Author: Philip Booth

Total posts: 500

Note to academics: disagree with economic liberalism all you want, but quit the straw-manning

23 April 2021
Economic Theory

Note to academics: disagree with economic liberalism all you want, but quit the straw-manning

Philip Booth
23 April 2021
Why are academics so fond of misrepresenting economic liberalism? Take the recent New Statesman article co-written by Adrian Pabst, a highly respected political … Continue reading “Note to academics: disagree with economic liberalism all you want, but quit the straw-manning”

Can government debt be justified? Distributive justice, intergenerational equity and Catholic social teaching

21 July 2020
Economic Theory

Can government debt be justified? Distributive justice, intergenerational equity and Catholic social teaching

Philip Booth
21 July 2020
Interestingly, Pope Francis has talked about distributive justice in an intergenerational context in relation to climate change. The argument is … Continue reading “Can government debt be justified? Distributive justice, intergenerational equity and Catholic social teaching”

Market forces are the best way to successfully integrate health and social care, says new IEA report

15 May 2019
Healthcare

Market forces are the best way to successfully integrate health and social care, says new IEA report

Philip Booth
15 May 2019

IEA report encourages more competition in health & social care systems

Competition and markets should be introduced into the UK’s health and social care systems to find the best ways of … Continue reading “Market forces are the best way to successfully integrate health and social care, says new IEA report”

The trouble with economic ‘experts’ is their exaggerated faith in spurious mathematical sophistication

3 March 2017
Economic Theory

The trouble with economic ‘experts’ is their exaggerated faith in spurious mathematical sophistication

Philip Booth
3 March 2017
Famously, Michael Gove attacked experts in the EU referendum campaign. And, of course, the experts have fought back, leading Gove … Continue reading “The trouble with economic ‘experts’ is their exaggerated faith in spurious mathematical sophistication”

Most environmental problems are really just tragedy-of-the-commons problems. Private property rights are the answer

23 February 2017
Economic Theory

Most environmental problems are really just tragedy-of-the-commons problems. Private property rights are the answer

Philip Booth
23 February 2017
There is a strong case to be made that the most important pre-requisite for a sustainable environment is a society … Continue reading “Most environmental problems are really just tragedy-of-the-commons problems. Private property rights are the answer”

Costly EU regulation has not made financial services safer or better – but Brexit is no silver bullet

19 April 2016
Government and Institutions

Costly EU regulation has not made financial services safer or better – but Brexit is no silver bullet

Philip Booth
19 April 2016
The City is split when it comes to Brexit. Certainly, the larger City institutions with significant EU business tend to … Continue reading “Costly EU regulation has not made financial services safer or better – but Brexit is no silver bullet”

There are few things in positive economics that are settled – except that there are few things that are settled

22 March 2016
Economic Theory

There are few things in positive economics that are settled – except that there are few things that are settled

Philip Booth
22 March 2016
Mariana Mazzucato is a well-known Professor of the Economics of Innovation at the University of Sussex. She advises the Labour … Continue reading “There are few things in positive economics that are settled – except that there are few things that are settled”

A vicious circle of state intervention is taking Britain’s energy markets back to the 1970s

5 January 2016
Energy and Environment

A vicious circle of state intervention is taking Britain’s energy markets back to the 1970s

Philip Booth
5 January 2016
Whether you are a green activist or a poverty campaigner, energy policy under the Thatcher-Major-Blair governments was a striking success. … Continue reading “A vicious circle of state intervention is taking Britain’s energy markets back to the 1970s”

Why does Pope Francis criticise the malign effects of capitalism on countries that don’t know capitalism?

26 September 2013

Why does Pope Francis criticise the malign effects of capitalism on countries that don’t know capitalism?

Philip Booth
26 September 2013
On Sunday, Pope Francis made unprepared remarks in Sardinia, a part of Italy that has been especially badly hit by … Continue reading “Why does Pope Francis criticise the malign effects of capitalism on countries that don’t know capitalism?”

Rowan Williams sowed confusion last week when he raised the distinction between the “deserving” and “undeserving” poor

13 June 2011

Rowan Williams sowed confusion last week when he raised the distinction between the “deserving” and “undeserving” poor

Philip Booth
13 June 2011
In his recent New Statesman editorial, Archbishop Rowan Williams criticised the re-emergence of the seductive language of the deserving and … Continue reading “Rowan Williams sowed confusion last week when he raised the distinction between the “deserving” and “undeserving” poor”

The Big Society will only come into being when the Government stops trying to create it and instead unleashes a tide of philanthropy

27 January 2011

The Big Society will only come into being when the Government stops trying to create it and instead unleashes a tide of philanthropy

Philip Booth
27 January 2011
The Government reportedly feels that its Big Society programme has stalled. It is not surprising. The coalition’s idea of the … Continue reading “The Big Society will only come into being when the Government stops trying to create it and instead unleashes a tide of philanthropy”

The Government’s NHS reforms are merely reorganising a failed model, when radical surgery is really required

17 December 2010

The Government’s NHS reforms are merely reorganising a failed model, when radical surgery is really required

Philip Booth
17 December 2010
The Government is pressing ahead with another reorganisation of the National Health Service. It is unlikely this reordering of our … Continue reading “The Government’s NHS reforms are merely reorganising a failed model, when radical surgery is really required”

John Hutton’s report on public sector pensions is a step in the right direction – but he needs to go much further

8 October 2010

John Hutton’s report on public sector pensions is a step in the right direction – but he needs to go much further

Philip Booth
8 October 2010
Yesterday we had the widely-trailed report on reforming public sector pensions. It has been put to me, including on Radio … Continue reading “John Hutton’s report on public sector pensions is a step in the right direction – but he needs to go much further”

The Pensions Problem (Volume 18.1)

1 March 1998
Economic Affairs

The Pensions Problem (Volume 18.1)

Philip Booth
1 March 1998

Main articles on pension reform edited by Philip Booth. The editorial is on 'The transition from social insecurity' and the sample article on the Chilean pensions model.

Main articles The transition from social insecurity by Philip Booth The economic principles of pension provision by Patrick Minford Complementary … Continue reading “The Pensions Problem (Volume 18.1)”

The Moral Limits to the Market Economy, and the Financial Crash (web publication)

30 September 2010
Research

The Moral Limits to the Market Economy, and the Financial Crash (web publication)

Philip Booth
30 September 2010

A market economy can nurture good human attributes

In the thirtieth IEA Discussion Paper, Philip Booth examines the moral limits to the market economy. Christians often express concerns … Continue reading “The Moral Limits to the Market Economy, and the Financial Crash (web publication)”

Cutting public spending by £167bn: a modest but necessary aim (web publication)

12 April 2010
Research

Cutting public spending by £167bn: a modest but necessary aim (web publication)

Philip Booth
12 April 2010

An estimate of the public spending cuts required to tackle the UK's budget deficit

In the 31st IEA Current Controversies paper, Philip Booth examines the scale of the public spending cuts required to tackle … Continue reading “Cutting public spending by £167bn: a modest but necessary aim (web publication)”

Aid, Trade and Good Governance: can we make poverty history? (web publication) – Philip Booth

10 October 2005
Research

Aid, Trade and Good Governance: can we make poverty history? (web publication) – Philip Booth

Philip Booth
10 October 2005

In the 11th IEA Discussion Paper, Philip Booth asks whether world leaders at the Edinburgh G8 meeting were focusing on the right issues

This paper discusses why good governance is the only route to economic development and why aid can, in fact, be … Continue reading “Aid, Trade and Good Governance: can we make poverty history? (web publication) – Philip Booth”

Is Trade Justice? Is Fair Trade Fair? (web publication)

25 April 2005
Research

Is Trade Justice? Is Fair Trade Fair? (web publication)

Philip Booth
25 April 2005

In the 10th IEA Discussion paper, Philip Booth discusses the economics of the trade justice movement's proposals from a Christian perpsective

This paper discusses issues related to the fair trade and trade justice movements. It finds the arguments of the trade … Continue reading “Is Trade Justice? Is Fair Trade Fair? (web publication)”