For many years, the UK economy has depended heavily on consumer spending and on property speculation.
This may have led investors, even pension funds that require steady returns over many years, to focus too heavily on short term investment and gain and, therefore, on quarterly or annual reports and results thus undermining their willingness to wait for future returns.
However, the creative infrastructure that led to such inventions as the steam engine depended not only on “lightbulb” moments but also on people who were educated, skilled and above all had the time to think slowly and in depth.
Recently the Bank of England’s Chief Economist, Andy Haldane, has been worrying that the development of the internet has also undermined the ability to think slowly and in depth and thus the patience needed for business innovation and progress.
If UK businesses, from SMEs to large corporations, are to remain at the forefront of innovation they will need continued investment in the best brains, in research and development and in a decent infrastructure and that means investors willing to be patient for the long haul.
Is it time that more emphasis was put on education, training, employee development and perhaps even public investment in longer term projects to emphasise the importance of sustained effort and patience?
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