As countries get richer, the demand for government (particularly fiscal transfers) rises. That in essence is the key message of … Continue reading “Is making the case for smaller government pointless?”

One reason Donald Trump was able to put together a coalition big enough to get him elected as president was … Continue reading “The nexus of economic freedom and religious freedom”

To many people’s relief, there were not many big ideas in Philip Hammond’s Autumn Statement last month. In so far … Continue reading “Those who benefit from new infrastructure should pay for it”

Matteo Renzi’s government was Italy’s 63rd since 1946. Now, the country – desperate for some internal political stability – will … Continue reading “Another lost decade for Italy?”

Commenting on the Transport Secretary’s announcements on overhauling England’s rail network, Dr Richard Wellings, Head of Transport at the Institute … Continue reading “Rail announcements are a step in the right direction but could go further”

Around the time of the first junior doctors’ strike, I was occasionally contacted by journalists who wanted to hear from … Continue reading “93% of junior doctors would back “complete privatisation” of the NHS, if it meant “substantially” increased salaries”

For most of this week, my social media feed has been more or less evenly divided between apologists of Fidel … Continue reading “Cuba after Castro: Democratisation as the next stage of the revolution? Not happening, Comrade Jones”

I like Paul Johnson and the work he leads at the Institute for Fiscal Studies. I read his column in … Continue reading “The UK’s great wage stagnation: beware aggregates and averages”

In the midst of much chaos, the victory of Francois Fillon in the French centre-right primary has restored some normality … Continue reading “The left will continue to lose until they start to empathise with their enemies”