Article 4102A Britain fell for a neoliberal con trick – even the IMF says so | Aditya Chakrabortty

Britain fell for a neoliberal con trick – even the IMF says so | Aditya Chakrabortty

by
Aditya Chakrabortty
from Economics | The Guardian on (#4102A)

The fund reports that Britain's finances are weaker than all other nations except Portugal, and says privatisation is to blame

Columnists usually proffer answers, but today I want to ask a question, a big one. What price is paid when a promise is broken? Because for much of my life, and probably yours, the political class has made this pledge: that the best way to run an economy is to hack back the public realm as far as possible and let the private sector run free. That way, services operate better, businesses get the resources they need, and our national finances are healthier.

It's why your tax credits keep dropping, and your mum has to wait half a year to see a hospital consultant - because David Cameron slashed public spending, to stop it "crowding out" private money. It's why water bills are so high and train services can never be counted on - because both industries have been privatised.

Related: We let finance rip and flogged our assets. Austerity was bound to follow | Will Hutton

Related: Just look at housing to see the true cost of privatisation | Dawn Foster

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