Andrew O'Brien
What do Conservatives really think about the UK’s productivity puzzle?
The Conservatives are in the media once again for hinting that the UK's productivity slowdown is down to idle workers. Is this true?
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Andrew O'Brien
Why does business avoid scrutiny in cost of living crisis?
Inflation is rising, causing a cost of living crisis, but why is UK business being left off the hook?
Andrew O'Brien
Can ‘Free Markets’ return Sunak’s faith in them?
A few weeks ago the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, gave the annual Mais Lecture. Rishi’s lecture was somewhat overlooked...
Andrew O'Brien
Book Review: The New Political Capitalism by Joe Zammit-Lucia
Surfing the Wave: The “New Political Capitalists” Where to begin? It is undeniably the case that after decades of consensus that we...
Andrew O'Brien
The PM will need a plan for public service reform if he wants time to deliver levelling up
During the First World War, French General Charles Mangin quipped “[w]hatever you do, you a lose a lot of men.” The same adage could be...
Andrew O'Brien
Why are the Conservatives and Labour obsessed with the state?
The Conservatives and Labour are both only talking about the state but they are ignoring the key driver of our economy, business.
Andrew O'Brien
Book Review: Fully Grown – Why a Stagnant Economy Is a Sign of Success by Dietrich Vollrath
A review of Dietrich Vollrath's Fully Grown - Why a Stagnant Economy Is a Sign of Success
Andrew O'Brien
Conservatives are running out of patience with business
Rishi Sunak's Budget has shown the Conservatives are running out of options on economic reform.
Andrew O'Brien
How will we pay for the COVID debt? The honest answer is that we won’t.
Following the Spending Review we have had predictable coverage in the media about the record levels of debt and the deficit that has been...
Andrew O'Brien
Hegel, “civil society” and business
Can present day Conservatives learn from Hegel's philosophy to develop their One Nation agenda?
Andrew O'Brien
Book Review: Greed is Dead by Paul Collier and John Kay
A book review of Paul Collier and John Kay's latest work "Greed is Dead"
Andrew O'Brien
Why are Conservatives obsessed with the state?
Eyes are once again turning away from the economy back to the still unresolved health emergency as a second wave of COVID begins ripples...
Andrew O'Brien
FDR? Johnson should look closer to home if he wants to succeed in levelling up the country
On the 16th August 1902, The Spectator, discussed in its “Topics of the Day” a new political slogan. “At the present time, and perhaps it...
Andrew O'Brien
Book Review: The Third Pillar by Raghuram Rajan
A review of Professor Raghuram Rajan's latest book on community and its importance to economic prosperity
Andrew O'Brien
COVID-19 and economic rebalancing
COVID19 has raised questions about the UK's industrial capacity. Conservatives must deliver their previous promises of reindustrialisation.
Andrew O'Brien
Book Review: Climate Change and the Nation State by Anatol Lieven
A review of Anatol Lieven's latest book on Climate Change and the Nation State
Andrew O'Brien
Smithians versus Schumpeterians – The next battle for the Conservative’s future
An old Consevative dividing line has returned. The battle between Smithians and Schumpeterians will determine the party's future.
Andrew O'Brien
The Chancellor must not talk us into a slow painful recovery
Political expectations management and Treasury pessimism could combine to talk the UK into a slow economic recovery from Coronavirus.
Andrew O'Brien
Book Review: Remaking One Nation by Nick Timothy
A review of former Conservative commentator Nick Timothy's latest book on "Remaking One Nation"
Andrew O'Brien
Book Review: Capital and Ideology by Thomas Piketty
A book review of Thomas Piketty's Capital and Ideology.