DECLINE

• Item Club Review, July 2006. UK exports. The Item Club is a respected institution researching economic subjects. Its 2006 survey of export performance betrays shock at the massive decline in the export of manufactured products and the dire effects of this on Britain's international competitiveness.
• The link between management and productivity. Dorgan, Dandy and Reppin. McKinsey Quarterly, 2006. The McKinsey team review the performance of developed countries; conclude that productivity is created by a combination of smart investment and tight management. Alas, UK companies generally score badly on both counts. Good read for the CBI and others who point to other distracting reasons for dire performance.