Milton Friedman once observed that, “with some notable exceptions, businessmen favour free enterprise in general, but are opposed to it … Continue reading “Help to Buy is worrying but the real problem is inflexible housing policy”

The battle of the generations is raging. Did the Baby Boomers have an easier life? Or are the cosseted members … Continue reading “Phoney war between the generations masks worrying lack of reform”

Apart from George Osborne, nobody really seems to like the Help to Buy scheme, the programme under which the government … Continue reading “Help to Buy issues won’t be solved by taxing speculators”

Nobody quite remembers when and why this law originally came to pass, but at some point in the distant past, … Continue reading “Housing and bread: an analogy”

At first sight, the 2013 Budget seems to mean good news for prospective homebuyers and working parents. Under the new … Continue reading “Demand and supply: why the Budget fails on A-level economics”

Econometric literature is notorious for its inconclusiveness. Even for seemingly straightforward issues such as the impact of minimum wage laws, … Continue reading “Planning reform must be a key ingredient in an anti-poverty package”

‘And goodbye to one of our lovely Bumblebee health-food shops in north London, finally defeated by another greedy developer who … Continue reading “A cheer for honest nimbyism”

Nearly ten years ago, IEA author Mark Pennington argued that British land use planning policies were characterised by public choice … Continue reading “Housing policy in the public choice trap”

Segments of the conservative press in the UK are currently running a concerted campaign against very minor proposals by the … Continue reading “Urban Sprawl as Government Failure”