The role of inflation in the UK economy in the post-pandemic era

The paper focuses on the specific nature of the inflation process and a set of anti-inflation policies in the United Kingdom in 2021-2022. Based on the analysis of the economic literature, speeches given by the central bank’s staff, official documents and statistical data the author discusses the implicit transition in the regulation approaches used by HM Treasury and the Bank of England. There is some evidence that the cost-of-living crisis as a part of the inflation problem gets a top priority in the post-pandemic era. The government addresses this issue mainly through the income redistribution and benefits and financial support for lower income households. With regard to the inflation problem per se, the official approach implies the shift from monetary to fiscal tools. It means the expanding use of automatic stabilizers through increasing taxes and NICs in accordance with the IMF recommendations. Meanwhile, the Bank of England’s measures are more consistent with the task of financing the government’s borrowing than maintaining the price stability. These findings highlight the rising role of the state in the UK economy. The paper concludes with some comments regarding the split within the conservative party over the marked shifts in the monetary and fiscal policy.

United Kingdom, inflation, cost of living, BANK of England, monetary policy