BoE’s Mann: Britain’s growth prospects would benefit from cheaper childcare, spending on staff training
“Britain and other rich nations should consider a carbon tax as the most efficient way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” Bank of England (BoE) policymaker Catherine Mann said on Monday.
The policymaker spoke at Britain’s Resolution Foundation think tank, part of a series looking at long-run challenges to growth.
Key comments
Fossil-fuel prices need to rise from their 2010s average to address climate change.
As wholesale energy prices level off, now is the time to put in place a longer-term strategy for both greater use of market mechanisms and revenue redistribution.
Carbon taxes and emission trading schemes gave clear incentives for people and businesses to reduce their emissions as well as raising revenue, and complemented potentially costly government spending on green technology.
Mann has been a keen supporter of interest rate rises to tackle inflation which peaked at 11.1% last year.
Britain’s growth prospects would also benefit from cheaper childcare and more business spending on staff training, which had not recovered from the 2008 financial crisis.
Elsewhere, the UK’s Confederation of British Industry (CBI) trade body said on Monday that Britain’s economy now looks likely to sidestep recession entirely this year but deep-rooted problems like weak business investment will persist.
The news also mentioned, “The economy is on course to expand 0.4% this year and 1.8% next year,” while adding that compared with its previous forecast for a 0.4% contraction followed by growth of 1.6% in 2024. “Falling energy prices, the reopening of China’s economy from COVID-19 restrictions and easing supply chain disruptions were the main reasons for the upgrade,” said the UK CBI.
GBP/USD picks up bids
Following the latest macro, GBP/USD pares intraday losses while bouncing off daily lows to 1.2580. It’s worth noting that the Cable pair rose in the last three consecutive days before recently making rounds to the highest levels in a month.
Also read: GBP/USD Weekly Forecast: Bulls’ fate hinges on US inflation data, Fed verdict