The Institute of Economic Affairs is an educational charity. We exist to teach free market economics and classical liberal thinking to any and all who are interested. While you may see our spokespeople on TV or read our peer reviewed research, one of our most important areas of activity is our student and academic programme. Considering research showing support amongst the young for socialism is at worryingly high levels, teaching the next generation about the impact of taxes, spending and regulation on the economy is vital for the continuation of our free society.
I am pleased to say our work received an incredible boost this week. I, alongside other representatives from the IEA, the University of Buckingham and Lord Nigel Vinson of Roddam Dene, held an event to celebrate Lord Vinson’s decision to expand and deepen his already incredibly generous support for the Vinson Centre for Economics and Entrepreneurship.
In November 2018, Lord Vinson provided the funds to facilitate the founding of the Vinson Centre. This, alongside giving Buckingham students the opportunity to study under some of Britain’s economists, gave the IEA a base at Buckingham for research, conferences and most importantly educational outreach. Thanks to the new programme we can commence with Lord Vinson’s renewed support this week, we expect to double the current 5,000 students that we support. When including our planned future online digital educational output, the sky truly is the limit.
The Vinson Centre, much like the IEA, works with students and scholars of economics of all ages to promote a far wider understanding of how free-markets and an environment conducive to entrepreneurship promotes welfare.
As a result of Lord Vinson’s generosity and vision, we are now able to expand our goals and be far more ambitious in our plans to bring market-orientated thinking to students across the UK. Educating the next generation is a fundamental part of the IEA’s goal, and all of us here at the IEA see this as a real opportunity to help spread classical liberal ideals. All of us are enormously grateful to Lord Vinson for his lifelong support of freedom and opportunity and, especially, for this latest expression of it.