Tim Besley's picture
Affiliation: 
London School of Economics
Credentials: 
Professor of economics and political science

Voting history

COVID-19 and UK Public Finances

Question 1: How urgently should the UK government address the rise in public debt?

Answer:
There is no need to take or announce any budgetary actions to reduce the deficit or the public debt until the end of the pandemic
Confidence level:
Confident

Covid-19: Economic Policy Response

Question 3: Which would be the maximal public debt you would be willing to tolerate if used effectively (as in your answers to 1 and 2 above) to support an economic recovery?

Answer:
No opinion
Confidence level:
Confident

Question 2: Which of the following would have the second greatest impact in mitigating the economic effects of the coronavirus economic crisis in the UK?

Answer:
None of the above, other, or no opinion
Confidence level:
Confident
Comment:
Same answer as to question 1.

Question 1: Which of the following would have the greatest impact in mitigating the economic effects of the coronavirus economic crisis?

Answer:
None of the above, other, or no opinion
Confidence level:
Confident
Comment:
I don't think that it makes a lot of sense to try ranking the impact of different measures at present. It is essential to have a portfolio of fiscal measures of the kind that we have already seen announced -- through tax/transfer schemes, grants to businesses (particular those aimed at retaining workers) and credit support which all make sense. There is much scope to learn as policies are rolled out and to try hard to plug obvious gaps in coverage as they emerge. And the scale/scope of measures should be kept under constant review. If needs be, these fiscal measures need to be supported by monetary actions such as QE.

House Prices and the UK economy

======================================================================

Question 1: Do you agree that the phenomenon of declining house prices will ripple out from the London property market leading more UK regions to experience falling prices?

======================================================================

Answer:
No opinion
Confidence level:
Not confident

Pages