In Friday’s FT, more than 60 leading economists back the decision of Alistair Darling, UK finance minister, to delay spending cuts until 2011. In two letters, they argue that (1) a sharp shock now would be dangerous; and (2) the first priority must be to restore robust growth.

Rachel Lomax, Lord Skidelsky, Brad DeLong and Joseph Stiglitz are among those to have co-signed the letters. Read more