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Teaching Economics

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Data Starter: UK budget deficit

Elizabeth Veal

4th March 2025

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How much has the UK government borrowed in recent years?

Using these House of Commons Library ‘Public Sector Net Borrowing’ charts, answer the following questions:

  1. Identify two significant features of the trend in the UK government borrowing as a % of GDP between 1980/1 and 2024/5.
  2. Compare the peak of UK government borrowing (rolling 12 month total) after the global financial crisis to the peak during the pandemic.

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Elizabeth Veal

Liz has taught Economics for over 25 years, including several years as Head of Economics at leading schools.

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