U.K. debt has climbed to about 95% of GDP while taxes are headed to a historic 38% of GDP. Pension and disability‑linked benefits are politically hard to cut, and Labour already reversed planned trims, even as long‑dated gilt yields outpace other rich countries. Growth alone won’t close the gap; a primary surplus under 0.5% of GDP still looks politically elusive.
— It spotlights how an advanced welfare state can hit market and political limits simultaneously, informing debates on consolidation, entitlement design, and growth strategy.
Alex Tabarrok
2025.12.03
70% relevant
Both pieces treat national debt as a structural fiscal problem with macroeconomic consequences; the podcast adds a valuation puzzle (why yields are low despite poor risk properties) and an alternative metric (debt‑to‑wealth), which complements the existing idea about how national debt ratios constrain policy and market confidence.
msmash
2025.10.01
100% relevant
Specific claims: 95% debt/GDP, borrowing >4% of GDP, 6% of GDP on pensioners, 15% of working‑age on jobless allowances after disability surge, reform reversals, and highest rich‑world gilt yields.
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