Advertisement
Money

‘It might even be fun’: Bank of England set to publish first book demystifying UK economy

A Bank of England project will use proceeds from book sales to improve economic literacy in schools across the country

From the price of Freddos to how interest rates can affect a bank balance, the answers to our everyday cash quandaries aren’t always simple.

That’s why the Bank of England is publishing its first-ever trade book to help everyone understand why the UK economy functions the way it does, and what the bank’s role is within it.

Royalties from Can’t We Just Print More Money?, set for release on May 19 this year, will go towards buying more copies of the book to be donated to school libraries and promote economic literacy among younger generations.

“The economy – and economics – is all around us, in the decisions we all make every day at home, at work, or in the shops,” said Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank of England.

“Despite this, economics is generally not well understood, and nor are economists. We hope that, as well as being an entertaining and informative read, Can’t We Just Print More Money? will help demystify economics and encourage people to learn how we can use it to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing the world today.”

The book was written by Rupal Patel and Jack Meaning, two young economists currently working for the bank. The “surprisingly witty” publication answers ten questions at the heart of the economic mechanisms which affect lives every day.

Advertisement
Advertisement

“Writing the Bank of England’s first book has been a pleasure and an immense privilege,” the economists said. “Doing so during Covid has made us even more aware that economics is not something that matters only inside the walls of the Bank of England, but in the daily lives of every one of us.

“We hope the book can show that economics is for everyone, not just economists. It might even be fun.”

The book’s publication will be partnered with a campaign to promote and improve everyday economic literacy across the country.

Advertisement

Learn more about our impact

When most people think about the Big Issue, they think of vendors selling the Big Issue magazines on the streets – and we are immensely proud of this. In 2022 alone, we worked with 10% more vendors and these vendors earned £3.76 million in collective income. There is much more to the work we do at the Big Issue Group, our mission is to create innovative solutions through enterprise to unlock opportunity for the 14million people in the UK living in poverty.

Recommended for you

Read All
Here's where to get instant cost of living advice
money

Here's where to get instant cost of living advice

How can I make money? Quick and easy ways to make extra cash online and offline
Cost of living crisis

How can I make money? Quick and easy ways to make extra cash online and offline

Cost-of-Living Crisis: Find expert advice & real-life stories in the free Big Issue Talks Money magazine
Big Issue Talks Money

Cost-of-Living Crisis: Find expert advice & real-life stories in the free Big Issue Talks Money magazine

Free and cheap things to do with children this Easter 2023
Children

Free and cheap things to do with children this Easter 2023

Most Popular

Read All
Here's when people will get the next cost of living payment in 2023
1.

Here's when people will get the next cost of living payment in 2023

Strike dates 2023: From trains to airports to tube lines, here are the dates to know
2.

Strike dates 2023: From trains to airports to tube lines, here are the dates to know

Suranne Jones opens up about her 'relentless and terrifying' experiences of bullying
3.

Suranne Jones opens up about her 'relentless and terrifying' experiences of bullying

Arctic Monkeys team up with Big Issue to produce unique tour programme
4.

Arctic Monkeys team up with Big Issue to produce unique tour programme