Here's an interesting article. A comprehensive study shows that the two things that prevent a country getting rich are

- Too much government

- Too large an informal (illegal) economy.

Link

Throw in sectarian division and an aging population and the future is not bright.

It's more than the constitution that's in trouble today. Blair has handbagged the budget. People here talking about the end of the euro and back to the old old EEC days. Interesting times!

The news at the moment seems to suggest that the fundamental structure of the EU has been critically weakened. I am not sure how this budgetary problem is going to be resolved.

As someone who would cheer against the British in a tiddlywinks contest and someone with a great love for France I wish someone would explain the logic, if any, of the French case to me because from where I sit they don't have a leg to stand on.

Henry94,

Re. Your link.

It's interesting that the speaker blames big government and regulation for strangling productivity and then praises 115 years of US regulation for protecting consumers.

well said Henry..

"Blair has handbagged the budget. People here talking about the end of the euro and back to the old old EEC days. Interesting times! "

The handbagging of the budget is the REAL big news -if it turns out that way- This really could be the end of the EC as we know it IF Blair stands his ground (how likely is that)

Henry,

You don't think the 'authors' of the report had an agenda do you ?

Italy with its version of large government and 'unoficial economonies' has something like the 4th largest economy in the world ...

"Italy with its version of large government and 'unoficial economonies' has something like the 4th largest economy in the world .."

Isn't the UK the 4th largest economy behind USA, Japan and Germany? ;)

ok apologies for spouting off and not doing the research ... unless you count 7th as "like the 4th" ... no ... aw well ...

point still stands though :-)