
The Chancellors
Managing the British Economy in Crisis Times
Howard Davies(Author)
Polity Press
1st Edition
Published on 26. May 2022
Book
Hardback
200 pages
978-1-5095-4953-5 (ISBN)
Description
When the Treasury lost control of interest rates to the Bank of England in 1997, its status looked under threat. However, it quickly reasserted its power by dominating policy-making across Whitehall and diminishing other ministries in the process. It also successfully fought off attempts by Prime Ministers, from Blair to Johnson, to cut it down to size.
In this fascinating insider account, based on in-depth interviews with the Chancellors and key senior officials, Howard Davies shows how the last 25 years have nonetheless been a roller-coaster ride for the Treasury. Heavily criticised for its response to the financial crisis, and for the rigours of the austerity programme, it also ran into political controversy through its role in the Scottish referendum and the Brexit debate. The Treasury's dire predictions of the impact of Brexit have not been borne out. Redemption of a kind, though a costly one, came from its muscular response to the COVID crisis.
Anyone with an interest in economic policy-making, in the UK and elsewhere, will find this a valuable and entertaining account.
In this fascinating insider account, based on in-depth interviews with the Chancellors and key senior officials, Howard Davies shows how the last 25 years have nonetheless been a roller-coaster ride for the Treasury. Heavily criticised for its response to the financial crisis, and for the rigours of the austerity programme, it also ran into political controversy through its role in the Scottish referendum and the Brexit debate. The Treasury's dire predictions of the impact of Brexit have not been borne out. Redemption of a kind, though a costly one, came from its muscular response to the COVID crisis.
Anyone with an interest in economic policy-making, in the UK and elsewhere, will find this a valuable and entertaining account.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 218 mm
Width: 142 mm
Thickness: 26 mm
Weight
452 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5095-4953-5 (9781509549535)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Book
05/2022
1st Edition
Polity Press
€22.00
Shipment within 15-20 days

E-Book
05/2022
1st Edition
Wiley-Scrivener
€13.99
Available for download
Person
Howard Davies is Chairman of the NatWest Group and a Professor at Sciences Po, Paris.
Content
Foreword
1. Economic Performance
2. Macroeconomic Policy
3. Public Expenditure
4. Tax Policy
5. Scotland: Saving the Union
6. Europe: the ins and outs
7. Financial Regulation and the City of London
8. Climate change: the road to Net Zero
9. The Treasury's changing shape
10. Leadership
11. Trouble ahead
Notes
1. Economic Performance
2. Macroeconomic Policy
3. Public Expenditure
4. Tax Policy
5. Scotland: Saving the Union
6. Europe: the ins and outs
7. Financial Regulation and the City of London
8. Climate change: the road to Net Zero
9. The Treasury's changing shape
10. Leadership
11. Trouble ahead
Notes