Economic crisis: special report

Nobel prize-winning economist Paul Krugman takes on government minister Matthew Hancock on whether austerity really is the answer to our ongoing economic woes.

Chancellor George Osborne insists he will not change course despite Moody’s downgrading of Britain’s prized AAA credit rating, which caused the pound to fall to a 31-month low against the dollar.

The Office of National Statistics reports a budget surplus of £11.4bn, boosted by tax receipts and the first payment of interest from the Bank of England’s quantitative easing program.

A new play on the financial crisis – and the Occupy movement it provoked – warns If You Don’t Let Us Dream, We Won’t Let You Sleep and asks what it really means to be political.

Great things are expected of Canada’s Mark Carney, the new Bank of England governor. But questions are now being asked about the health of the economy he leaves behind.

Barclays says finance director Chris Lucas, the only remaining top ranking executive at the bank following the Libor scandal, is to retire, along with group general counsel Mark Harding.

Despite the weak economy, employment is holding up – but earnings and productivity are falling, according to a leading think tank.

Britain’s economic growth has taken an unexpected knock, raising fears of a triple-dip recession. But are these fears well grounded or is there hope on the horizon? Channel 4 News investigates.

Mervyn King, the governor of the Bank of England, says it is time to review inflation targeting and describes the UK economy as a patient that needs reviving. Faisal Islam reports from Davos.

Thousands of young people could benefit under a new government loan scheme to help provide small loans to turn their business ideas into a reality.

As the banking commission demands stronger ring-fencing of retail banks from their casino arm, Vince Cable seems to be wavering in his commitment to break up banks that are “too big to fail”.

Banks sold small businesses interest rate swaps to protect them from increases in interest rates. The problem is, hidden penalties began to kick in when the rates tumbled.

In a gloomy autumn statement, Chancellor George Osborne is set to warn there are no “miracle cures” for Britain as he looks for £5bn more cuts and signals austerity is here to stay.

Former banker and author of The Black Swan and Antifragile, Professor Nassim Taleb says the government should do “something symbolic” to bankers who have not paid the price for the economic crisis.

As Chancellor George Osborne delivers his autumn statement on the economy and spending, we gather some alternative suggestions on to how to tackle the country’s fiscal woes.