From housing to recycling, fuzzy tokenism is no substitute for action

18 April 2019
Government and Institutions

From housing to recycling, fuzzy tokenism is no substitute for action

Nerissa Chesterfield writes for City AM

Nerissa Chesterfield, Head of Communications at the Institute of Economic Affairs has written for City AM on politicians' reticence to make bold policy change that is needed to improve people's lives. In her article Nerissa argues that small-ball,  ineffective policies are being prioritised while the issues that people really care about – having a secure ... Continue reading
18 April 2019
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The socialism delusion ensures the survival of this toxic ideology

17 April 2019
Government and Institutions

The socialism delusion ensures the survival of this toxic ideology

Kristian Niemietz quoted in City A.M.

'Socialism: The idea that never dies', the recent book from the IEA's Head of Political Economy Kristian Niemietz, is quoted in City A.M. by Dr Rainer Zitelmann. Dr Zitelmann references Kristian's analysis that socialist experiments follow three phrases; the honeymoon period, the excuses phase, and the not-real-social stage. And thus the delusion of socialism continues, ... Continue reading
17 April 2019
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A plastic bottle deposit scheme is an expensive way to achieve very little

Emma Revell
16 April 2019
Energy and Environment

A plastic bottle deposit scheme is an expensive way to achieve very little

In March 2018, Michael Gove announced a plastic bottle deposit scheme in a bid to reduce plastic pollution, and like a lot of people, I was quite excited. Plastic pollution was high on the agenda; with David Attenborough’s warnings about albatrosses ingesting plastic ringing in our ears and images of a seahorse clinging to a ... Continue reading
Emma Revell
16 April 2019
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The flawed logic behind the government’s landlord bashing

16 April 2019
Housing and Planning

The flawed logic behind the government’s landlord bashing

Kristian Niemietz writes for Coffee House

Kristian Niemietz, Head of Political Economy at the Institute of Economic Affairs, responds to plans by the Communities Secretary James Brokenshire to ban so-called 'no-fault evictions'. Kristian argues the news is being misreported. He writes that letting an agreement come to an end at the date it was meant to come to an end is ... Continue reading
16 April 2019
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The Brexit litmus test: too many politicians, not enough statesmen

Alexander Temerko
15 April 2019
Society and Culture

The Brexit litmus test: too many politicians, not enough statesmen

Political earthquakes on the scale of Brexit claim scalps. History suggests Brexit will be a graveyard not just for today’s crop of politicians but also for generations of leaders to come. Britain’s departure from the EU is on a par with the Irish question that proved so spectacularly unmanageable for a succession of some of ... Continue reading
Alexander Temerko
15 April 2019
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The Deposit Return Scheme is a load of rubbish

Chris Snowdon
15 April 2019
Energy and Environment

The Deposit Return Scheme is a load of rubbish

It is widely believed that the Brexit turmoil has forced Theresa May to put her domestic agenda on hold. If so, nobody has told the Department for Energy, Farming and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) where the energetic Michael Gove has been busily working on bans on plastic straws, cotton buds, drink stirrers, wood burning stoves and ... Continue reading
Chris Snowdon
15 April 2019
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Gove’s bottle-deposit scheme is a bad idea

15 April 2019
Lifestyle Economics

Gove’s bottle-deposit scheme is a bad idea

Chris Snowdon writes for Spiked

Chris Snowdon, Head of Lifestyle Economics at the IEA, writes for Spiked, taking apart the case of DEFRA's proposed Deposit Return Scheme. According to DEFRA, the scheme will require 35,000 reverse vending machines to be installed around the country and a new quango – the Deposit Management Organisation – to be created. Small retailers will ... Continue reading
15 April 2019
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A plastic bottle deposit scheme is an expensive way to achieve very little

15 April 2019
Lifestyle Economics

A plastic bottle deposit scheme is an expensive way to achieve very little

Emma Revell writes for CapX

Emma Revell, Communications Manager at the Institute of Economic Affairs, writes for CapX following the publication of a briefing by Chris Snowdon which highlights the expense of a proposed Deposit Return Scheme for plastic and glass bottles. In the UK, 72 per cent of drinks containers are already recycled by households, largely via regular waste ... Continue reading
15 April 2019
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Cost of government’s proposed bottle deposit return scheme largely outweighs gains

14 April 2019
Lifestyle Economics

Cost of government’s proposed bottle deposit return scheme largely outweighs gains

The running costs of the government’s proposed deposit return scheme (DRS) for drinks cans and bottles is a very expensive way of achieving very little, a new briefing from the Institute of Economic Affairs reveals. Author of the report Christopher Snowdon finds that the DRS is expected to cost almost £1 billion to set up (and ... Continue reading
14 April 2019
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A Load of Rubbish? Introducing a Deposit Return Scheme to the UK

14 April 2019
Research

A Load of Rubbish? Introducing a Deposit Return Scheme to the UK

Introducing a Deposit Return Scheme to the UK

Summary: A UK-wide deposit return scheme (DRS) can be expected to increase recycling rates for beverage bottles and cans from 70-75 per cent to 85-90 per cent, but at a disproportionate cost. A DRS is expected to cost over £1 billion in its first year and £814 million per annum thereafter. The tangible economic benefits ... Continue reading
14 April 2019
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