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Economics: UK Fiscal Policy – Rising Taxes, Stretched Services & Mounting Debt – Something Has to Give with Dr James Watson from University of East Anglia
June 18 @ 09:10 - 09:55
In this Economics webinar for schools and colleges, Dr James Watson from the University of East Anglia will deliver a topic-based talk within an overall session theme of UK Fiscal Policy – Critique. James will discuss UK fiscal policy and the many challenges it currently poses, set against a backdrop of global uncertainty and persistently weak economic growth.
The high UK tax burden remains historically elevated, even if it has drifted out of the headlines. Meanwhile, the government faces a difficult balancing act: pressure to boost growth, rising demands on public spending, and limited fiscal headroom to respond to future shocks. With public services still under strain, the challenge is not just how to fund today’s commitments, but how to do so sustainably – an issue that continues to weigh on policymaking and contribute to a sense of ongoing political uncertainty.
This short session will give us a chance to understand together what the goals of fiscal policy are, how they impact the broader health of the economy, the key challenges and trade-offs facing the UK government, and how concerned we should be about the size of the national debt (now pushing £3 trillion).
Lecturer Profile: Dr James Watson
Our events are designed so that a group of students can take part from a classroom or students and teachers can take part as individuals, either from school or from home. There is no charge to take part.
As a live, participative event, this session will not be recorded but slides and other resources will be shared after the event, where available.
Suitable for: 16+ pre-university students studying, or with a possible interest in studying, Economics, Business and related disciplines. Student groups as well as students and teachers joining individually are very welcome.
Preparation/Pre-Reading: Students are encouraged to consider some of the issues and questions they may have. Students can also think about questions about studying at university level.
The IT Setup: The event will be run on Zoom and participants will be able to join using laptops, tablets, and mobile devices. If you are joining as a school group, we recommend connecting with one device and projecting on to a whiteboard. You will be able to interact with the speaker via typed comments and questions and/or via a microphone. Full details will be sent to those who have registered (see below) prior to the event.
Booking a Place: This is free for schools and colleges. If you would like to take part in this event, please register your interest using the link to the registration form below: