i. Over the weekend, just ten years ago, the investment firm Lehman Bros collapsed, and the world economy collapsed after it. I feel a little reluctant to add to the torrent of words trying to read the runes of this catastrophe for the better management of affairs in the future. But, by chance or cunning, … Continue reading Money and Government: a lecture at the LSE, 17 September 2018
Category: Speeches
Brexit: Preparations and Negotiations
My Lords, it is very cold in this spot at the moment. That is a comment not on the Cross Benches but on the fierceness of the air conditioning—but I shall struggle through. I have heard with increasing incredulity the efforts of noble Lords in this House, some of them my good friends, to reverse … Continue reading Brexit: Preparations and Negotiations
Economy: Spring Statement
4.17 pm My Lords, in his Spring Statement, the Chancellor saw, “light at the end of the tunnel”.—[Official Report, Commons, 13/3/18; col. 718.] The light is pretty dim, and the tunnel has been much too long. The two are connected, the dimness of the light being largely the result of the length of the tunnel, … Continue reading Economy: Spring Statement
Economy: Autumn Budget Statement
7.47 pm Lord Skidelsky (CB) My Lords, I will concentrate, as is my wont, on the macroeconomic implications of the Budget. That is not to say that supply-side questions are not important—of course they are. I agree with the noble Lord, Lord Maude, that a Government should not be exempt from the efficiency expected of … Continue reading Economy: Autumn Budget Statement
Economy: Currency Fluctuations
12.55 pm Lord Skidelsky (CB) My Lords, I, too, thank the noble Baroness, Lady McIntosh, for making this debate possible. The most dramatic economic effect of the United Kingdom’s Brexit vote has been the collapse of sterling. Since June, the pound has fallen by about 16% against a basket of currencies. Mervyn King, the former … Continue reading Economy: Currency Fluctuations
Universities: Freedom of Speech
Motion to Take Note 1.07 pm Moved by Baroness Deech That this House takes note of the protection of freedom of speech in universities. 2.22 pm Lord Skidelsky (CB): My Lords, I, too, thank the noble Baroness, Lady Deech, for making possible this debate. I shall draw your Lordships’ attention to two threats to free … Continue reading Universities: Freedom of Speech
Speech to the Boston Meeting of the Economists for Peace and Security (EPS)
Historians and economists see the world in a different way. Economists tend to see progress in terms of the linear ascent of reason. Historians tend to see progress as an ascent through disaster. This year's theme of EPS is the avoidance of a second cold war. It's a very urgent and necessary topic, for on … Continue reading Speech to the Boston Meeting of the Economists for Peace and Security (EPS)
Panel Discussion at the Boston Meeting of Economists for Peace and Security (EPS), 4 January 2015
A couple of months ago, at Sochi on the Black Sea, I put the following question to Vladimir Putin: Would you not accept that your biggest failure since you became President in 2000 has been your failure to diversify the Russian economy? Russia has dismantled the old Soviet industrial system without finding a hard currency … Continue reading Panel Discussion at the Boston Meeting of Economists for Peace and Security (EPS), 4 January 2015
Infrastructure Bill
Infrastructure Bill Speech, 18 June 2014 Lord Skidelsky (CB): My Lords, a Bill on infrastructure that is mainly to do with the rearrangement of Whitehall agencies and minor improvements in planning application procedures invites the question of what the relationship is between its provisions and the promotion of investment in infrastructure. My first point is … Continue reading Infrastructure Bill
Speech at Ukraine Crisis Round Table, Global Diplomatic Forum
I want to make three points, assertively, in the five minutes I have. My first point is that Anglo-American rhetoric over events in the Ukraine is becoming increasingly hysterical & remote from reality. 1. ‘INSATIABLE’ was the title of the Economist’s first leader last week, echoing its front cover picture of a great bear gobbling … Continue reading Speech at Ukraine Crisis Round Table, Global Diplomatic Forum
Robert Skidelsky 