Lecturer in Economics, The Open University
Alan Shipman is a lecturer in economics at the Open University.
Research interests
Personal finance, currently focusing on the disintegration of insurance pools and the disincentives to household saving. Other active interests in: Chinese multinational business; impact of ‘academisation’ on knowledge; social economics; foundations of the market economy.
Election 2024: polling shows voters don’t believe the tax pledges
Jun 05, 2024 01:51 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics
The two main parties contesting the UK general election have been unusually cautious on their spending plans, despite urgent calls for more public funding to tackle crises in housing, social care and the...
The idea that US interest rates will stay higher for longer is probably wrong
Apr 15, 2024 10:39 am UTC| Economy
The 0.4% rise in US consumer prices in March didnt look like headline news. It was the same as the February increase, and the year-on-year rise of 3.5% is still sharply down from 5% a year ago. All the same, this modest...
If central banks don't start cutting them soon, it could actually increase inflation
Nov 01, 2023 07:03 am UTC| Economy Central Banks
What next for interest rates? The Bank of Englands Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is widely expected to leave them unchanged when it meets on November 2, despite the fact that UK headline inflation is still at 6.7%. If...
Four ways the UK economy is being hampered by the private sector
Mar 28, 2023 14:25 pm UTC| Economy
The UK government has decided to go ahead with a rise in corporation tax in April 2023. The move is a clear reversal of the tax reduction which previous chancellors hoped would encourage output and innovation. The idea...
How to tackle the UK cost of living crisis
Aug 15, 2022 17:42 pm UTC| Economy
UK inflation, already at 40-year highs, could pass 13% in October, according to Bank of England forecasts. While wages have not kept pace with inflation, much of the expected squeeze on households and businesses is down to...
Inflation, recession fears and tax cuts: any new UK chancellor faces an unenviable in-tray
Jul 07, 2022 15:59 pm UTC| Insights & Views Economy
The flood of ministerial resignations from UK prime minister Boris Johnsons government in recent days started with Rishi Sunaks resignation as UK chancellor of the exchequer on July 5 2022, alongside health secretary Sajid...
Inflation or deflation – which would be worse right now?
May 09, 2020 08:16 am UTC| Economy
Inflation among the 37 member states of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) fell from 2.3% in February to 1.7% in March. With all the damage to global health and economies inflicted by...
UK Inflation Stabilizes: November CPI at 2.6%, Signaling Economic Recovery
FDA Approval of Opdivo Injection Sparks Hope for Cancer Patients with Revolutionary Treatment Update