Zero prospects for UK as world’s new economies deliver

The UK cannot hope to compete with the world’s emerging economies and should consider opting out of the world competitiveness league tables, according to a leading academic.

Richard Scase, professor of organisational behaviour at the University of Kent, told Personnel Today that if the UK wants to keep pushing the work-life balance agenda, it would “have to pay the price” and accept a lower level of economic growth.

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Scase said the UK – and the rest of Europe – should opt for “zero growth” economies that concentrated on sustaining present levels of economic well-being.

Richard Wainer, senior policy adviser at the CBI, described the idea as “interesting, but not viable”.

Will work-life balance be the death of us? See news analysis on page 13.