It is time to scrap stamp duty altogether, says IEA expert

24 February 2021
Housing and Planning

It is time to scrap stamp duty altogether, says IEA expert

Commenting on reports that the Chancellor will extend the stamp duty holiday until June, Julian Jessop Economics Fellow at free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:  "Any extension to the stamp duty holiday would be welcome, but the Chancellor should go further and look at ways to scrap the tax altogether. "Most economists agree ... Continue reading
24 February 2021
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In a free society there should be “no right not to be offended”, says IEA expert

23 February 2021
Society and Culture

In a free society there should be “no right not to be offended”, says IEA expert

Commenting on Merseyside Police's decision to apologise for claiming "being offensive is an offence" as part of a campaign to encourage people to report hate crime, Marc Glendening, Head of Cultural Affairs at free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:  "The decision by Merseyside police to spend taxpayers' money on a mobile ... Continue reading
23 February 2021
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Any extension of the furlough scheme should be brief, says IEA expert

23 February 2021

Any extension of the furlough scheme should be brief, says IEA expert

Responding to the latest unemployment data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), Julian Jessop, Economics Fellow at free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:  "The increase in headline unemployment to 5.1% in the three months to December is not good news, but this rate is still much lower than many had feared a ... Continue reading
23 February 2021
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“Boris Johnson’s sluggish timetable will do unnecessary damage to businesses and livelihoods”, says IEA expert

22 February 2021
Regulation

“Boris Johnson’s sluggish timetable will do unnecessary damage to businesses and livelihoods”, says IEA expert

Responding to Boris Johnson's roadmap to lift lockdown measures in England, Christopher Snowdon, Head of Lifestyle Economics at free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:  "Boris Johnson’s sluggish timetable will do unnecessary damage to businesses and livelihoods. By Easter, everybody who has more than a remote chance of dying from Covid-19 will have ... Continue reading
22 February 2021
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Back to school and beyond: Time to fix longstanding problems in education, says new research

22 February 2021
Education

Back to school and beyond: Time to fix longstanding problems in education, says new research

New briefing paper from the Institute of Economic Affairs warns policy cannot solely focus on short-term recovery The long-term costs to individuals and the economy of school closures are likely to be substantial – and will fall most heavily on poorer or otherwise disadvantaged children. It is vital that children return to school as soon ... Continue reading
22 February 2021
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Uber ruling will raise prices and cut off earning opportunities for thousands, says IEA expert

19 February 2021
Labour Market

Uber ruling will raise prices and cut off earning opportunities for thousands, says IEA expert

Responding to the UK's Supreme Court ruling that Uber must classify its drivers as workers rather than self-employed, Professor Len Shackleton, Editorial and Research Fellow at free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:  "This judgment will raise costs for Uber users, who are often young people who cannot afford conventional cabs. It will also reduce ... Continue reading
19 February 2021
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IEA responds to Sir Keir Starmer’s speech on the economy

18 February 2021
Economic Theory

IEA responds to Sir Keir Starmer’s speech on the economy

Responding to Sir Keir Starmer's speech on the economy, Mark Littlewood, Director General at free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:  “National crises and emergencies inevitably lead to an extension of state intervention in the economy. “Political elites typically seek to retain their powers and control over the lives of ordinary people ... Continue reading
18 February 2021
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Amendment of Equality Act necessary to ensure freedom of speech on campus, says IEA expert

16 February 2021
Society and Culture

Amendment of Equality Act necessary to ensure freedom of speech on campus, says IEA expert

Responding to government plans to ensure freedom of speech and expression is upheld on university campuses, Marc Glendening, Head of Cultural Affairs at free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:  "The news that the government intends to provide more support for academics who lose their jobs because of political discrimination is to be welcomed and ... Continue reading
16 February 2021
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Freeze in GDP should keep tax hikes on ice, says IEA expert

12 February 2021
Tax and Fiscal Policy

Freeze in GDP should keep tax hikes on ice, says IEA expert

Responding to today's GDP figures, Julian Jessop, Economics Fellow at free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:  "The latest UK GDP numbers were not as bad as some feared, but it would still be dangerous to raise taxes in the March Budget. This would be far too soon after a year when ... Continue reading
12 February 2021
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Claims that “austerity” is to blame for UK’s poor pandemic response are “baseless,” says new IEA research

9 February 2021
Society and Culture

Claims that “austerity” is to blame for UK’s poor pandemic response are “baseless,” says new IEA research

Long-standing battles on the role and size of the state won’t be settled by a virus, says a new briefing paper from Dr Kristian Niemietz    The Coronavirus pandemic has given rise to the phenomenon of “Coronfirmation Bias”: the tendency to interpret the pandemic as a “vindication” of one’s own world view. Conventional wisdoms about the UK pandemic response – that austerity eroded the state’s capacity to act, that Covid-19 is a ... Continue reading
9 February 2021
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