The Intelligence from The Economist At your services: Britain’s economic bright spot
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Jul 11, 2025 
Archie Hall, Britain’s economics correspondent for The Economist, discusses the paradox of Britain's sluggish growth paired with the booming service sector that makes it appealing for international contracts. He also shares insights about Austin Tice, a missing American journalist and the implications of his case. Meanwhile, Anne Rowe, the obituaries editor, shares the rollercoaster life of televangelist Jimmy Swaggart, detailing his rise to fame and fall from grace, showcasing the fragility of public personas.
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Britain's Services Export Growth
- Britain has become a major hub for selling services abroad due to its low wage growth and attractive asset prices.
- Serving as a "services emporium" exploits both its educational strengths and advantageous time zone location.
Nature of Britain's Service Jobs
- British services exports largely include consultants, PR, finance, and administrative roles, encapsulated as "email jobs."
- These roles are appealing globally, especially to American companies expanding their digital operations in the UK.
US Firms Boost UK Service Use
- Since the 2016 Brexit referendum, British services exports to America increased by about 70% in real terms.
- Lower costs in Britain offer a striking middle ground between the expenses of American and Indian tech operations.