So what do we want?

Exactly! The government rarely has any money. I think some people envisage the Chancellor sitting in his counting house doling out gold coins to various departments and tough luck if the money's run out before it's your turn in the queue.

Modern money isn't like that. The government spends before it taxes. Obviously there are limits to how much taxation the voting public will tolerate, but it's not a case of "no magic money tree". The government can create as much money as it wants. Often it's "virtual" money. It doesn't exist and is returned to the |Treasury in a continuous cycle.

GDP depends on how quickly money moves round the economy, because it's taxed almost every time it exchanges hands when people buy goods, pay for services, etc etc. People won't spend if there's no consumer confidence and/or they feel that they need to save for a rainy day, in case they lose their jobs or prices rise.

I agree Maizie. Tax havens and export balances need addressing.