Government jobs scheme gives business “wrong incentives”

2 April 2020
Labour Market

Government jobs scheme gives business “wrong incentives”

IEA responds to figures from the British Chambers of Commerce

Responding to figures from the British Chambers of Commerce which suggest nearly half of businesses plan to furlough at least half of their staff under the government's wage scheme, Andy Mayer, Chief Operating Officer at the Institute of Economic Affairs, said: “The figures in the BCC survey are disappointing but not surprising. “The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme was designed ... Continue reading
2 April 2020
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How should we pay for all this extra government spending?

2 April 2020
Tax and Fiscal Policy

How should we pay for all this extra government spending?

Professor Philip Booth writes for CapX

Free marketeers are reluctant to consider higher taxes to pay for the government's current corona-related spending but they should be "more allergic to the narrative of fiscal stimulus, with its subliminal message that we are getting something for nothing", says Professor Philip Booth, Senior Academic Fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs. Writing for CapX, ... Continue reading
2 April 2020
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National Minimum Wage hikes could prove “unsupportable,” says IEA expert

1 April 2020
Labour Market

National Minimum Wage hikes could prove “unsupportable,” says IEA expert

Professor Len Shackleton, Editorial and Research Fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs, said: “The decision to raise the National Living Wage by an unprecedented 6.2%, and other minimum wages by significant amounts, always risked scuppering employment growth, particularly in poorer regions where arbitrary wage hikes could offset the government’s plans to boost investment and ... Continue reading
1 April 2020
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A home working revolution? Not so fast

1 April 2020
Labour Market

A home working revolution? Not so fast

Emma Revell writes for City A.M.

Studies show working from home can have a positive effect on productivity and lead to a reduction in sick leave but we shouldn't expect coronavirus to revolutionise our working lives, says Emma Revell, Head of Communications at the Institute of Economic Affairs. Writing for City A.M., Emma argues that those suggesting we may never return ... Continue reading
1 April 2020
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Coronavirus will only ‘revolutionise’ working habits of the privileged

31 March 2020
Society and Culture

Coronavirus will only ‘revolutionise’ working habits of the privileged

Len Shackleton writes for The Telegraph

For the "great majority" of those locked-down at home, normal working is impossible, writes IEA Editorial and Research Fellow Prof Len Shackleton for The Telegraph. We should be looking at "incentivising and acommodating" people into different sectors of the economy, where there are vacancies such as farming or in the NHS. Read the full article ... Continue reading
31 March 2020
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Why working at home just won’t work out

31 March 2020
Society and Culture

Why working at home just won’t work out

Prof Len Shackleton quoted in The Times

"We shouldn't expect a boom in working from home once the current restrictions are lifted" said the IEA's Editorial and Research Fellow Prof Len Shackleton following the release of his new IEA report, 'Pass the Romote: Why we can't all work from home'. Quoted by The Times, Len said "we should be clear that, for ... Continue reading
31 March 2020
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The PM’s mischaracterisation of Thatcher bodes ill for British politics

31 March 2020
Tax and Fiscal Policy

The PM’s mischaracterisation of Thatcher bodes ill for British politics

Victoria Hewson writes for The Telegraph

Coronavirus proves that “there really is such as thing a society” said the Prime Minister in a video message last night, as he paid tribute to the efforts of public and private sector workers, volunteers, and the British people for complying with instructions to stay at home. But as the IEA's Head of Regulatory Affairs Victoria ... Continue reading
31 March 2020
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Most workers confined to home unable to work productively, report reveals

31 March 2020
Labour Market

Most workers confined to home unable to work productively, report reveals

No more than 15% of healthy workers confined to their homes will work productively, argues new research from the Institute of Economic Affairs. Government restrictions on social interaction designed to slow the spread of coronavirus have led to a rapid increase in the number of people working from home. But a new briefing paper from the ... Continue reading
31 March 2020
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Corbyn “missing the point” on coronavirus economic measures

27 March 2020
Tax and Fiscal Policy

Corbyn “missing the point” on coronavirus economic measures

Julian Jessop quoted by The Sun

Following claims by Jeremy Corbyn that the measures taken to support the economy during the coronavirus pandemic show he was right to push high public spending during the general election Julian Jessop, Economics Fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs, said "As usual, he’s missing the point." Quoted by The Sun, Julian said "The current ... Continue reading
27 March 2020
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Ignore the self-publicists, nobody has been ‘vindicated’ by coronavirus

27 March 2020
Society and Culture

Ignore the self-publicists, nobody has been ‘vindicated’ by coronavirus

Kristian Niemietz writes for CapX

Economic nationalists and “communitarians” who are feeling vindicated by the coronavirus pandemic, claiming globalisation is responsible for its spread, are "generic, anti-capitalist rants" who tell us nothing about the virus and its impact, says Dr Kristian Niemietz, Head of Political Economy at the Institute of Economic Affairs. Writing for CapX, Kristian argues "COVID-19 does not ... Continue reading
27 March 2020
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