ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the representation of money in the austerity discourse. We are particularly interested in the way in which representations of money are used to advance the case for austerity. We have used the basic version of the AuBriN corpus that covers the broadest available time frame for both The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian, dating from 2010 to 2016. The approach was to analyse collocations of the word money in the corpus. Our research question is what does a collocational analysis of the word money inform us about the way in which money is characterised in the austerity discourse? We examined three key themes that we identified through this collocation analysis. These themes were the supply and creation of money, the regular reference to “taxpayers’ money” or “public money” and, the distinction between spending and investment. Together, these themes have contributed to building a powerful narrative of the state as a dissolute spendthrift, irresponsibly dispensing other people’s money. This narrative largely backgrounds social goals of public policy.
