Policy making trapped by ‘status-quo bias’

23 July 2021
Government and Institutions

Policy making trapped by ‘status-quo bias’

Christopher Snowdon writes for City AM

In an opinion column for City AM, IEA Head of Lifestyle Economics, Christopher Snowdon, discussed how policy making in Britain is trapped by 'status-quo bias', which Christopher described as "a form of small-c conservatism in which people have a preference for what they have become accustomed to even when it is clearly suboptimal from their ... Continue reading
23 July 2021
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£50,000 IEA BREAKTHROUGH PRIZE AWARDED TO ENTRY CALLING FOR A PEOPLE’S TAX REBATE

21 July 2021

£50,000 IEA BREAKTHROUGH PRIZE AWARDED TO ENTRY CALLING FOR A PEOPLE’S TAX REBATE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE £50,000 IEA BREAKTHROUGH PRIZE AWARDED TO ENTRY CALLING FOR A PEOPLE'S TAX REBATE Timothy Foxley, a 26-year-old strategic communications consultant from Stoke-on-Trent, has been announced as the winner of the £50,000 Breakthrough Prize. The prize – run by the Institute of Economic Affairs and supported by entrepreneur and author Richard Koch – sought to find the ... Continue reading
21 July 2021
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Public opinion now a key factor in policy making

21 July 2021
Government and Institutions

Public opinion now a key factor in policy making

Annabel Denham writes for The Spectator

In an op-ed for The Spectator, IEA Director of Communications, Annabel Denham, argued opinion polls are not the most accurate ways of understanding an individual's desires or intentions and can often be wildly inaccurate. Instead, peoples behaviour is a key indicator of a person's priorities. Annabel argued that government policy has recently been heavily guided ... Continue reading
21 July 2021
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Grade inflation is a threat to our education system

21 July 2021
Education

Grade inflation is a threat to our education system

Emily Carver writes for Conservative Home

In her latest column for Conservative Home, IEA Head of Media, Emily Carver, sympathised with the plight of students and teachers during the pandemic but argued plans to make examinations easier is the not the answer to helping pupils catch-up with their education. Emily said: "Making it easier for students to pass their exams won’t ... Continue reading
21 July 2021
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IEA expert responds to ONS government borrowing figures

21 July 2021

IEA expert responds to ONS government borrowing figures

Commenting on the government borrowing figures for June published by the Office for National Statistics, Julian Jessop, Economics Fellow at free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said: "Government borrowing is continuing to come in below the OBR’s pessimistic forecasts, helped by stronger economic growth. This relative improvement may only be temporary and ... Continue reading
21 July 2021
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IEA expert’s opposition to National Insurance rise for social care reported by Sky News

20 July 2021
Tax and Fiscal Policy

IEA expert’s opposition to National Insurance rise for social care reported by Sky News

Prof. Len Shackleton quoted by Sky News

The government is expected to announce an increase in National Insurance Contributions (NIC) to help fund social care in the UK. Prof. Len Shackleton, Editorial & Research Fellow at the IEA, was quoted by Sky News condemning the proposals. Len argued: "It is wrong to place the burden of this tax squarely on the shoulders ... Continue reading
20 July 2021
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Increasing National Insurance to fund social care unfair on young workers

20 July 2021
Tax and Fiscal Policy

Increasing National Insurance to fund social care unfair on young workers

Prof. Len Shackleton quoted in City AM

The government has reportedly reached an agreement to fund social care with a 1 per cent increase in National Insurance Contributions (NIC). The increase is expected to raise £10bn a year to fund social care, with both employers and employees seeing their tax burden increase. Responding to the policy in City AM, IEA Editorial & ... Continue reading
20 July 2021
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IEA socialism research referenced by the Washington Examiner

20 July 2021
Economic Theory

IEA socialism research referenced by the Washington Examiner

IEA research referenced in Washington Examiner

Research conducted by IEA Head of Political Economy, Dr Kristian Niemietz, was referenced in an article for the Washington Examiner. Kristian's book 'Socialism: The Failed Idea That Never Dies' was referenced as evidence that every socialist experiment has failed and contributed to appalling human rights atrocities and economic collapse. Read the full article here.... Continue reading
20 July 2021
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National Insurance hike “yet another burden on working age people”, says IEA expert

20 July 2021

National Insurance hike “yet another burden on working age people”, says IEA expert

Commenting on the planned increase in National Insurance, Professor Len Shackleton, Editorial and Research Fellow at free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said: "Hiking National Insurance will be yet another burden on working age people at a time when jobs are insecure, inflation is rising and wages are squeezed. "Much of the ... Continue reading
20 July 2021
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‘Pingdemic’ could delay the return of GDP to pre-pandemic levels by a few months

16 July 2021
Healthcare

‘Pingdemic’ could delay the return of GDP to pre-pandemic levels by a few months

Julian Jessop quoted in The Telegraph

Concerns have been raised by industry representatives that the chaos caused by the NHS Test and Trace app could lead to food shortages as millions face self-isolation. Quoted in The Telegraph, IEA Economics Fellow Julian Jessop argued that the disruption - which has seen Nissan and Rolls-Royce factories threatened with temporary closure – may "delay ... Continue reading
16 July 2021
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