How did the UK economy transition from being the world's workshop to the dependent, service-driven economy of today, facing severe negative shocks and daunting economic challenges?

In a reality check that won't be pleasant reading for anyone hoping for a quick reset, hugely experienced economists Vicky Pryce and Andy Ross track the UK's decline from the financial crisis to Trump's tariffs, tackling the issues thrown up by complex topics such as the aftermath of Brexit and Covid, environmental imperatives and deindustrialisation, growth and welfare, an ageing population, inequality, immigration, falling productivity and a lack of investment.

Advocating pragmatic solutions over ideological positions, their insights and recommendations recognise the careful balancing act of longer-term economic prosperity against the inevitable shorter-term risks and argue that, above all, politicians must be honest with the public.

The book offers a balanced, non-partisan view, backed by economic theory and evidence, on what needs to be done.