A few years ago, the psychiatrist and science blogger Scott Alexander recounted an interesting anecdote from his university days on … Continue reading “Disability and incapacity benefits for working-age people: some recent developments”

Every year on 8 December, Albanians celebrate Youth Day. On this day in 1990, brave students led protests that ultimately … Continue reading “Living Red: My father’s life under Hoxha’s Albania (Part 2)”

From 19 to 23 August 2024, the Institute of Economic Affairs and the Adam Smith Institute organised their annual Freedom … Continue reading “Freedom Week: testimonies from participants”

Introduction Each year, the Government publishes international energy price comparisons. The data is sourced from the IEA and covers industrial … Continue reading “We’re number one… in unaffordable electricity”

When compared to any other point in history the world, we are astonishingly rich. Thanks to the interlinked miracles of … Continue reading “What’s the point of foreign aid?”

It is still early days for the Starmer Government, and at this stage, we can only really judge it on … Continue reading ““Right-wing on economics, left-wing on social issues”: on the breakdown of a political heuristic”

I was deeply saddened to learn today of the passing of my colleague and friend David Boaz, after his short … Continue reading “Obituary: David Boaz (1953-2024)”

National Service, another failed idea that never dies, is in the news again. It would be tempting to dismiss the … Continue reading “The Economics of National Service”

Will Hutton, the well-known political commentator and former Principal of Hertford College, Oxford, has gone into print in The Guardian to attack … Continue reading “Empire, the slave trade, and Britain’s wealth”