IEA Featured Publications
Julian Jessop
12 October 2017
Research
Response to possibility of 'no deal' scenario
Summary: A 'no deal' scenario, in which the UK simply leaves the Single Market and Customs Union in 2019, does not have to be the 'catastrophe' that many fear. There would be some new barriers to trade with the EU, but these should be manageable. On the upside, the UK would be able to crack ...
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Julian Jessop
12 October 2017
Julian Jessop
29 September 2017
Research
IEA's Brexit Unit releases paper making the case for free trade
Executive summary: From 1990 to 2010, free trade helped a billion people lift themselves out of extreme poverty. But the pace of liberalisation has since slowed and protectionism is back in fashion. Fortunately, Brexit provides a golden opportunity for the UK to become a global champion of free trade again. This is potentially a win-win ...
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Julian Jessop
29 September 2017
28 September 2017
Research
Global economic freedom up slightly; UK ranks 10th among 159 jurisdictions
The United Kingdom ranks 10th out of 159 countries and territories included in the Economic Freedom of the World: 2017 Annual Report. The UK's ranking is unchanged from last year's. Executive Summary: The index published in Economic Freedom of the World measures the degree to which the policies and institutions of countries are supportive of ...
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28 September 2017
Julian Jessop
25 September 2017
Research
IEA Brexit Unit reacts to the Prime Minister's speech in Florence
Summary: In narrow terms, the Prime Minister's Brexit speech in Florence can be judged against two tests. First, will the offers on the financial settlement and citizens' rights represent 'sufficient progress' to allow talks on the future relationship to begin at last? And second, will the plan for a two-year transition period be enough to ...
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Julian Jessop
25 September 2017
7 September 2017
SMPC
In its e-mail poll for September - the Shadow Monetary Policy Committee (SMPC) voted by eight votes to one to raise Bank rate. This decision marks the 4th consecutive month that the committee has voted for a rise by this margin. The overwhelming consensus amongst members is that the economy is expanding fast enough to ...
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7 September 2017
Kevin Dowd
18 August 2017
Research
'No deal' with EU on trade post Brexit does not mean disaster for the UK
Summary: The primary objective of trade policy should be to promote the interests of UK consumers, not producers. The UK’s best post- Brexit trade policy should therefore be to trade as freely as possible with the rest of the world. Free Trade would bring considerable benefits to the UK. These benefits include lower consumer prices, ...
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Kevin Dowd
18 August 2017
Christopher Snowdon & Mark Tovey
7 August 2017
Research
UK will pay almost £25 billion in 'sin taxes' next year
Summary: This discussion paper provides the first estimate of the net effect of smoking on UK taxpayers per annum. Up until now, estimates have used a methodology that typically includes intangible costs, including costs to smokers themselves, while ignoring tangible savings to the state and tax revenues from tobacco duty. We estimate a net saving ...
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Christopher Snowdon & Mark Tovey
7 August 2017
31 July 2017
SMPC
SMPC votes eight / one to raise bank rate in August
At a quarterly face-to-face meeting in July, the Shadow Monetary Policy Committee (SMPC) voted by eight votes to one to raise Bank rate. This was the second consecutive vote by the Committee to raise rates by this margin. In a lively and well-attended discussion, the case for a rate rise was made by the majority on ...
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31 July 2017
J.R. Shackleton and Jamie Whyte
27 July 2017
Research
Taylor review fails to factor in costs to employees of proposed interventions
Summary: The Taylor Review should be commended for recognising the success of the UK’s flexible labour market and for refusing to endorse the outright bans on zero-hours contracts and app-based “gig” economy advocated by the Labour Party, trade unions and other pressure groups. However, its recommendations for further regulation of these types of work seem ...
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J.R. Shackleton and Jamie Whyte
27 July 2017
Dr Kristian Niemietz
4 July 2017
Research
Why the health system needs old-age reserve funds
Summary: Healthcare spending as a proportion of GDP has almost doubled since 1990, from just over 5 per cent to almost 10 per cent now. With differences in timing and magnitude, virtually all developed countries have experienced a similar long-term trend Healthcare costs rise exponentially in old age. Healthcare costs per capita are relatively stable ...
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Dr Kristian Niemietz
4 July 2017
