The annual Budget is regarded as a grandstand event in the UK parliamentary year. This reflects our centralised political system. … Continue reading “Sins of omission: the problem with the Budget was what was NOT in it”

The Church’s attitude towards globalisation has become somewhat ambivalent in recent years – if not a little hostile. This seems … Continue reading “Outraged about Offshore Financial Centres? You shouldn’t be.”

Commenting on the 2017 Budget, Mark Littlewood, Director General at the Institute of Economic Affairs, said: “The Budget featured a … Continue reading “Interventionist Budget will not have desired effect on living costs”

The UK government is said to be ready to agree an ‘improved’ offer on the financial settlement with the EU, … Continue reading “Is the EU’s goodwill really worth £40bn?”

Summary: The Chancellor should resist the siren calls to ramp up spending and focus instead on reducing the burden of … Continue reading “Autumn Budget 2017: An IEA Briefing”

The Budget should pursue policies which reduce the budget deficit, establish a more coherent tax system and improve long-term fiscal … Continue reading “Chancellor should save not splurge in next week’s Budget”

Continued from here.   The Hat Tax Astonishingly, hats were subject to a special sales tax between 1784 and 1811, … Continue reading “Stupid taxes are nothing new – but that doesn’t make them any less stupid (Part 2)”

“Nothing is certain in life except death and taxes”, as Benjamin Franklin’s old maxim goes. That’s especially true here in … Continue reading “Stupid taxes are nothing new – but that doesn’t make them any less stupid (Part 1)”

Commenting on the Supreme Court’s decision to back Scottish minimum alcohol pricing, Chris Snowdon, Head of Lifestyle Economics at the … Continue reading “Decision on minimum alcohol pricing disappointing & will hit poorest the hardest”