Some thinking from across the two waters

Michael Taft: Some robust progressive thinking from the US and the UK..As the UK debate is in danger of descending into which party can cut how much, Neal Lawson of Compass calls for a re-explanation of the Keynesian project and how it is better suited to address the economic and social fall-out from the recession. Across the other pond, addressing the spectre of rising unemloyment, Marshall Auerback of New Deal 2.0 proposes that the state become the 'employer of last resort'. Whatever the differences (in those countries they have money printing presses and large domestic markets to operate sustained demand management), there are still lessons to be drawn - not just on the particular ideas contained in the articles, but on the very idea of progressive politics becoming the primary engine of ideas in the national debate.

Michael Taft     @notesonthefront

Michael Taft is an economic analyst and trade unionist. He is author of the Notes of the Front blog and a member of the TASC Economists’ Network.