Thinking the unthinkable

<p>As the economy slows and revenue streams fall, the chancellor has been forced to revise his forecasts. But what will he do if the current malaise proves to be a symptom of a deeper financial sickness?</p> </p><p> </p><p><p>When Chancellor Gordon Brown delivered his pre-Budget report on November 27, no one doubted that he would reduce his forecasts for economic growth and raise his estimates of government borrowing. The only question beforehand was how large these revisions would be.</p>