In a previous life I used to be asked to speak to corporate groups at the races, guiding them through the day’s action and trying to pick some winners for them. I was challenged once by the host of a box at the Curragh and asked if I was any good as a tipster. My reply was that if I were I wouldn’t be standing in front of them but would be betting from some exotic location! Nonetheless I gave him five winners.

Economists comment on the world of finance and business but do not always get it right, as we all know too well. If they did, they would probably – almost certainly - not be economists. Nonetheless what they have to say can have the effect of making us look closely at situations we may have taken somewhat for granted.