As with many contemporary policy debates, the furore over the state pension triple-lock has its roots with Gordon Brown. Back … Continue reading “Ros Altmann is right: It’s time to scrap the state pension triple-lock”

The Housing and Planning Bill, which will speed up the sale of social housing, has come under fire from various … Continue reading “We don’t need ‘social housing’. We need housing”

This article was first published by CapX. Julia Hartley-Brewer the other day ridiculed a guaranteed basic income – the idea … Continue reading “Julia Hartley-Brewer is wrong on the economics of a basic income”

Politicians spend much of their time worrying about repeating the political mistakes of their predecessors. In recent weeks, Conservative MPs … Continue reading “Why the UK pensions triple-lock is a costly economic – and political – mistake”

As the United Kingdom looks to reform its policies for dealing with the poor and unemployed, it should take notice … Continue reading “The work-vs-welfare trade-off”

New government spending programmes rapidly acquire permanence, and their removal then seems heartless and unprincipled. A case in point is … Continue reading “Universal free school meals are just another vote-buying gimmick”

During a tour to Paris, Bruce Springsteen explained that his dream was for the US to adapt a Swedish style … Continue reading “Bruce Springsteen and Paul Krugman are wrong about the Nordic welfare state”

Child poverty (measured as children living in a household below 60 per cent of median income) has remained unchanged. But … Continue reading “Seven thoughts on the child poverty target”

Bruce Springsteen may have been “Born in the USA”, but he says he’d prefer the US to be more like … Continue reading “The left is wrong: The welfare state didn’t make Scandinavia successful”