Data, Urban Policy, and Economic Analysis by Tom Forth
Tom Forth: Debate on quality of current UK economic growth
Tom Forth said that many people who reject the idea of good growth are quick to argue that the current economic growth being experienced in the UK does not fit their definition of the right kind ...
Changes in British fiscal deficits followed welfare cuts in the 2010s, Tom Forth notes
Fiscal deficits across most of Britain shifted in the 2010s as welfare spending was reduced. Tom Forth raised this point while discussing changes in British fiscal policy and encouraged further ...
Tom Forth: ONS regional GVA dataset appears unfixed after six-week estimate
Tom Forth stated that the Office for National Statistics (ONS) had given a six-week estimate for fixing its regional GVA dataset, but it appears that the dataset remains unfixed after that period. ...
North England and Midlands trail Netherlands in economic value in 2024, Tom Forth notes
Tom Forth raises the question of why the combined population in North England and the Midlands produces less economic value than the Netherlands in 2024. He points out that despite having 50% ...
Tom Forth: Oxford and Cambridge economies remain small despite large state investment
Tom Forth criticizes the economic performance of Oxford and Cambridge, describing both as small cities with limited economic activity and two decades of self-imposed low growth rates. He argues ...
High construction costs and 6% interest halt building in Britain, Tom Forth notes
Tom Forth highlights that with 6% interest rates and the current high cost of construction in Britain, very few projects are economically viable. He suggests that these financial conditions are ...
Tom Forth: Criticizes economic perspectives from UK Adam Smith institute
Tom Forth criticizes the quality of recent economic writing, expressing concern over the state of economic debate in the UK. He highlights his disappointment that such viewpoints are associated ...
Washington DC economy about three times stronger than similar UK cities, Tom Forth notes
Tom Forth highlights the significant economic strength of Washington DC, observing that its economy is about three times as strong as cities of similar size in the UK. He notes this advantage ...
Tom Forth: Germany’s notary requirements and stronger economic performance
Tom Forth observes that Germany's stringent notary requirements are often seen as excessive, yet emphasizes the country's economic strength compared to Britain. He urges Britons to reflect on ...
Scotland's economy has outperformed non-devolved Britain, Tom Forth notes
Tom Forth states that Scotland's economy has notably outperformed non-devolved parts of Britain since devolution. He points out that, regardless of whether devolution is the cause, understanding ...
Tom Forth: Fixing education requires addressing economic fundamentals first
Tom Forth shares his perspective on the importance of tackling economic issues as a prerequisite for educational reform. Referencing a piece by data journalist John Burn-Murdoch, Forth adds his ...
Economic overperformance in devolved Britain is not widely known, Tom Forth notes
Tom Forth highlights a common misconception among economists and policy professionals regarding the economic performance of Britain’s devolved regions. He observes that many senior experts in ...
Tom Forth: English universities can raise funds from students with limited loan risk
Tom Forth questions the structure of university funding in England. He observes that universities are allowed to raise significant amounts of money from domestic students while facing little ...
Manchester retained more industry and saw comparative success, Tom Forth notes
Tom Forth questions the idea that Manchester followed the same economic strategy as other post-industrial cities and simply succeeded. He observes that some cities leaned more heavily into ...
Tom Forth: Questions Heathrow economic benefits beyond local procurement
Tom Forth questions the broader economic benefits of Heathrow Airport for Britain beyond local procurement of goods and services. He points out that purchasing British steel, concrete, or ...
Three decades of economic planning appear to fall short, Tom Forth notes
Tom Forth reflects on the outcomes of long-term economic planning, acknowledging uncertainty about alternative approaches or future steps. He notes that despite having a structured plan with ...
Tom Forth: Britain outside South England sees fiscal deficits similar to Greece crisis
Tom Forth draws attention to a striking statistic about Britain's fiscal landscape. According to Forth, outside of South England, Britain runs fiscal deficits on a scale comparable to Greece at ...
Scotland has seen strong economic gains compared to East England since 1999, Tom Forth notes
Tom Forth observes that since 1999, Scotland and Edinburgh have significantly outperformed East England and Cambridge in economic terms. He describes the difference as substantial, ...
Tom Forth: Agglomeration economies should boost Britain’s economic strength
Tom Forth emphasizes that economic growth theories recognize economies of agglomeration as a key factor. He points out that Britain has several major agglomerations and argues their economies ...
Scotland economy outperformed amid sector setbacks, Tom Forth notes
Tom Forth states that available data indicate Scotland's economy has shown stronger performance since devolution, even in the face of challenges in the oil and gas sector. He adds that while he ...
Tom Forth: Britain spends more on infrastructure but gets less value
Tom Forth observes that Britain allocates more money to infrastructure projects than some other countries but achieves less tangible infrastructure for the investment. He suggests there are ...
