Ross Clark Ross Clark

The monetary policy committee

I’m your man for the job, Chancellor

issue 09 May 2009

I’m your man for the job, Chancellor

HM Treasury has placed an advert in the Economist looking for a new external member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee, the body that sets UK interest rates, to succeed David Blanchflower. I have decided that it is my duty to apply and have therefore sent this letter to Alistair Darling, who will make the decision.

Dear Mr Darling,

I would like to apply for the vacant post of external member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee. Admittedly, beyond a grade A at ‘O’ level, I don’t have any formal qualifications in economics, but your advert does not specify these as essential. Instead, you have asked for a letter ‘summarising evidence from your career which best demonstrates your qualifications for the appointment’. So here goes.

Economist or not, I did at least foresee the housing market collapse, which is more than some members of the MPC managed to do.

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