Attitudes to work and labour market outcomes: empirical findings

Andrew Dunn
22 June 2021
Labour Market

Attitudes to work and labour market outcomes: empirical findings

The UK’s Welfare Reform Act 2012 allows Department of Work and Pensions ‘work coaches’ to compel unemployed Universal Credit claimants, under threat of a financial ‘sanction’, to apply for jobs chosen by the coaches. Heralding the Act, its architect Iain Duncan Smith, then Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, suggested that some unemployed benefit ... Continue reading
Andrew Dunn
22 June 2021
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Is the government’s “traffic light system” turning into a macroeconomic policy tool?

David Starkie
21 June 2021
Economic Theory

Is the government’s “traffic light system” turning into a macroeconomic policy tool?

In a normal year Britain runs a huge “deficit” on its tourism account. In 2017, for example, Brits drained the economy of £53.9bn seeking sunshine or, shall we say, cultural experiences abroad. Inbound visitors spent only £28.2bn, so the account deficit was a whopping £25.7bn. With international travel severely supressed by Covid restrictions, current sums ... Continue reading
David Starkie
21 June 2021
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Can Behavioural Economics improve economic policymaking?

Nicolás Maloberti
18 June 2021
Economic Theory

Can Behavioural Economics improve economic policymaking?

Strategies based on Behavioural Economics — ‘nudges’— now inform policy thinking in areas as diverse as obesity, tax compliance, smoking, energy use, consumer protection, drug abuse, retirement savings, and organ donations, to name just a few. When it comes to voting, nudge proposals have mostly been restricted to increasing voter turnout. But I think we ... Continue reading
Nicolás Maloberti
18 June 2021
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A “right to disconnect” will undermine flexibility – including for employees

Len Shackleton
16 June 2021
Labour Market

A “right to disconnect” will undermine flexibility – including for employees

It can be a pain when your boss rings you when you are having a TV dinner, or an important email pings on your phone on Sunday morning and has to be answered more or less immediately. But should it be against the law for employers to contact you out of working hours? Many think ... Continue reading
Len Shackleton
16 June 2021
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Corona crisis – have hopes for the end of capitalism been dashed?

Rainer Zitelmann
15 June 2021
Society and Culture

Corona crisis – have hopes for the end of capitalism been dashed?

Since the dawn of anti-capitalism, the free-market system’s opponents have been waiting for the great crisis that will bring about its final collapse. Karl Marx thought he had discovered various economic “laws,” such as the “tendential fall in the rate of profit” and the “relative impoverishment of the proletariat.” For anti-capitalists, the prospect of crisis ... Continue reading
Rainer Zitelmann
15 June 2021
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Oxford students deserve better than grandstanding ‘woke’ academics

Marc Glendening
10 June 2021
Society and Culture

Oxford students deserve better than grandstanding ‘woke’ academics

The decision by 150 Oxford dons to educationally-cancel students from Oriel college because of the college’s decision to keep the statue of Cecil Rhodes is deeply disturbing. Academics are threatening to refuse to give tutorials to Oriel undergraduates and will boycott events held under the auspices of the college. It is extraordinary, whatever views these ... Continue reading
Marc Glendening
10 June 2021
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G7 deal on multinational tax fails to live up to the hype

Julian Jessop
9 June 2021
Tax and Fiscal Policy

G7 deal on multinational tax fails to live up to the hype

The G7 agreement on new principles for taxing multinationals is not the ‘breakthrough’ that many are claiming. It probably will not make a lot of difference to the tax most companies pay either. Mind you, given the damage that could be done, I do not think that is necessarily a bad thing! To recap, G7 finance ... Continue reading
Julian Jessop
9 June 2021
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The creeping “woke” censorship in advertising should be resisted

Len Shackleton
4 June 2021
Regulation

The creeping “woke” censorship in advertising should be resisted

Advertising has never been the most popular of activities with those who dislike capitalism and its cultural manifestations. But its importance should not be overlooked. ‘Commercial speech’ brings benefits to consumers in terms of wider choice; it helps firms expand markets and gain economies of scale. It supports other businesses such as newspapers, magazines, television, ... Continue reading
Len Shackleton
4 June 2021
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Net Zero is a flawed and irrational policy

Bruno Prior
28 May 2021
Energy and Environment

Net Zero is a flawed and irrational policy

Debates over climate policy often get bogged down in different judgments about future technological progress and costs. What will our energy mix look like in the distant future? What will be the eventual price of going Net Zero? Some predictions may prove correct; many will not. Arguing hypotheticals rarely bears fruit. However sceptical you may ... Continue reading
Bruno Prior
28 May 2021
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The empirical evidence is clear: anti-vaping policies are pro-tobacco policies

Chris Snowdon
26 May 2021
Lifestyle Economics

The empirical evidence is clear: anti-vaping policies are pro-tobacco policies

A study published in JAMA Pediatrics this week looked a ban on e-cigarette flavours implemented in San Francisco on 1 January 2019. The ban was supposed to make e-cigarettes less appealing to young people. And so it did, but with the unintended consequence that high school students smoked more instead. After the ban came into ... Continue reading
Chris Snowdon
26 May 2021
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