Unemployment and the Economists addresses economic ideas, beliefs and arguments regarding the causes and possible cures of unemployment – a matter of recurring interest and concern for economists throughout history.

This paper describes the origins and work of the Panel of Independent Forecasters which was set up by the U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Norman Lamont, in the aftermath of the United Kingdom's departure from the Exchange Rate Mechanism in 1992. The Panel was required to provide forecasts of...