AUTHOR
Matthew Lynn
Matthew Lynn is a columnist for Bloomberg, writing a weekly commentary syndicated in papers such as Die Welt, the Sydney Morning Herald, the South China Morning Post and the Miami Herald. He is also an associate editor of Spectator Business, and a regular contributor to The Spectator. Before that, he worked for the business section of the Sunday Times for ten years. Matthew is also a thriller writer.
Why the City should create a single financial market with the Swiss
Economy
Why the City should create a single financial market with the Swiss
A tie-up between London and Zurich, two global financial centres, could pay huge dividends for both, says Matthew Lynn.
17 Jan 2021
Plenty more Brexit arguments to be settled yet
Brexit
Plenty more Brexit arguments to be settled yet
Many important negotiations remain to be sealed in our deal with the EU. “No deal is better than a bad deal” is the way to play it, says Matthew Lynn
10 Jan 2021
Five things that will surprise us in 2021
Economy
Five things that will surprise us in 2021
A year without unexpected developments might be nice. But it won’t happen. Brace yourself for these five things, says Matthew Lynn.
1 Jan 2021
Wave of new stockmarket listings means investing just got fun again
Stockmarkets
Wave of new stockmarket listings means investing just got fun again
A wave of new initial public offerings from exciting companies is enticing investors back into stockmarkets, says Matthew Lynn.
20 Dec 2020
The lessons of “Operation Warp Speed” – the race to produce a vaccine
Biotech stocks
The lessons of “Operation Warp Speed” – the race to produce a vaccine
Governments and companies can learn from the extraordinary global effort to create a vaccine to defeat Covid-19, says Matthew Lynn.
13 Dec 2020
It’s time for the government to rediscover free enterprise
UK Economy
It’s time for the government to rediscover free enterprise
Instead of throwing money at a shaky labour market, the government should foster entrepreneurship, says Matthew Lynn.
6 Dec 2020
Big Pharma deserves its reward for coming up with Covid-19 vaccines
Biotech stocks
Big Pharma deserves its reward for coming up with Covid-19 vaccines
Calls to restrain drug companies' profits from making Covid-19 vaccines are misplaced and would do more harm than good, says Matthew Lynn
29 Nov 2020
Asia's RCEP: free trade without the red tape
Global Economy
Asia's RCEP: free trade without the red tape
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Asia's new trading block, shows that it is possible to create large single markets without making …
22 Nov 2020
Why we need to light a bonfire of red tape in the City
UK stockmarkets
Why we need to light a bonfire of red tape in the City
We need to encourage more firms to list on the stockmarket. That should be easily achieved, says Matthew Lynn.
15 Nov 2020
The world in 2040: five potential market movers
Global Economy
The world in 2040: five potential market movers
Matthew Lynn takes an imaginary look back from 2040 at five of the biggest events to hit markets
8 Nov 2020
Why banks should be allowed to pay dividends again
Bank stocks
Why banks should be allowed to pay dividends again
Curbing payouts to shareholders never made much sense and the policy is crimping the economy, says MAtthew Lynn.
1 Nov 2020
“Big Finance” comes out of its decade-long slump as bankers bounce back
Stockmarkets
“Big Finance” comes out of its decade-long slump as bankers bounce back
The financial sector was hammered by the crisis of 2008. Now, bankers are rediscovering their swagger, says Matthew Lynn.
25 Oct 2020
The Bank of England should create a "Bitpound" digital currency and take the world by storm
Bitcoin
The Bank of England should create a "Bitpound" digital currency and take the world by storm
The Bank of England could win the race to create a respectable digital currency if it moves quickly, says Matthew Lynn.
18 Oct 2020
Why Britain should change its employment laws
UK Economy
Why Britain should change its employment laws
Home workers shouldn’t expect the same rights as those based in the office, says Matthew Lynn.
11 Oct 2020
Time to privatise the BBC
UK Economy
Time to privatise the BBC
The new chairman of the BBC should be a radical who will ditch the news and focus on international markets, says Matthew Lynn.
4 Oct 2020
Beware: even the greatest brands can fail
UK Economy
Beware: even the greatest brands can fail
For decades, John Lewis seemed to exist in a parallel universe. Now, a grimmer reality has dawned
27 Sep 2020
Spare us these desperate measures
UK Economy
Spare us these desperate measures
Struggling firms are trying to reinvent themselves. Some are going to have to get much more radical
21 Sep 2020
A “new deal” needn’t be green
UK Economy
A “new deal” needn’t be green
Britain is seeking measures to revive its Covid-ravaged economy. It should choose from a broader palette than just “green”, says Matthew Lynn.
13 Sep 2020
No deal is the best deal for Britain – and the EU too
Brexit
No deal is the best deal for Britain – and the EU too
Europe has a lot to gain from a thriving, independent Britain, says Matthew Lynn.
6 Sep 2020
Private equity should make its move for struggling UK companies
UK stockmarkets
Private equity should make its move for struggling UK companies
Money is cheap and bargains abound – it’s a great time for private equity funds to make a bid for some struggling companies, says Matthew Lynn.
30 Aug 2020
Prepare for mass unemployment
UK Economy
Prepare for mass unemployment
As the furlough scheme comes to an end, job losses will soar. That will demand a radical response, says Matthew Lynn.
23 Aug 2020
Why London should embrace TikTok
Tech stocks
Why London should embrace TikTok
The China-based social-media app needs a new HQ. Britain’s capital would be an ideal home, says Matthew Lynn.
16 Aug 2020
Five ways to boost the economy
UK Economy
Five ways to boost the economy
Boris Johnson is making a bonfire of planning red tape. Here Matthew Lynn proposes some more rules for the flames.
9 Aug 2020
Businesses must be bold if they want to survive
UK Economy
Businesses must be bold if they want to survive
It’s a difficult time for companies, but battening down the hatches is the wrong approach, says Matthew Lynn.
2 Aug 2020
The Covid-19 threat to women’s jobs
UK Economy
The Covid-19 threat to women’s jobs
The virus will lead to many job losses, but women are likely to feel the pain most, says Matthew Lynn.
26 Jul 2020
Three lessons for tech startups from the rise of Zoom
Tech stocks
Three lessons for tech startups from the rise of Zoom
Zoom, the videoconferencing firm, shows how more start-ups can take on the tech monopolies, says Matthew Lynn.
19 Jul 2020
Three ideas for Lloyds Bank's new boss
UK stockmarkets
Three ideas for Lloyds Bank's new boss
The Black Horse needs whipping into shape. A change at the top provides a great opportunity, says Matthew Lynn.
12 Jul 2020
Boris Johnson’s grand infrastructure plan needs some small print
UK Economy
Boris Johnson’s grand infrastructure plan needs some small print
Grand infrastructure projects are all very well, but it is the small stuff that delivers the big returns, says Matthew Lynn.
5 Jul 2020
Why the UK should be gunning for a trade deal Down Under
UK Economy
Why the UK should be gunning for a trade deal Down Under
It might seem a minor matter compared with Brexit, but a trade agreement with Australia is a big deal
28 Jun 2020
Four ways to give London's Aim market a boost
UK stockmarkets
Four ways to give London's Aim market a boost
Aim, the LSE’s junior stockmarket, is celebrating its 25th birthday. It could do with a makeover, says Matthew Lynn.
21 Jun 2020
The small companies snapping at Big Tech’s heels
Tech stocks
The small companies snapping at Big Tech’s heels
The technology giants have had a good crisis. The small fry have been doing even better, says Matthew Lynn.
14 Jun 2020
Margrethe Vestager: a symbol of all that’s wrong with the EU
EU Economy
Margrethe Vestager: a symbol of all that’s wrong with the EU
Margrethe Vestager, the EU’s competition commissioner, wields enormous power over industry, and abuses it, says Matthew Lynn.
7 Jun 2020
Sales will bounce back, but will profits?
Stockmarkets
Sales will bounce back, but will profits?
As the lockdown ends, everyday life will resume – just don’t expect business as usual, says Matthew Lynn.
31 May 2020
A new lease of life for the Brics
Emerging markets
A new lease of life for the Brics
Emerging markets are having a surprisingly good crisis. Their long-predicted rise will now continue.
24 May 2020
We should not be blind to the failings of experts
UK Economy
We should not be blind to the failings of experts
Let’s by all means be guided by “the science”, but the boffins must not run the country, says Matthew Lynn. We must treat epidemiologists as we treat …
17 May 2020
Brexit Britain should look to create a partnership with Switzerland
UK Economy
Brexit Britain should look to create a partnership with Switzerland
A tie-up with Switzerland makes sense for post-Brexit Britain, and would create a vitally important global financial centre, says Matthew Lynn.
10 May 2020