tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637840.post3395691352093315747..comments2023-10-06T03:58:04.867+01:00Comments on Shuggy's Blog: Economics and educationUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637840.post-65335502153970905812015-11-11T11:25:00.346+00:002015-11-11T11:25:00.346+00:00I fear that neoliberal capitalism has not only cap...I fear that neoliberal capitalism has not only captured politics and the media but also economics as an academic subject. If economics courses were more widely available, you may well find that the economics taught is wrong. The BBC could run a series of documentaries busting economics myths but "the need for balance" would also require the other, false, view to be featured.<br /><br />Living near a proposed HS2 station, I taught myself the basics of HS2, by objectively analysing the facts. It will worsen the north-south divide, worsen rail services for the majority of rail users, not address congestion and not add any useful capacity. Yet politicians at all levels, from local councillors to the prime minister, are shouting the opposite. And I have no chance of making myself heard, even locally. Following the Lords' inquiry into HS2, their lordships reached the right conclusions, amazingly. Because they did not do the necessary homework and the academic witnesses, rather than being independent, were very careful not to upset the industry funding for their own projects.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06248182899977033579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637840.post-16819440641780364332015-10-31T13:52:58.925+00:002015-10-31T13:52:58.925+00:00No, I know the difference - although that one is p...No, I know the difference - although that one is probably better. There's never one that quite fits, which is part of the point but if they insist on using them...Shuggyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00298179140317536572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637840.post-59207348836517148842015-10-31T10:11:30.932+00:002015-10-31T10:11:30.932+00:00" Why is there no-one to say that what this p..." Why is there no-one to say that what this present government is effectively saying is that, "Sorry kids but Christmas is cancelled this year because we're making it a priority to pay off the mortgage earlier than we have to."?"<br /><br />You've fallen in to the debt Vs deficit error. If we're using the household analogy we're not trying to pay off the mortgage, we're trying to stop the overdraft increasing month on month.<br /><br />If we must use the household analogy I'd prefer to say its more like refusing to increase the mortgage to invest in, say, fixing the roof or your own training when its really cheap to do so and will reap greater benefits later.Simon Fawthrophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09725351503536755124noreply@blogger.com