Traditional macroeconomic models are based on the concept of a single representative consumer. A great deal can be gained by constructing a dynamic general equilibrium economic model which represents the behaviour of a panel of consumers spread out along the income distribution. Such a framework...

The article begins with an account of the way in which the value of the pound has changed over the last 1300 years or so. This is indicated in terms of silver and, for the last 7-800 years, also in terms of gold, wheat and Phelps-Brown's general cost of living basket. It is shown, for example,...

Cyclical indicators have hitherto been used as a means of describing the state of the economy on a month by month basis. However, they have proved unsatisfactory for a number of reasons and are now no longer published. This paper summarises a means of producing monthly estimates of GDP from...

In the context of economic management, with final targets for money GDP, wealth and the foreign exchange reserves, the exchange rate can be treated as an intermediate target. Monetary policy is used to keep the exchange rate close to its target and the target itself adjusts in response to...

The National Institute had planned a seminar to mark the launch of Christopher Dow's new book Major Recessions. The seminar had to be cancelled, because Christopher Dow died a few days before it was due to be held. As some kind of substitute, the CLARE Group decided to publish this review...