editor's note

摘要

"They say that hindsight is 20/20 and I am sure that many commentators will be using the expression to discuss what happened in 2010s and how accurate predictions made during the'noughties'were. I have never liked the expression, because often analysts are consistent and were actually saying the same thing prior to the event in question. And instead of being praised for having foresight, are accused of using the benefit of hindsight. Equally, those who fearmonger about a planned project are free to have the slate wiped clean as soon as their fears are proved unfounded. Consider the Channel Tunnel, whilst I'll admit to not being around to recall these stories from memory, raking through the headlines from that time revealed to me some pretty alarmist assessments of the Channel Tunnel. Fears about rabid animals being brought over from the continent, people deserting the city to brunch in Paris and even fears of a military invasion. Those of you in the business at the time can perhaps comment as to how seriously these fears were taken. A slightly more sober point would be the cost of the project, with parallels to contemporary scrutinising over the budget for HS2. The Channel Tunnel ended up costing 80 per cent more than predicted but now we cannot imagine this island without that tunnel - responsible for £120 billion of trade in goods between the UK and continental Europe each year.