The general election is an important economic moment, though one in which the claims and counterclaims can confuse even the most numerate voters. The coalition parties can point to booming employment, zero inflation, rising living standards and strong consumer confidence, but for most of the campaign this has not translated into support in the polls. Meanwhile, important issues on taxation, particularly for higher earners, and the pace of deficit reduction depend on the result of 7 May. The biggest risk to the economy may be that the political stability of the past five years under the coalition government is replaced by instability and uncertainty.
