Rent controls in London could bring “immense economic costs” and increase “social segregation”, finds new report  

21 January 2020
Housing and Planning

Rent controls in London could bring “immense economic costs” and increase “social segregation”, finds new report  

Calls from politicians, including the Mayor of London, to introduce rent caps are misguided and would impose immense economic and social costs on the capital, according to a new report from Swedish think tank Timbro, part of the IEA’s EPICENTER network. ‘Rent Controls: How they damage the housing market, the economy and society', by EPICENTER and ... Continue reading
21 January 2020
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IEA: Taxing sugar in alcopops would have “no effect on sugar consumption” and “hit the poor hardest”

21 January 2020
Lifestyle Economics

IEA: Taxing sugar in alcopops would have “no effect on sugar consumption” and “hit the poor hardest”

Responding to calls from Action on Sugar to extend the sugar tax to pre-mixed alcoholic drinks, IEA Head of Lifestyle Economics Christopher Snowdon said: "The tax on pre-mixed alcoholic drinks is at least four times higher than the tax on sugary drinks. Action on Sugar and the Alcohol Health Alliance are kidding themselves if they think ... Continue reading
21 January 2020
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IEA: Oxfam’s obsession with the rich distracts from tackling poverty

20 January 2020
Markets and Morality

IEA: Oxfam’s obsession with the rich distracts from tackling poverty

Commenting on Oxfam’s latest report 'Time to Care', Mark Littlewood, Director General at the Institute of Economic Affairs said: “Oxfam’s obsession with the top one percent once again distracts from the real issue of poverty. “If the charity’s goal is to end world poverty, Oxfam should be making the case for ensuring the right institutional ... Continue reading
20 January 2020
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IEA: Attacking CEO pay “stokes public hostility” and “misleads workers”

6 January 2020
Labour Market

IEA: Attacking CEO pay “stokes public hostility” and “misleads workers”

Commenting on the High Pay Centre’s analysis of FTSE 100 CEO salaries, Director General at the Institute of Economic Affairs Mark Littlewood said: “Comparing CEO salaries to the average salary serves to stoke public hostility, and misleads workers to believe that cuts at the top end will directly translate to top-ups at the bottom. “In today's ... Continue reading
6 January 2020
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Government wrong to propose “unscientific” and “discriminatory” ban on energy drinks, says report

31 December 2019
Lifestyle Economics

Government wrong to propose “unscientific” and “discriminatory” ban on energy drinks, says report

Plans to ban the sale of energy drinks to teenagers are “unscientific” and “discriminatory” according to a new report from the Institute of Economic Affairs. ‘Vox Pop’, written by the IEA’s Head of Lifestyle Economics Christopher Snowdon, found that the plans – proposed on the basis that high levels of sugar and caffeine could be ... Continue reading
31 December 2019
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Universal Basic Income still has a lot of questions to be answered, says new IEA report

29 December 2019
Welfare

Universal Basic Income still has a lot of questions to be answered, says new IEA report

Universal Basic Income (UBI) is gathering increasing support from both the political left and right but there is no clear consensus over what the best model might look like, argues a new report from the Institute of Economics Affairs. ‘Universal Basic Income: The State of Play in the UK Today’, written by IEA Head of ... Continue reading
29 December 2019
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IEA: Queen’s Speech focused on increasing “state intervention”, not plans to make people freer

19 December 2019
Government and Institutions

IEA: Queen’s Speech focused on increasing “state intervention”, not plans to make people freer

IEA responds to the Queen's Speech

Commenting on the Queen’s Speech, Mark Littlewood, Director General at the Institute of Economic Affairs, said: “The Queen’s Speech makes clear the government’s commitment to negotiate and secure free trade agreements with the European Union and the rest of the world. “The plans set out for an NHS Funding Bill do nothing to address the ... Continue reading
19 December 2019
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Renationalisation would “ignore the lessons of history”, finds new IEA report

9 December 2019
Economic Theory

Renationalisation would “ignore the lessons of history”, finds new IEA report

Calls to bring key utilities back under state control “ignore important lessons” from the post-war period, argues a new report from the Institute of Economic Affairs published today. Renationalisation: Back to the Future, written by IEA Economics Fellow Julian Jessop and IEA Editorial and Research Fellow Professor Len Shackleton, explores the case for restoring water, ... Continue reading
9 December 2019
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IEA: Evidence so far suggests minimum pricing in Scotland has been “an expensive flop”

3 December 2019
Lifestyle Economics

IEA: Evidence so far suggests minimum pricing in Scotland has been “an expensive flop”

Commenting on new evidence from the Office for National Statistics showing that the number of alcohol-related deaths fell in England by 145, fell in Wales by 13 and rose in Scotland by 16, Head of Lifestyle Economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs Christopher Snowdon said: “It’s welcome news that there were 158 fewer deaths ... Continue reading
3 December 2019
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IEA: Labour’s rail pledge will “shift burden from richer commuters to poorer taxpayers” 

2 December 2019
Transport

IEA: Labour’s rail pledge will “shift burden from richer commuters to poorer taxpayers” 

Commenting on the Labour Party's pledge to cut rail fares by a third if elected, Editorial and Research Fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs Professor Len Shackleton said: "Labour’s new pledge to cut rail fares by a third as part of their nationalisation scheme would shift the financial burden from richer commuters to poorer ... Continue reading
2 December 2019
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