Larry Elliott asks for "the Keynes for our time" (22 December) and says that there sadly isn't one. I disagree. It's more a case that we need the Henry George of our time, and there are several that are ready and waiting. The fundamental issue behind our economic woes is our failure to tackle poverty. For Keynes, this is a problem delegated to full employment and the trickle-down effect, thus requiring the modern religion of GDP growth. Back in 1879, Henry George wrote Progress and Poverty, a bestselling book that is almost prophetic in explaining our current crisis. George explains why McJobs are on the increase; why house prices bubble; and why so many people are living on the breadline. He also proposed solutions, some of which almost got implemented in the 1909 People's Budget - blocked by the Lords, which had a lot to lose.

I'll offer three candidates for economic guidance: James Robertson, Vince Cable and Dr Adrian Wrigley.

When Larry Elliott, Caroline Lucas and team were putting together the Green New Deal, they would have done well to look back to James Robertson's 1994 New Economics Foundation publication, Benefits and Taxes. Vince Cable is an obvious choice, not only for his grasp of the problems, but also for his ability to get others to open their eyes too. In particular, I include him for his leadership in advocating counter-cyclic fiscal measures, such as land value taxes. Adrian Wrigley of the Systemic Fiscal Reform Group has picked up Robertson's 1994 work and got stuck into the task of how to implement this. I've not yet seen anything to match his proposals for unwinding the mess in a way that helps all and prevents a re-occurrence down the line.

Cllr Neale Upstone

Lib Dem, Cambridge

Jackie Ashley (22 December) points out the importance to poorer communities of a Royal Mail with a public service ethos. But Royal Mail and its network of 12,000 post offices also form a vital economic driver. The sorting offices network - now being cut back - generates local money flows through jobs and local business support. Post Offices have a huge impact on small businesses, which make up 59% of our entire UK business enterprise sector. NEF research shows that for every £10 earned in income, the post office generates £16.20 for its local economy - including £6.20 in direct spending on local goods and services. Also, on average, each post office contributes about £310,000 to the local economy each year, of which £120,000 is direct spending on local goods and services. Finally, post offices save small businesses in their direct vicinity in the region of £270,000 each year.

It is baffling that the government ignores the vital economic role that the Royal Mail already plays, as well as its vast untapped potential, in its continuing adherence to discredited notions of privatisation equalling efficiency.

Dr Stephen Spratt

New Economics Foundation