Governments first Brexit position paper fails to answer key questions

[OwlHoot]

Oh will you STFU about Vince Cable. He's a dopey old twat who know f-all about f-all. ...

While I agree entirely with that, I was amazed to learn that once he was a Professor of economics at Nottingham University, and Chief Economist at Shell. I guess sadly the ravages of old age can afflict anyone.

[sasguru]

While I agree entirely with that, I was amazed to learn that once he was a Professor of economics at Nottingham University, and Chief Economist at Shell. I guess sadly the ravages of old age can afflict anyone.

Or it could be that he's much smarter than you and his conclusions are more valid than yours.
As it looks increasingly like a hard Brexit is on the cards, we're about to find out who's right.

[The_Equalizer]

Or it could be that he's much smarter than you and his conclusions are more valid than yours.
As it looks increasingly like a hard Brexit is on the cards, we're about to find out who's right.

Over what time frame?

[sasguru]

Said Merkel to the southern European states in the EU.

Try telling that to the young of those states. Still the project must go on...

Was in Lisbon a couple of weeks ago and it's obviously in the throes of a massive boom. Cranes everywhere, incessant building.
Spain is growing at >3% per year
The direction of travel is at least as important as the current state.
It may be that the German medicine is beginning to work and the southern states have adjusted after a period of great pain to start the journey of becoming more competitve within the Euro - the end of the great Recession also helps, of course.
Previously to the EU they were locked into an endless cycle of devaluation to keep competitve - it's wasn't a good long term propect as they well know, which is why they're for the European project.

I'm afraid your thinking is out of date.

[sasguru]

Over what time frame?

I think we'll be able to see the direction of travel in a year or 2. In 5 years, all will be clear.

[BlasterBates]

Was in Lisbon a couple of weeks ago and it's obviously in the throes of a massive boom. Cranes everywhere, incessant building.
Spain is growing at >3% per year
The direction of travel is at least as important as the current state.
It may be that the German medicine is beginning to work and the southern states have adjusted after a period of great pain to start the journey of becoming more competitve within the Euro - the end of the great Recession also helps, of course.
Previously to the EU they were locked into an endless cycle of devaluation to keep competitve - it's wasn't a good long term propect as they well know, which is why they're for the European project.

I'm afraid your thinking is out of date.

Eurosceptics always hark back to Germany's Weimar Republic or Argentina trumpeting isolationism, dumping debt without paying it and sky rocketing inflation.

[The_Equalizer]

Eurosceptics always hark back to Germany's Weimar Republic or Argentina trumpeting isolationism, dumping debt without paying it and sky rocketing inflation.

Don't foget German's WW2 war reparations. They have a habit of not paying.

[OwlHoot]

Was in Lisbon a couple of weeks ago and it's obviously in the throes of a massive boom. Cranes everywhere, incessant building. ....

A construction frenzy is the poor man's way of trying to stimulate an economy, typically used by undeveloped economies to give themselves an initial boom. But when resorted to by a supposedly developed economy like Spain it's a disgrace (although sad to say the UK seems to be trying much the same).

In any case it usually ends with a huge bubble that bursts. So seeing loads and loads of tower blocks going up in Spain is not a promising sign of recovery, but a symptom of desperation that will probably end in economic disaster.

[BlasterBates]

The boom in Southern Europe isn't a property bubble it's based on exports and increasing productivity. The UK can only look to the Southern European countries with envy, as their exports increase but their currency appreciates making them all wealthy. In the meantime in the UK the pound sinks and exports stagnates. This is a repeat of 1950's failing Britain as it steadily gets poorer whilst continental European countries become wealthier.

Record exports in Spain, give it the sheen of a Tiger economy

I remember back in 2009 when everyone said Spain couldn't possibly recover until it dumped the Euro.

Good job they ignored that advice.

[Cirrus]

While I agree entirely with that, I was amazed to learn that once he was a Professor of economics at Nottingham University, and Chief Economist at Shell. I guess sadly the ravages of old age can afflict anyone.

Also Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 2010-2015.

So basically about as credible as you could possibly be to make such remarks.

I don't think if I were you I would be seeking to pass judgements on a CV like that...