Advertisement
UK markets close in 5 hours 43 minutes
  • FTSE 100

    7,960.89
    +28.91 (+0.36%)
     
  • FTSE 250

    19,817.42
    +6.76 (+0.03%)
     
  • AIM

    742.51
    +0.40 (+0.05%)
     
  • GBP/EUR

    1.1691
    +0.0022 (+0.19%)
     
  • GBP/USD

    1.2617
    -0.0021 (-0.17%)
     
  • Bitcoin GBP

    55,918.66
    +402.16 (+0.72%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    885.54
    0.00 (0.00%)
     
  • S&P 500

    5,248.49
    +44.91 (+0.86%)
     
  • DOW

    39,760.08
    +477.75 (+1.22%)
     
  • CRUDE OIL

    82.10
    +0.75 (+0.92%)
     
  • GOLD FUTURES

    2,206.70
    +16.10 (+0.73%)
     
  • NIKKEI 225

    40,168.07
    -594.66 (-1.46%)
     
  • HANG SENG

    16,541.42
    +148.58 (+0.91%)
     
  • DAX

    18,503.64
    +26.55 (+0.14%)
     
  • CAC 40

    8,251.75
    +46.94 (+0.57%)
     

Bank of England deputy apologises for ‘offence caused’ by describing economy as ‘menopausal’

Ben Broadbent has apologised and said that he was referring to a slump in productivity growth
Ben Broadbent has apologised and said that he was referring to a slump in productivity growth

The Bank of England’s Deputy Governor Ben Broadbent has apologised for “offence caused” by his description of the UK economy as “menopausal” and past its peak.

One of Britain’s most senior economists, Mr Broadbent told the Telegraph in an interview that slow productivity growth in the UK right now resembles a period of weakness in the late 19th century, called by economists a “climacteric” time - which he said translated as “menopausal, but applies to both genders.”

He said it is used to mean “you’ve passed your peak”.

'Menopausal' UK economy risks once-in-a-century slump, warns deputy chief at Bank of England
'Menopausal' UK economy risks once-in-a-century slump, warns deputy chief at Bank of England

But his comments provoked a furious response with critics arguing that the description is both sexist and ageist, and implies that women become less productive during or after the menopause.

ADVERTISEMENT

Former Bank of England policymaker Kate Barker said his words were "pretty offensive".

Claire Perry, minister for energy and clean growth, also objected .

“I can’t be the only 50+ woman objecting to Ben Broadbent’s pejorative description of the UK economy as ‘menopausal’,” she wrote on Twitter.

“I’ve never been more productive! How about ‘andropausal’ instead? Then you get declining potency and bonus grumpiness thrown in!”

Robert Peston, the ITV presenter, called Mr Broadbent’s words “sloppy, empirically unsound and potentially offensive”.

Mr Broadbent, who is thought to be a potential candidate to replace Mark Carney as Governor of the Bank when he steps down next year, said he meant the word in a strictly economic sense.

“I’m sorry for my poor choice of language in an interview with the Telegraph yesterday and regret the offence caused,” he said.

“I was explaining the meaning of the word ‘climacteric’, a term used by economic historians to describe a period of low productivity growth during the nineteenth century. Economic productivity is something which affects every one of us, of all ages and genders.”

The controversy comes at a sensitive time for the Bank of England, which has been trying to boost the number of women working in Threadneedle Street, particularly at senior levels.