Matt Ball
@mrmrball.bsky.social
Reposted by Matt Ball
a regular bugbear of mine - when something goes over budget on costs by 50% it's the end of the world, but you can underestimate the benefits massively and people treat it like a success story. Crossrail was arguably built 20 years too late because of these errors
"TfL’s analysis shows that within a km of an Elizabeth line station in London, the number of new houses is 8-14% higher, and nearly 400,000 jobs have been created since 2015."
A smashing success: it's carried half a billion passengers since opening in 2022.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
A smashing success: it's carried half a billion passengers since opening in 2022.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
February 28, 2025 at 7:56 AM
a regular bugbear of mine - when something goes over budget on costs by 50% it's the end of the world, but you can underestimate the benefits massively and people treat it like a success story. Crossrail was arguably built 20 years too late because of these errors
Reposted by Matt Ball
Compared to its own overall price levels, housing in the UK is more expensive than anywhere in the OECD. www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications...
January 13, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Compared to its own overall price levels, housing in the UK is more expensive than anywhere in the OECD. www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications...
Reposted by Matt Ball
Back in't day, policemen, teachers and nurses earned about double the minimum wage at starting salary. Now they enjoy a premium of about 20-30%. Squish!
A point @duncanrobinson.bsky.social also made, in inimitable style, earlier this year.
www.economist.com/britain/2024...
www.economist.com/britain/2024...
December 30, 2024 at 1:34 PM
Back in't day, policemen, teachers and nurses earned about double the minimum wage at starting salary. Now they enjoy a premium of about 20-30%. Squish!
Reposted by Matt Ball
How much infrastructure are we not building because we're grossly underestimating demand?
December 28, 2024 at 1:00 PM
How much infrastructure are we not building because we're grossly underestimating demand?
Reposted by Matt Ball
Me and the lads off to speak in favour of a planning application to build 27 houses on the greenbelt.
December 15, 2024 at 6:14 PM
Me and the lads off to speak in favour of a planning application to build 27 houses on the greenbelt.
Reposted by Matt Ball
There really hasn't been enough discussion of the erosion of real wages of the 30-39 age group (followed by the 40-49 group) over the past fifteen years.
(Data/chart via House of Commons Library)
(Data/chart via House of Commons Library)
August 27, 2024 at 10:36 PM
There really hasn't been enough discussion of the erosion of real wages of the 30-39 age group (followed by the 40-49 group) over the past fifteen years.
(Data/chart via House of Commons Library)
(Data/chart via House of Commons Library)