the UK economy contracted in the last 3 months of 2012 due to artificially high growth in the 3rd quarter.

One of them (and possibly both) must be wrong.