@RichardJMurphy@mas.to
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RichardJMurphy

@RichardJMurphy@mas.to

Economic justice campaigner. Professor of Accounting Practice, Sheffield University. Chartered accountant. Political economist. Co-founder, the Green New Deal. Also blogging at www.taxresearch.org.uk . I post on economics, politics, tax and climate change (and even accounting) because they make big differences to our lives. My bias is to the left but I am not party aligned. All views my own, not my employer’s.

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. Browse more on the original instance.

RichardJMurphy, to random
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Do we have a sickness culture or a sick benefits system? https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2024/04/25/do-we-have-a-sickness-culture-or-a-sick-benefits-system/.
Have we got a sick note culture? No one really knows. The data is weak, and the causes are uncertain.

On the other hand, we can say with certainty that we do have a benefits system that encourages people to claim sickness-related benefits as a consequence of the meanness of the benefits paid to those out of work through no fault of their own.

RichardJMurphy, to random
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Rail nationalisation is a welcome step – but only the first step of many Labour will need to take https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2024/04/25/rail-nationalisation-is-a-welcome-step-but-only-the-first-step-of-many-labour-will-need-to-take/. The rail industry is easy to nationalise. But the NHS also needs the N put back into it, whilst water, electricity and gas are all failing communities. Where is the plan for them?

RichardJMurphy, to random
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We need to be awake to nature https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2024/04/24/we-need-to-be-awake-to-nature/. We need to restore nature now.

RichardJMurphy, to random
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Without providing safe routes for potential refugees Keir Starmer has no way of stopping the boats https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2024/04/24/without-providing-safe-routes-for-potential-refugees-keir-starmer-has-no-way-of-stopping-the-boats/. It really is time we combined humanity, concern and logic when addressing the problem of refugee entry into the UK. Until we do the problem of small boats will continue to be the creation of the UK’s politicians, rather than something they have to solve.

RichardJMurphy, to random
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Why are politicians obsessing about debt? https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2024/04/23/why-are-politicians-obsessing-about-debt/. Borrowing in the last year was £120 billion, and investment was £133 billion. So why is anyone getting obsessed with debt when borrowing to fund investment is always a reasonable thing to do, even by the standards that our economically illiterate politicians use?

RichardJMurphy, to random
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As disasters go, the Rwanda Bill knows almost no limits. https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2024/04/23/as-disasters-go-the-rwanda-bill-knows-almost-no-limits/. When all the politics is done, some poor refugees will suffer the most inhumane treatment by this government. It is my hope that lawyers will still be able to find ways to obstruct their evil desires.

RichardJMurphy, to random
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Subverting democracy https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2024/04/22/subverting-democracy/. Rigging the voting system to make it harder for everyone, and most especially the young, to take part in elections? That's just fine. Bring it on, they say.

RichardJMurphy, to random
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We need a better song to sing https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2024/04/22/75170/. Until we find a new political narrative that reconciles where we are with where most people know we must be there is no political hope. And politics is failing because almost no one on the left is willing to address this issue.

RichardJMurphy, to random
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Plain words https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2024/04/22/plain-words/. Trolls are demanding that I frame my blogposts and videos using the failed language and theories of neoclassical / neoliberal economics. I refuse to do so. Why talk about the real world using theories that can’t explain what is happening in it?

RichardJMurphy, to random
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Labour has abandoned its environmental commitments. Is it any surprise that UK big business is following its lead? https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2024/04/20/labour-has-abandoned-its-environmental-commitments-is-it-any-surprise-that-uk-big-business-is-following-its-lead/. When Labour is sending out the signal that tackling climate change is unaffordable (even though it isn’t) big business is only too willing to pick up the message.

RichardJMurphy, to random
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Is foreign policy a reason for Scotland to leave the Union? https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2024/04/20/is-foreign-policy-a-reason-for-scotland-to-leave-the-union/. Scotland wants peace. London is supporting aggression. Can the two be reconciled in one nation?

RichardJMurphy, to random
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Rishi Sunak is to blame for the inability of millions to work https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2024/04/20/rishi-sunak-is-to-blame-for-the-inability-of-millions-to-work/. Sunak is blaming ‘sick note culture’ when his government ignores the risks from sugar, ultra-processed foods and Covid whilst increasing economic stress and extending working lives. Any increase in sickness is the Tories’ fault.

RichardJMurphy, to random
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The Bank of England does not care https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2024/04/19/the-bank-of-england-does-not-care/. The Bank of England's policies are imposing inflation on those living in rental accommodation of almost three times the national average rate.

The policymakers of the Bank of England live in comfort and security. Their salaries guarantee that. Apparently, they cannot see beyond that enclave of privilege in which they live, let alone care about the impact of what their policy has on those least able to cope. Nothing excuses that.

RichardJMurphy, to random
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The IMF really needs to work out in whose interests the world economy should be run https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2024/04/19/the-imf-really-needs-to-work-out-in-whose-interests-the-world-economy-should-be-run/ It’s time that the IMF worked out what the economic priorities of the 21st-century are. In particular, they should appreciate the promoting an environment in which the interests of rent-extracting global monopolies are prioritised is never going to meet the needs of most people. When they have got over serving the interests of that lobby group, we might get more coherent policy from them.

RichardJMurphy, to random
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Badenoch’s spinning a totally fabricated yarn about the origins of the UK’s wealth https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2024/04/19/badenochs-spinning-a-totally-fabricated-yarn-about-the-origins-of-the-uks-wealth/. Badenoch’s denial of the role of racist, colonial exploitation in creating the UK’s national wealth and status does not just fail; it stinks because she is denying the truth and presenting a wholly false, politically inspired narrative in suppout of free-enterprise entepreneurialism that is unsupportable by evidence.

RichardJMurphy, to random
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The FT view: let those least able to pay bear the burden of tax https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2024/04/18/the-ft-view-let-those-least-able-to-pay-bear-the-burden-of-tax/.The FT has an editorial on tax today, implying that if the wealthy are asked to pay more, they will run away. Except that there is no evidence that many will ever do that. So what they're really saying is that if more tax is needed, ask for it from anyone but business and the wealthy. Some things never change.

RichardJMurphy, to random
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Jeremy Hunt is a terribly confused man https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2024/04/18/jeremy-hunt-is-a-terribly-confused-man/. When discussing Thames Water, Hunt comes over as a rather confused, figuratively little man, standing on the sidelines of an issue where he holds all the trump cards and the ultimate decision-making power whilst refusing to do anything. A Tory politician, in other words.

RichardJMurphy, to random
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The young, the poorest and the most financially vulnerable are bearing the burden of the Bank of England’s folly https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2024/04/18/the-young-the-poorest-and-the-most-financially-vulnerable-are-bearing-the-burden-of-the-bank-of-englands-folly/. Rents are up 9.2% because of interest rate rises and the Bank of England‘a policy makers just don’t care.

RichardJMurphy, to random
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The ICAEW is still not explaining what it’s going to do with more than £150 million of funds it has earned as a result of fines and related costs paid by its members https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2024/04/17/the-icaew-is-still-not-explaining-what-its-going-to-do-with-more-than-150-million-of-funds-it-has-earned-as-a-result-of-fines-and-related-costs-by-its-members/. The ICAEW's inaction speaks volumes about their failure to commit to good corporate governance standards, transparent accounting, the promotion of a better understanding of accounting in society and to broader inclusion.

RichardJMurphy, to random
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Inflation data confirms that the Bank of England is still driving us towards recession. Labour should take note. https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2024/04/17/inflation-data-confirms-that-the-bank-of-england-is-still-driving-us-towards-recession-labour-should-take-note/. I can almost hear Rachel Reeves echoing Liz Truss on the institutions of power seeking to undermine her, sometime soon.

RichardJMurphy, to random
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The dividing line between those with just enough income and those who have sufficient to fund the increase in their wealth https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2024/04/17/the-dividing-line-between-those-with-just-enough-income-and-those-who-have-sufficient-to-fund-the-increase-in-their-wealth/. Being able to threaten that you will give up income because of a potential tax increase is a certain sign that a person has an income in excess of that they need.

RichardJMurphy, to random
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Markets might use the risk of war as excuse for another bout of profiteering. https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2024/04/17/markets-might-use-the-risk-of-war-as-excuse-for-another-bout-of-profiteering/. International tensions are high. The chance that inflation will go up because traders push commodity prices skyward is also high. Action to prevent this is needed now, and that does not mean interest rate rises.

RichardJMurphy, to random
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Are thsoe calling for more defence spending simply trying to stoke inflation? https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2024/04/16/are-thsoe-calling-for-more-defence-spending-simply-trying-to-stoke-inflation/. If money is required to fund our national defence, it could be found. But unless there are good things to spend it on, then all it might do is fuel inflation. Is that what the hawks want?

RichardJMurphy, to random
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Financial education of young people is failing. The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales has the funds available to address this issue, but is refusing to do so. https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2024/04/16/financial-education-of-young-peiople-is-failing-the-institute-of-chartered-accountants-in-england-and-wales-has-rthe-funds-available-to-address-this-issue-but-is-refusing-to-do-so/. The ICAEW is sitting on £148 million from fines and costs paid by its own members because of their unsatisfactory work. This should be reinvested in society, but they have refused to do that. In that case, why should they continue to be allowed a Royal Charter?

RichardJMurphy, to random
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Why do we give the Bank of England so much power? https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2024/04/16/why-do-we-give-the-bank-of-england-so-much-power/. It is a truth universally acknowledged that central bankers are abysmally poor at the tasks given to them. So why, after nearly thirty years of supposed central bank independence, do we still think they are credible?

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