Budget 2012: ideology 1, evidence 0

Abstract

The Chancellor delivered his third budget yesterday. CEP Director Professor John Van Reenen gives his initial reaction. There were some positive steps such as the extension of personal allowances, but the Budget had an empty core. There is a missed opportunity for coherent tax reform, no retreat from a failing macro-economic policy, insufficient attention to policy evaluations and most damagingly, no credible plan for long-term growth