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Tanked

On sale

29th August 2024

Price: £25

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Selected: Hardcover / ISBN-13: 9780349136356

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A rare book on economics that is actually written in English. Trenchant, clear and comes complete with solutions. Essential reading for the coming election. — Simon Jenkins

A lively review of Britain’s economic history since the Global Financial Crisis. It is a sad story, but Wallace finds some room for hope amidst the gloom. — Howard Davies

Crisp, comprehensive and forensic, Tanked casts an unflinching eye across the British economic horizon. The sooner we pay attention, the better’ Tom Clark, editor of Broke: Fixing Britain’s Poverty Crisis and Contributing Editor, Prospect


In the autumn of 2022, Liz Truss took Britain on a journey into economic la-la land and comprehensively tanked the economy. The result? Mortgage and rents misery was piled on top of surging inflation, public debt at an eye-watering £2.7 trillion and falling living standards. As economic journalist Paul Wallace argues in this incisive, expert and accessible book, this was the low point of a once supercharged economy stuck in first gear since the financial crash of 2008.

Written over ten chapters tackling the most important issues (Brexit, debt, the City, immigration, manufacturing, levelling up, public services), Wallace asks in clear, jargon-free prose what the problems are, and what we can do to solve them. He offers a ten-point plan to get our economy back on track, building on its most resilient aspects. It is vital reading for an incoming chancellor who wants a blueprint for recovery.

Part-primer, part passionate argument, Tanked is the perfect book to understand how Britain has devalued itself – and how to restore its economic fortunes.

Reviews

Ben Chu, former Economics Editor, BBC Newsnight
Paul Wallace has written a really useful primer on why the UK economy is in the state it is in and an admirably clear prospectus for reform
Tom Clark, editor of Broke: Fixing Britain's Poverty Crisis and Contributing Editor, Prospect
Crisp, comprehensive and forensic, Tanked casts an unflinching eye across the British economic horizon. The sooner we pay attention, the better
Howard Davies
A lively review of Britain's economic history since the Global Financial Crisis. It is a sad story, but Wallace finds some room for hope amidst the gloom.
Alex Dean, Managing Editor, Prospect
Paul Wallace has written an exceptionally clear-eyed account of the malaise that afflicts the UK economy. He explains how the usual culprits-excesses in the City, stark regional inequality, false promises on Brexit-have dovetailed with deeper structural neglect to leave the British economy operating at a fraction of its potential. There is a way out-but it will require politicians to put aside short-term expedients and invest in the country's future. This is a must-read analysis.
Simon Jenkins
A rare book on economics that is actually written in English. Trenchant, clear and comes complete with solutions. Essential reading.
Bill Emmott, Financial Times
Wallace's plea is for what could be called common sense through stability: ending the churn of ever-changing ministers and half-baked policies, and bringing in some longer-term strategy. Let us hope