Ignore the gloom-merchants: The UK’s investment-led recovery is sustainable

Graham_Devon

Generali wrote: »

He's not an author of positive thinking books. I think you're looking at a title of a book he wrote and are getting in a muddle:

I was in a muddle - seems I was positively linking to positively thinking.

Generali

Graham_Devon wrote: »

I was in a muddle - seems I was positively linking to positively thinking.

It's an easy mistake to make in fairness. You expect to see a word associated with positive and see a very similar one.

The work of the good Professor and his ilk is quite interesting IMHO. There has been an increasing realisation over the last 20 years that economics doesn't really work and so needs to be replaced by a different sort of economics or perhaps several different sorts.

Fooled by Randomness by Nick Taleb is a particularly good example of the sort of thing that I mean and is pretty easy to understand for the non-economist.

Generali

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Trouble is these large new infrastructure projects are all foreign owned. As is the case with London Gateway. Nor do they generate vast numbers of new jobs as highly automated. Investment needs to be across a broader base and generate jobs in smaller innovate companies which will create a skills base for the future.

Why is foreign ownership of infrastructure a problem? Are you worried the Chinese are going to take the M25 and put it round Chongqing or something?

As for generating jobs, Britain has more jobs than it has people for. Employment is at a record high and unemployment is collapsing.

Mistermeaner

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Trouble is these large new infrastructure projects are all foreign owned. As is the case with London Gateway. Nor do they generate vast numbers of new jobs as highly automated. Investment needs to be across a broader base and generate jobs in smaller innovate companies which will create a skills base for the future.

You should start those companies then and the investment will come.

CLAPTON

Mistermeaner wrote: »

What makes you happy Clapton?

thank you for asking

basically most things make me happy
we live in a wonderful country in prosperity, peace and relative harmony
we live in a wonderful period of time : unprecedented in human history where we have the potential for all people to be 'rich'
I have a wonderful family that I see often
My pleasures are modest and readily at hand: a cycle here, a light lunch, some competitive sport, a drink with family or friends and nice meal out, travel, mountains and beaches to explore

So in that sea of riches, there is nevertheless lots of things that could be better for all the people and those things are worthy of note too.

Thrugelmir

Generali wrote: »

Why is foreign ownership of infrastructure a problem? Are you worried the Chinese are going to take the M25 and put it round Chongqing or something?

Where does the profit go? Abroad. Why do Canadian pension funds own the National Lottery?

The UK has a very short term view of investing. Make a profit and exit.

Generali

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Where does the profit go? Abroad. Why do Canadian pension funds own the National Lottery?

The UK has a very short term view of investing. Make a profit and exit.

Nobody went broke making a profit.

Actually, if you look at financial history the UK has a pretty good record of selling assets expensively to foreigners and buying them back on the cheap.

wotsthat

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Where does the profit go? Abroad. Why do Canadian pension funds own the National Lottery?

The UK has a very short term view of investing. Make a profit and exit.

I would've thought anyone with a gloomy outlook would welcome infrastructure owned by foreign investors. We get the service and export the loss.

Thrugelmir

Generali wrote: »

Nobody went broke making a profit.

How do you view the UK's balance of trade performance?

Thrugelmir

wotsthat wrote: »

I would've thought anyone with a gloomy outlook would welcome infrastructure owned by foreign investors. We get the service and export the loss.

Export what loss? Some of the earnings generated don't even touch the UK.