media – Ben Zaranko

Columns for The Observer

You can find a full list of my pieces for The Observer (behind a paywall) here. Some of my favourites among those:

“Buying British” could be smart politics but poor economics, July 2026
Here’s how Andy Burnham’s devolution revolution could drive growth, July 2026
Mopping up the Thames Water mess will be an early test for Andy Burnham, June 2026
War bonds are back on the agenda, but history urges caution, June 2026
A review of How To Win A Trade War, by Soumaya Keynes and Chad Bown, June 2026
What’s the future for jobs? AI won’t replace messy roles or the human touch, June 2026
Downsizing isn’t yet in Richard’s interest. That needs to change, June 2026 (Richard being someone who Retired In a Comfortable House And Refuses to Downsize)
Broadband and mobile bills are soaring in the UK – depending on who you talk to, May 2026 (inspired by a bonkers chart)
Why Labour is making labour more costly, May 2026
The battle for the future of Labour’s economic vision has begun, May 2026
Serenity, courage and wisdom: the government’s path to economic growth, May 2026
Why we should mind the UK’s rising wealth gap, May 2026
Hedge funds have bet big on our bonds, and it’s a gamble that could cost us dear, April 2026
A profile of Kevin Warsh, April 2026
The great UK unemployment debate, March 2026
UK risks shooting itself in the foot on defence, January 2026
In Britain’s ‘hedgehog economy’, growth is wild, spiky – and fragile, October 2025
Remember, remember Liz Truss this November, September 2025

We should be wary of a fiscal technocracy, The Times (£), May 2024.
As the state gets bigger, taxes will rise. It’s time to be honest about that, Prospect Magazine, April 2023.
Defence cuts effectively paid for UK welfare state for 60 years – but that looks impossible after Ukraine, The Conversation, March 2022.