I wrote yesterday about why it is that the recession that we are now facing as a result of coronavirus is not the same as the recessions that we faced in 1929, 1987, 2001 and 2008. As I explained, the reason is that the series of events leading to this current recession are different from all those other occasions.
They began with a financial crisis, that then lead to a lack of demand, which in turn led to a supplier crisis.
This time what started as a supply crisis because of coronavirus lockdowns very rapidly became a demand crisis as people realised that their incomes and jobs were at risk, and that has in turn now become a financial crisis.
This difference means that the way in which this crisis has to be managed is quite different from approaches used in past economic meltdowns. It is vital that everyone managing this crisis understands this, but there does appear to be a very particular problem on the left with appreciating just how important it is that as a result of this particular sequence of events it is vital that we support business through this crisis if we are not to see vast numbers of jobs lost.
I am aware that there are some on the left who take the view that whatever brings down capitalism is good news, and that if this crisis does that then so be it, even if there is an enormous cost to people in this country as a result of the consequent chaos that will result. I am a very long way from that view. My politics may be on the left, but I am unashamed about my career in the private sector, or the fact that I have helped many companies make profit, and have, in the process, helped create a significant number of jobs. And given that I am, like any left of centre politician who might at this time seek power in any democratic country around the world, a firm believer in the mixed economy and of the merits that cooperation between government and business can bring, this is unsurprising.
That does not mean that I am accepting of all business behaviour. As is apparent from my campaigning career and fourteen years of writing this blog, I am more than willing to criticise a great many corporate activities, from tax abuse, to environmental degradation, to reckless loan creation, as well as fraud and blatant exploitation along the way. A great deal about the corporate sector still needs to be reformed, as the demands of bankers that we move the rules governing their behaviour back to those of 2007 at this point in time more than demonstrates.
But, we are living in the most exceptional times. I think Lord Peter Hennessy summarise this incredibly succinctly and accurately on Radio 4 this week. He predicted that this century will be split into two parts to be known by the acronyms BC and AC, which are ‘before coronavirus' and ‘after coronavirus'.
I am not for one moment suggesting that the AC era should be characterised by a relaxed approach to corporate governance, tax abuse, or anything else. Far from it in fact; as I have already suggested, I believe that this is the moment for the government to use its leverage to impose enhanced social conditions on corporate behaviour e.g. through the quantitive easing and bank loan programmes that it has already created, some of which conditions I explain here.
There is, however, the most enormous ‘but' that underpins everything that I have written so far in this blog. There are two aspects to that ‘but'. The first relates to the sequencing of economic support that must be provided to ensure that we get through this coronavirus crisis with as little economic harm as possible, including to the livelihoods of millions of people in this country whose jobs are at risk at present. The second relates to the preservation of the mixed economy, if that is what the left thinks is an important part of the basis of our prosperity, which I suggest it is.
Dealing with the sequencing issue first, I was pleased to note that Frances Coppola and I were in complete agreement with each other yesterday during the course of a conversation in which we took part on a current possible need for a universal basic income when we both argued that right now the crisis that most people in this country realise that they face is twofold. Most immediately they need to keep food on their family's tables. It is this concern that is driving panic buying. I am not one of those who is going to condemn people for doing this: when the government has given no indication of how people are to be helped through this situation, barring the most basic extensions to statutory sick pay and universal credit, both of which are highly inaccessible and far too low, it is unsurprising that people feel that they have to fend for themselves and react as they have. If only the government had both guaranteed their incomes and food and other essential supplies through a rationing programme then this would not be happening.
As I have also explained, rent holidays, statutory mortgage and other bank loan holidays, tax payment holidays, and even utility bill payments would also all guarantee people the security that they need at this point of time, albeit that they might, as a result, need less income to maintain themselves, which is a proposal that I have also made.
This essential programme, which should already be underway, but regrettably is not, would manage the demand side crisis that we now face. We do not know how long this phase will last for, but it will continue for at least as long as lockdown persists, and that could be for some months yet.
Once this period is over, and it will end, then we face a quite different issue, which is restoring the supply side of our economy. What it seems that many do not appreciate is that this side of our economy, which is for all practical purposes the private business sector, is facing carnage. The likelihood that much of the airline, tourism, hospitality, restaurant, coffee shop, carmaking, white goods manufacturing and all related retail sectors will survive the downturn that we are facing is, at present, quite limited. Most companies in the sector will not have the cash flow to make it through several months of very low, or even no, sales. In addition, they will not qualify for government loans because they will be insolvent, which rules out their ability to borrow.
Once carnage hits these sectors, it will flow and into all others, starting with banking, which will face the most enormous range of bad debts as a result of corporate failures, and from there into everything else.
And to put this in context, the restaurant, hospitality and tourism sector is, by itself the biggest employer in the UK. In that case corporate carnage is going to lead to massive unemployment on a scale unimagined since the 1930s, and potentially making that decade look positively benign.
I am aware that there are those who do not agree with me. I also suspect that many of those who disagree have also never had to manage the cash flow in a struggling business. Nor have they had to hand out many P45s as they make large numbers of people redundant. I have done both. I never want to see that again.
But, if we do not support the corporate sector now that is what is going to happen across whole sectors of the UK economy. Quite literally, unless we keep corporate UK going now then come the summer, or whenever it is that this pandemic is over, there will be no supply-side to recreate in a UK economy that can then provide the people of this country with the employment that they will so badly need at that time. It will be gone, and recreating it, which we would have to do, would be a process lasting a decade or more. Untold hardship would be the consequence in the meantime.
It is for precisely this reason that I am arguing that companies should enjoy tax holidays. And precisely because we do not have the time to check which company should, or should not have tax holidays, they all should. There might be a formula put in place for recovery if at a balance sheet date within 18 months of the pandemic ending it is apparent that a company has more than sufficient retained reserves to be able to make that repayment over a period of time, but right now that finessing is not possible: relief has to be given.
Likewise, all companies will need bank loan repayment holidays, and they all need rent payment holidays, as the retail sector is now demanding from its landlords without statutory backing, which the government should supply. As I have previously explained, landlords can afford to take this hit and banks will need to be bailed out, as a matter of fact: let's accept it.
Of course conditions will need to be attached to this government largesse.
Zero hours contracts must be abolished in any company taking a tax holiday.
Likewise any such company must recognise trade union rights.
It must pay a living wage in the future.
It must publish its gender pay differential, and have a policy for reducing it.
It will have to put its full accounts on public record.
It may not use any tax avoidance schemes of any sort whatsoever.
It must never use a tax haven.
If it is a large company it must publish country-by-country reports.
And, quite critically, every large company involved must have a plan for becoming net zero carbon and must include the cost of that plan in its accounts, and make annual reports about progress on this issue.
To enforce these conditions it may be reasonable to require that every single company taking advantage of these tax holidays should by legal automatic obligation be deemed to have issued 25.1% of its share capital to the government in exchange for the package that guarantee its survival, which proportion guarantees the government the right to block many shareholder actions in these companies. An automatic right to appoint a majority of the board of directors in the event that the conditions of the bail out, as noted, are not met should also be implicit in the tax holiday terms. You can be sure that those wanting to simply take a tax holiday to exploit the situation would be more than deterred by these conditions, but those desperate for the survival of their companies would not be. That is precisely why these proposals are fair whilst there can be no corporate exploitation of them right now.
If a package of this sort was assembled now, and it would be easy to write the relevant legislation, then I am sure there would be massive public support for this because it would guarantee jobs and a better and fairer society in the long term.
We have a crisis. It is real. And massive. We can address it or face a decade that will be blighted. Refusing to help corporations now will lead to that blight, as night follows day. Anyone on the left who thinks that's a good idea is not, in my opinion, acting in any remotely responsible way or showing any consideration at all for the people of this country.
What we should, instead do is rise to this occasion and use this crisis for our benefit, which the left is usually so bad at doing. That business is facing a crisis is, in no small part, its own fault. Corporate greed has left far too many companies weak, and under capitalised. Many lack the essential quality of resilience. Most are unaccountable. Many have failed to appreciate the other challenges, including low pay, insecurity of employees, over-indebtedness, climate, and so much else that now face them. But if we use this opportunity to demand changes that require that they face these issues, then it becomes a moment for real progressive change.
If we ignore that, I have no idea what the left is trying to say, or do, except evidence that it wishes to abandon the people of this country to their fate. And that is not something that I am willing to partake in.
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Given that even the disaster capitalists on the Right will wanting to make hay out of these events, it is only fair that progressives should have a go too – for the good of all (note that I have not said ‘The Left’). It’s all about leverage these days after all.
The Left has problems of its own – in particular a poor attitude towards democracy and cross party links to other progressives. The Left and Labour in particular has not been a functional party since 2010, and maybe even at 2003. They won’t get my vote until they have sorted themselves out that’s for sure.
PS – I hope that you are getting better Richard. Whatever it is you have had, it has not stopped your talents for writing and giving a damn.
Knackered – but still no cost and getting better overall
Scared of what’s to come
you masquerade as the “caring opinion” when in truth you see opportunity..Yep let’s exploit a crisis to forward our marxist agenda..
perhaps thats why you have never had any real political influence and instead sit at home writing a blog all day
25.1% is not Marxist
100% is
You’re wrong, yet again
Probably as I’m not a Marxist
Clearly you do not have a clue what Marxism really is. And just throw it around as a playground insult. If you’d really read (and understood) what Richard has written over time you’d know that he has perhaps upset the ‘left’ as much as the ‘right’
Suggest you go away and read a bit about Marx. And then properly read Adam Smith who was in his way equally critical of the uncontrolled capitalism we have had for the last 20-30 years
Thanks Robin
And agreed on all counts, including the recommendations
All those in the unfettered capitalism fan club who cite Adam Smith should be required to provide certification that they have read and understood the import of his “Theory of Moral Sentiments”. This book is, at least, the equal of the “Wealth of Nations” and probably more important in that it laid the foundation for the latter. And Smith certainly thought so.
As for the challenge for the left, the requirement to deliver a liberal, internationalist, social democrat programme based on a mixed economy has never changed. For the Labour party, it is a total disgrace that it can take entire electorate 3 weeks to elect the MPs to elect a government and it takes Labour 4 months to elect a leader and deputy leader. It is even worse that the neo-stalinists and ultra trades unionists around Jeremy Corbyn are still in charge and will continue to exert their baleful influence irrespective of who’s elected leader.
Agree and thank you Richard. I only fear that it will be hard if not impossible to convince the current government to take the full range of measure you recommend esp tho use related to minimum standards of pay and climate change action. Good luck with persuading them and fast.
“use this crisis for our benefit”
To try to grab power and control. Won’t happen. The country and world has seen too many times the chaos that happens when the left try to control people’s lives.
“Many lack the essential quality of resilience”
Nonsense. The businesses I work with are already showing far more flexibility and resilience than can be provided by the dogma of the left.
“that is not something that I am willing to partake in.”
Just as well. No-one is going to ask you to partake. You’ll continue to be on the sidelines. I wouldn’t want you within a mile of any business I advise. It’s 20 years since you last owned any business larger than a one-man band (and even that employed less than 10 people).
Here’s my prediction. The flexible free-market economy will weather this storm and none of the power grabbing ideas you propose will be put in place. I’ll come back in six months and we will see who is right.
Very politely, this is pure bullshit
You are utterly clueless as to what is happening if you can say this
Wow – talk about kicking someone when they are down ‘Peter’!
You’re supposed to take the ball, not the man. But as an undoubted adherent of markets, there will be something of the vulture about you – and I mean the human kind that exploits the weakness and adversity of their victim – not the large bird that disposes of the dead and dying animals and contributes to the ecological cycle.
‘Power grabbing’? What about ‘money grabbing’, eh? There are people being laid off NOW in the name of your so-called wonderful market flexibility. The same flexibility means that those 25p boxes of paracetamol selling off the shelves are now 75p!! Aaaaah – the wonders of markets!! What sort of abuse it that – the abuse of PANIC and also NEED? Eh?!!
All Richard is doing is suggesting adding some obligations tied to the receipt of the corporate and business welfare that is being suggested.
Why is it that a job seeker has obligations and must only receive their pittance from the Government when they can prove that they have been looking for jobs and have attended training for example but you seem to think that to put some obligations on business in return for hundreds of thousand of pounds of Government help is some sort of abuse of power?
I tell you what ‘Pete’, this is not my blog but I invite to go away and keep away from here. Go and swim amongst your own filth will you and stay there.
Presumably peter you would like to use this opportunity to bankrupt the working people of this country and build up a new world order of serfs and masters. Would you like me to doff my cap to you master?
Succinctly put thank you. I put very similar points in a ‘survival checklist’ for SME’s I the last week.
I love the idea of ‘nationalising’ the SME sector. I will Tweet that.
I agree that this is not political, it’s about society and grabbing this opportunity to make it fairer.
Thank you for your insight and effort in communicating it.
Succinctly put thank you. I put very similar points in a ‘survival checklist’ for SME’s I the last week.
I love the idea of ‘nationalising’ the SME sector. I will Tweet that.
I agree that this is not political, it’s about society and grabbing this opportunity to make it fairer.
Thank you for your insight and effort in communicating it.
The BIGGEST change required, as you know, Richard, is that there is no intrinsic ‘financial’ shortage that the Government as a currency issuer faces.
As for Demand and Supply side, this is always circular in nature as Keynes first pointed out. In fact we HAVE had an effective demand problem for decades which has been artificially hidden by the expansion of private debt since the mid 80’s which has been a wealth sucking machine for the financial sector.
The problem is more of a psychological one: The Tories suddenly decided austerity was over (with the exception of welfare, housing and social care of course which are Golden Eggs for them) yet the public have not grasped that the p*ss was, effectively, taken out of them for years by Tories pretending that ideology was a financial limit.
Until this mind set changes (and we still here the ‘Corbyn would have bankrupted the country’ mantra) nothing will change.
To date the Government response to the crisis has been poor. They have been consistently behind the curve in adequate responses to information and practical solutions to events.
Unlike you Richard I do condemn those for panic buying because it is not necessary for people to be stacking products in spare rooms and garages or to be claiming they are care workers shopping for the elderly when they are not. Had the Government adequately explained, together with the supermarkets that supplies would be maintained if people carried on as normal then we needn’t be in this situation but this messaging is not out there.
Don’t forget this virus is not deadly to over 95% of the population but people are reacting as if should they get it they will die. This is just not the case. Again the Government has failed in its obligation to properly inform the population how best to cope and what steps are required to recover quickly. Rather Johnson has heightened anxiety by his speeches of how loved ones are going to die. Yes some will and that is a tragedy and we should do all that is possible to protect the vulnerable and that requires proper targeted advice on how to protect those groups and the marshalling of health service facilities to deal with them. That should also have involved reducing the risk by allowing people to work from home earlier where possible, cutting back on non essential medical care and other targeted measures. What we have had is a Government that has fuelled the panic with garbled messages and a lack of real information.
I realise many will disagree with me and will criticise but I feel as always there is a tragic over reaction that jeopardises livelihoods. The way the crisis has been handled will create more suicides, a large number of unemployed students and school leavers, potential civil unrest and impoverished lives that will take years to recover.
Call me a cynic but I can’t help thinking that the Government is using this crisis as a dry run to see how people react should a real deadly disaster occur. What it is proving is that supply management is poor, medical services are under provided and the financial system is inadequate in getting funds to those who need it.
Of course the behaviour is irrational and selfish at a community level – there is no milk to be had near here this morning, apparently, but heaven knows why
I have proposed rationing
Without it – and most people accept it – the behaviour is entirely predictable – people want to feed their own – sorry, genes are selfish
That is why we need government
I gave called for it to act
And if you think this is not a real disaster – think again: this is the real thing
I didn’t say it is not a real disaster. What I said was it is worse than it need be and that is largely down to poor Government communication and other failures.
No it’s not comms
It will be overflowing morgues and an inability to bury the bodies
I agree with most of what you want. Sadly, it isn’t going to happen. The trickle up effect will turn into a torrent. We’re stuck with the Tories and they are NEVER going to do anything to reduce inequality. They also have the media on their side so I’m afraid we’re stuck with neoliberalism for a long time yet. I would love to be proved wrong but I can’t see it. I’ve been on this planet for 75 years and although the start of my life was full of radicalism the left have run for cover since then. It will probably take blood on the streets to change anything but even then the change might be for the worse – ie even more right wing authoritarian rule. We can all dream though.
I hope you’re wrong
I hope…..
Yanis Varoufakis said something similar not so long ago – that the job of modern Marxists (who know all about the dark side of capitalism and whose analysis is rather accurate even today) at times like this should save capitalism from itself, rather than call for revolution. But also, to use that act of saving as an opportunity to modify capitalism’s faults and inbuilt self-destructiveness – of itself and the planet.
I wholeheartedly agree.
Thanks
“I am aware that there are some on the left who take the view that whatever brings down capitalism is good news, and that if this crisis does that then so be it, even if there is an enormous cost to people in this country as a result of the consequent chaos that will result. I am a very long way from that view.”
And so are the Chinese after Mao’s Great Leap Forwards resulted in an estimated 30 million deaths from starvation!
Quite…..
To sum up then, we don’t need disaster capitalists of any persuasion – Left or Right.
[…] have previously indicated that I do not have a problem with this: the UK is a mixed economy and the survival of the private sector is important. However, most of […]