Economic History

We Already Agreed Reparations for Slavery. We Paid the Wrong People.

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Commonwealth nations are pressing King Charles for some form of reparations for slavery. This is a question that isn’t going away. Predictably, outraged online right-wingers are outraged about this. But there are really two separate questions: should Britain pay reparations for slavery? And, if so, how? The first question should be the easy one. Britain … Read more

Billingham, South Bank and Anthony Barber: Business rates and Britain’s Most Chaotic Chancellor

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In 1970, Ted Heath unexpectedly became Prime Minister, replacing Harold Wilson for what turned out to be a turbulent four years. His Chancellor, Anthony Barber, embarked on one of the most ambitious — and disastrous — economic experiments in modern British history. The resulting “Barber Boom” was a huge dash for growth: tax cuts, relaxed … Read more