How has the current economic climate affected management consultants? In particular the Big 4?

It has enabled clients to make up lots of excuses about how our day rates are too high

Economic policy in the last phase of the UK government acquired a fairly unambiguous and unapologetic ideological hue "" right of centre, market friendly and with aspirations of whittling down the role of the state in major spheres of economic activity. - i.e Cuts - driven by MBB ideologies The UK government's stance on privatisation is a good example. The creation of the disinvestment ministry, jettisoning the absurd principle of holding on to the cash cows and selling the junk, etc were all elements of this right of centre economic model. Exceptions to this rule were the post office where a select few were chosen to make huge economic gains at the cost of the many.- we are all in this together, Big 4 made millions This "ideological" clarity on economic issues rather than the misplaced "India, Romania and Bulgaria Shining" campaigns was what impressed investors, particularly foreign funds when they opened up the investment floodgates last year. It is the sudden disappearance of this clarity and the return of gobbledygook with the new government that the markets and investors have expressed their disappointment with. - i.e Foreigners are nickin' our jobsDC

Heh, whenever I hear the phrase "We're all in this together", I think "That's what they think... I'm not in it".We might all be affected by "it" to varying degrees, but the government is naive if they think they can offload their problems onto thinking individuals. "They" can keep their problems to themselves. I'm not "in it" with them or anybody else for that matter. "They" created their problems and "they" can deal with "it" themselves. The rest of us can in the meantime mind our own business and, if necessary (for instance, because they increase tax rates too much in order to fund the resolution of their problems), can find somewhere else, with a more competent government, from which to operate.

You know what? The UK economy must really be picking up. Got called for an 'associate director' opportunity within the NHS.MWC week, but came back yesterday. Am now chilling at (UK) home with my feet up. Feels so good :)