When does the UK's economic cycle start and finish? Whenever the chancellor chooses, say his critics. Carl Emmerson argues that view is too cynical, but we could do with a more forward-looking approach to forecasting.

Authors

Carl Emmerson
Carl Emmerson

Deputy Director

Carl, a Deputy Director, is an editor of the IFS Green Budget, is expert on the UK pension system and sits on the Social Security Advisory Committee.

Comment details

Publisher
IFS

Suggested citation

Emmerson, C. (2005). To bend the rules? [Comment] IFS. Available at: https://ifs.org.uk/articles/bend-rules (accessed: 4 July 2024).

More from IFS

Understand this issue

Policy analysis

Academic research

Book graphic

Rewriting the fiscal rules

book chapter
The Chancellor was right to suspend the current set of fiscal targets during the pandemic, and he is also right to take time to consider what a good set of post-pandemic targets will be.

12 October 2021