The ravages of the pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine have ricocheted through the global economy, but these shocks seem to be gradually subsiding at last. Inflation, which had been steadily climbing, has decreased for three consecutive months. Salaries have nearly caught up with the increasing cost of living. Interest rates were halted this month after trending upward since the end of 2021, as the Bank of England’s Governor Andrew Bailey cited growing evidence that the higher rates were successfully curtailing inflation in the UK.
Even as the UK faced formidable challenges including three changes of prime ministers within a single year and a global health crisis, the nation’s economy displayed a resilience that exceeded expectations, deflecting a potential recession. The road to recovery from the incessant incidents of the past three years is not yet fully clear, but it may materialize if the job market stabilizes and oil prices level out.
However, once the immediate crises have passed, more profound challenges will be revealed. The future health of the UK’s economy and prosperity hinges on investment spending. An underinvestment crisis plagues both the public and private sectors.
A recent exploration of Milton Keynes, a city in southern the UK, offered insight into the problems and possibilities in the nation’s history of long-term investment. This metropolis, established in the 1960s to accomodate the influx of post-war Londoners, now stands as a hotspot for high-tech and high-investment growth. From autonomous delivery robots to self-driving hire cars, the city is actively testing the innovative technologies of the future. Given the nation’s poor track record in technology deployment, increased investment is necessary to train more advanced industrial robots and bring robotic and artificial intelligence technologies to SMEs.
Despite its strengths, the British economy suffers from lower investment than other leading economies. In the mid-1990s, the UK was second among the G7 countries for private investment as a percentage of the economy. However, it now lags behind all the other G7 countries. This investment shortfall has resulted in low productivity and curbed growth, negatively impacting public service funding.
A key goal for Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is to rectify this issue, with various tax changes including the “superdeduction” and the “full capital expensing” policy. However, these initiatives haven’t yet managed to solve the productivity problem. The Chancellor also aims to even out the borrowing figures with his forthcoming Autumn Statement, putting further pressure on public spending.
The city of Milton Keynes has been fortunate to receive funding for a new East West rail link. Expansion plans for a further connection to Cambridge could significantly enhance growth, bridging two leading research centers with a city that has the capacity for further expansion. However, due to the tight financing environment, all major transport projects are being closely scrutinized.
The government’s plan now is to lean on the private sector to make the necessary investment to futureproof our economy. Milton Keynes and other cities offer enticing opportunities for private investment, but saving our poor productivity record and revitalizing growth requires more than private capital. The contemporary challenge lies in accomplishing these goals while public investments are constrained.
