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Economy

Emma Haslett

Poor mental health among British workers leads to 5m sick days and bill of billions

The steep rise in people taking time off for anxiety and stress has led to calls for changes to how doctors hand out fit notes

Sun 29 Mar 2026

Latest

William Keegan
Enlightened capitalism is what we need in these dark times

Sun 29 Mar 2026

Enlightened capitalism is what we need in these dark times
Isabel Coles
Strait of Hormuz closure’s deep global impact on food

Sun 29 Mar 2026

Strait of Hormuz closure’s deep global impact on food
The Observer Leader
The Observer view: the chancellor’s big idea

Wed 18 Mar 2026

The Observer view: the chancellor’s big idea
Barney Macintyre
As Reeves turns towards Europe, Greens start to think harder about fiscal policy

Sun 15 Mar 2026

As Reeves turns towards Europe, Greens start to think harder about fiscal policy
Will Hutton
We can escape the state we’re in

Sun 15 Mar 2026

We can escape the state we’re in
Ben Zaranko
The great UK unemployment debate

Sat 7 Mar 2026

The great UK unemployment debate
Will Hutton
Rachel Reeves should have a spring in her step as shoots of recovery push through

Sun 1 Mar 2026

Rachel Reeves should have a spring in her step as shoots of recovery push through
Will Hutton
As its unicorns falter, China eyes UK’s surging tech dragons

Sun 1 Feb 2026

As its unicorns falter, China eyes UK’s surging tech dragons
Philip Collins
Pensioners have been cushioned for too long. It’s time for Labour to get off the sofa on welfare

Sun 11 Jan 2026

Pensioners have been cushioned for too long. It’s time for Labour to get off the sofa on welfare
Martha Gill
Criminals are restyling Britain’s barbers as hairdressers are forced to cut back

Wed 7 Jan 2026

Criminals are restyling Britain’s barbers as hairdressers are forced to cut back
Will Hutton
In capitalism’s casino, tech is a surer bet for Keir Starmer

Sat 3 Jan 2026

In capitalism’s casino, tech is a surer bet for Keir Starmer
The Observer view
Britain cannot afford Reform

Sun 28 Dec 2025

Britain cannot afford Reform
The Observer leader
Putin is laughing at Europe

Sun 7 Dec 2025

Putin is laughing at Europe
Will Hutton
UK’s tech sector could be the best in Europe, but this timid budget won’t help

Sun 30 Nov 2025

UK’s tech sector could be the best in Europe, but this timid budget won’t help
Ben Zaranko
Minor forecasts shouldn’t make the weather for Reeves

Sat 22 Nov 2025

Minor forecasts shouldn’t make the weather for Reeves
Ben Zaranko
The UK has a productivity problem. Cuts won’t fix it

Sun 9 Nov 2025

The UK has a productivity problem. Cuts won’t fix it
William Keegan
Reeves can no longer ignore ‘mammoth in the broom cupboard’

Sun 9 Nov 2025

Reeves can no longer ignore ‘mammoth in the broom cupboard’
Will Hutton
To combat rising prices, the government’s only option is to take on the cost itself

Sun 9 Nov 2025

To combat rising prices, the government’s only option is to take on the cost itself
Will Hutton
Debt strategy will be the core of Reeves’s ‘aggressive’ budget

Sun 2 Nov 2025

Debt strategy will be the core of Reeves’s ‘aggressive’ budget
Tim Leunig
Economists don’t have crystal balls. More like snow globes – and they’re all shook up

Fri 31 Oct 2025

Economists don’t have crystal balls. More like snow globes – and they’re all shook up
Fhaheen Khan: Britain needs to increase its domestic capacity investment

Sun 26 Oct 2025

Fhaheen Khan: Britain needs to increase its domestic capacity investment
Catherine Neilan
Doge-style cost-cutting units ‘haven’t found any waste’

Sun 26 Oct 2025

Doge-style cost-cutting units ‘haven’t found any waste’
Will Hutton
Reeves sets her sight on a European Silicon Valley

Sun 26 Oct 2025

Reeves sets her sight on a European Silicon Valley

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