United Kingdom: a dose of austerity history
Posted by adminFrom our correspondent in London
With 155 billion pounds (186 billion euros) and 11% of GDP this year, the UK deficit is the highest in the G20. In response to this near disaster on young British finance minister George Osborne, this Tuesday, on the occasion of his "emergency budget" the austerity plan the hardest since the Second World War. Cuts so severe that many economists are concerned about its negative effect on growth.
The austerity is announced in the British house-to-false vis-à-vis Barack Obama, who wrote the G20 leaders to ask them to continue to support the recovery."Countries have different approaches, and in some countries like ours, there is a need to tackle the deficit and reduce it more quickly," argued on Monday, a spokesman for Downing Street 10.
To divide by four the structural deficit by 2014-2015, the government of David Cameron must find at least 88 billion pounds (106 billion euros), reducing government expenditure but also by increasing taxes . This effort far exceeds the level of 80 billion euros announced by Berlin and promises to be the largest of the major European countries.The savings could reach 34 billion pounds (41 billion euros) in the first year, equivalent to 2.4% of GDP.
Since taking office Prime Minister, David Cameron, communicate each week on budget cuts, "whose impact will last for years, perhaps decades, that will win the country to avoid being in a situation similar to that of Greece. The Treasury is fear of being penalized by the rating agencies and losing its AAA rating, which would explode the cost of refinancing the country.
Taxes on capital gains
If George Osborne is expected to announce Tuesday the total austerity plan, details of the cuts by department will not be released until this fall. Rumors point to a decline of 25% of expenditure in the budget of Defense. But tax increases will be unavoidable, experts say.The new fees will concentrate on the richest. Under pressure from its partners the Liberal Democrats, George Osborne should also increase the tax on capital gains for individuals, 18% to 40% or even 50%, while the tax rate to 50% highest income is not questioned. "The VAT is expected to increase by 17.5% to 20%, moving closer to the European average, which would yield 12 billion pounds per year (14 billion euros)," said Brian Hilliard, economist at Societe Generale.
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