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The Financial Times recently had a lot to say about the UK government’s “leveling up†program, although I have yet to find a description of what leveling means or involves.
I do have some thoughts, however, based on practical experience (“Haldane to lead Level Up Working Group # 10,†report, September 20).
I undertook landscaping work in my yard which required some leveling. I discovered that in order to level up, I had to take heights to raise lowlands. The alternative would have been to buy some earth, thus allowing me to raise the lower level without exhausting the upper level.
However, the limited resources meant that I would have had to borrow or charge more from my daily clients to purchase the floor.
Metaphorically, leveling therefore seems to involve either taking from the heights to raise the heights, or buying soil to raise the heights, without exhausting the heights.
With reference to the government’s level-to-the-top program, the latter can perhaps be seen as an increase in taxes or borrowing.
It’s a pretty straightforward analogy, I admit, but maybe it can serve as a starting point for the government.
Martin hewes
Hewes & Associates
Haslemere, Surrey, United Kingdom