With recent figures indicating a small growth in the economy, a number of commentators are once again talking about the “green shoots of recovery”. But for the majority of people, this does not feel like a recovery. Unemployment is still high, and those jobs that are being created are low-waged and insecure. Matthew Wood discusses the state of the UK economy and its real effects on living standards.

When the current crisis began, there were some who painted it as simply a Western crisis; a crisis that was unique to Europe and America. The theory of a “decoupled” world economy was put forward, with the senile, crisis-ridden West on one side, and the dynamic and growing “BRICs” and “emerging” economies on the other. But now growth in the BRICs is slowing, emerging economies are facing their own crises, and this theory of decoupling is being seen for the myth that it always was.

The global economy is now in its fifth year of crisis. Living standards for the vast majority have been steadily getting worse, with falling real wages and a complete dearth of jobs. Despite this, profits for the biggest companies continue to rise. Adam Booth examines the gaping and growing inequality in the society.