Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
OBR independent oversight or anti democratic quango?
#OBR #UKEconomy #FiscalPolicy #EconomicDebate #PublicFinances
Established in 2010 by the then-chancellor George Osborne, the Office for Budgetary Responsibility (OBR) was created in the wake of the global financial crisis to provide independent and transparent analysis of the UK’s public finances. The idea was to take political bias out of economic forecasting and restore credibility to the government’s fiscal policies. The OBR was tasked with producing economic and fiscal forecasts, assessing the government’s performance against its fiscal targets, and evaluating the long-term sustainability of public finances.
However, more than a decade on from its founding, the OBR’s role and effectiveness have come under scrutiny. Is the OBR an essential institution that safeguards economic stability, or is it an obstacle to democratic governance that should be reconsidered?
The speakers in this short session are:
Catherine McBride - economist; fellow, Centre for Brexit Policy
Professor Vicky Pryce - chief economic adviser and board member, Centre for Economics and Business Research; author, Women vs Capitalism
The chair is: Rob Lyons - science and technology director, Academy of Ideas; convenor, AoI Economy Forum; author, Panic on a Plate
This video was filmed and edited by WORLDwrite volunteers attending the Battle of Ideas Festival 24. These are the introductory speeches only. To avoid duplication, the full debate will feature on the Academy of Ideas YouTube channel shortly.
WORLDwrite volunteers filmed over 40 sessions at the Battle of Ideas 24. To edit, sound clean and prepare these videos for the Academy & WORLDwrite channels, takes at least 2 days each. With no paid staff the charity needs your help to keep its edit suites switched on. Please chip in if you can by visiting the charity's JustGiving page at justgiving.com/campaign/worldwriteis30 Thank You.
OBR independent oversight or anti democratic quango?
#OBR #UKEconomy #FiscalPolicy #EconomicDebate #PublicFinances
Established in 2010 by the then-chancellor George Osborne, the Office for Budgetary Responsibility (OBR) was created in the wake of the global financial crisis to provide independent and transparent analysis of the UK’s public finances. The idea was to take political bias out of economic forecasting and restore credibility to the government’s fiscal policies. The OBR was tasked with producing economic and fiscal forecasts, assessing the government’s performance against its fiscal targets, and evaluating the long-term sustainability of public finances.
However, more than a decade on from its founding, the OBR’s role and effectiveness have come under scrutiny. Is the OBR an essential institution that safeguards economic stability, or is it an obstacle to democratic governance that should be reconsidered?
The speakers in this short session are:
Catherine McBride - economist; fellow, Centre for Brexit Policy
Professor Vicky Pryce - chief economic adviser and board member, Centre for Economics and Business Research; author, Women vs Capitalism
The chair is: Rob Lyons - science and technology director, Academy of Ideas; convenor, AoI Economy Forum; author, Panic on a Plate
This video was filmed and edited by WORLDwrite volunteers attending the Battle of Ideas Festival 24. These are the introductory speeches only. To avoid duplication, the full debate will feature on the Academy of Ideas YouTube channel shortly.
WORLDwrite volunteers filmed over 40 sessions at the Battle of Ideas 24. To edit, sound clean and prepare these videos for the Academy & WORLDwrite channels, takes at least 2 days each. With no paid staff the charity needs your help to keep its edit suites switched on. Please chip in if you can by visiting the charity's JustGiving page at justgiving.com/campaign/worldwriteis30 Thank You.
