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Sunday 19th April 2020 View this email in your browser ([link removed])
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** Welcome to the IEA's Weekend Newsletter!
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* Lockdown lowdown
* Time to relax?
* Hungary for freedom
* Full steam ahead
* Eco-austerity
* Webinar of the week

Lockdown lowdown

Hello and welcome to our Sunday e-newsletter.

Here at the Institute of Economic Affairs we’ve been busy – like so many people around the globe – trying to meet the unique challenges presented by the coronavirus epidemic.

To that end, we’ve been reimagining the way we communicate our research and our ideas to our friends, supporters and the wider world.

During the lockdown, we’ve already stepped up our podcast and vidcast output (including a series of podcasts on the pandemic and its economic and social effects) and introduced IEA DAILY ([link removed]) , a sister publication to this e-newsletter.

And today I’m delighted to announce we’re about to extend that programming even further.

From tomorrow, we’ll be providing new videos each and every day of the week – delivering free market perspectives on a wide range of fascinating and timely issues.

Our new seven-day programming will provide analysis, insight and discussion – and feature guests from around the world. Topics will embrace everything from “coronomics” to carbon zero – all through the lens of classical liberalism.

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First up on Monday will be The Definite Article – a live stream vidcast in which IEA writers discuss the up-to-the-minute articles they’ve written for an array of national newspapers and magazines. Tomorrow's vidcast kicks off at 6pm. To watch, head to our YouTube channel here ([link removed]) .

Across the course of the next week, we plan to discuss carbon neutral targets, C-19 and its impact on populism and democracy, and ask whether the UK government is right to rule out a Brexit extension. We’ll put the World Health Organisation under the microscope and examine the role of nudge theory in the current crisis with behavioural economics expert Paul Ormerod.

All that and more, including a discussion on the masters of classical liberalism with acclaimed author Dr Eamonn Butler.

I trust you’ll find this expanded and enhanced programming truly satisfying in such unsatisfactory times, and I hope, as ever, that you stay well.

Thank you.

Mark Littlewood
IEA Director General


** How to watch
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Each morning, IEA DAILY will contain news of our very latest vidcasts. You can subscribe here ([link removed]) .

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Alternatively, visit our website ([link removed]) or go to our YouTube channel here ([link removed]) , where our new vidcasts will be available from 9am every day (and where you can also view over 400 of our existing films).


** Time to relax?
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The UK lockdown has been extended for three weeks, but on the continent several nations are – with some trepidation – relaxing restrictions.

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In our latest IEAsolation vidcast ([link removed]) , we ask whether the government is right to keep the current measures in place.

Is the risk of deepening the downturn justified – if it helps flatten the curve of coronavirus infections, eases pressure on the NHS and ultimately saves lives?

Sam Bowman, Director of Competition Policy at the International Center for Law and Economics, and Julian Jessop, IEA Economics Fellow, discuss how we balance the public health risks of easing the lockdown against the economic damage caused by Coronavirus.

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You can watch IEAsolation on our YouTube channel ([link removed]) – and be sure to subscribe to avoid missing an episode.

Julian also examined the issue further in a fascinating blog debate with the IEA’s Senior Academic Fellow Professor Philip Booth. Julian argues the extension is a price worth paying, while Philip takes the view that by experimenting, cautiously, we can gradually establish the optimal strategy.

You can read “Is the UK government right to extend the lockdown by three weeks?” here ([link removed]) .

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Philip also wrote for Spectator Life ([link removed]) on how we emerge from the crisis – outlining the options for repaying the debts being accumulated to support the economy and examining the possible impact of high inflation.


** Hungary for freedom
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EPICENTER ([link removed]) – our sister network of European think tanks – has been keeping a close eye on Europe’s reaction to the coronavirus, with director Adam Bartha identifying areas for concern across the continent.

Hungary, Adam’s home country, passed legislation granting its Prime Minister the powers to rule by decree indefinitely, punish ‘fake news’ with five years’ imprisonment, and condemn those who do not obey quarantine orders to eight years behind bars.

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Adam’s commentary has been featured in New Europe ([link removed]) and his personal assessment of the situation written for 1828 ([link removed]) has been translated into seven European languages. Catch-up with the developments on talkRadio ([link removed]) , Timbro’s podcast ([link removed]) or Civismo’s webinar ([link removed]) discussion.

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** Full steam ahead
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In the midst of a crisis – and after unveiling a £330bn Coronavirus support package – the government’s decision to greenlight construction work on HS2 has come under fire.

The IEA’s Head of Transport, Dr Richard Wellings, who has authored three reports on the project, said ([link removed]) :

“The economic case for HS2 was always weak. With the country in the midst of a Covid-19 induced economic downturn, the cost of this rail project – predicted to reach a mammoth £106 billion – is simply unjustifiable.

“At a time of crisis, the government should not be spending taxpayers’ money on deeply unpopular vanity projects that offer very limited value for money.”

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His comments were featured in The Sun ([link removed]) , The Times ([link removed]) and City AM ([link removed]) .


** Eco-austerity
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For the green left, the recent slowdown in economic activity – and the subsequent fall in pollution – has brought a sense of comfort in an otherwise dark time.

The British public has willingly relinquished civil liberties and sacrificed modern luxuries to help combat Covid-19 – leading some to question whether a similar, albeit less draconian, public policy response could be applied to climate change.

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To discuss this and his latest blog ([link removed]) on the subject, Andy Mayer, IEA Chief Operating Officer joined our Media Manager Emily Carver on the IEA ([link removed]) Podcast ([link removed]) .


** Webinar of the week
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This coming Thursday, 23rd April, from 5-6pm, the IEA is holding an exclusive webinar ([link removed]) to discuss international responses to Coronavirus.

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Leading think tankers from across Europe will join us to analyse the different ways the crisis is being handled across the continent – and debate the merits of policies and approaches being deployed.

Panellists include Martin Agerup, President of CEPOS (Denmark) and Juan A. Soto, Director of Civismo (Spain) and Jacob Lundberg, Chief Economist at Timbro (Sweden).
This webinar is invitation-only – but if you would like to apply for a place, please email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) . For more information, click here ([link removed]) .


** With a little help from our friends...
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These are difficult times for every individual and organisation, including the IEA. Understandably, your priorities will be to look after your loved ones, your family, your work or your business.

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But if you do have a little extra cash available to help the IEA during these uncertain times, your contribution – no matter how small – would be deeply appreciated.

As an educational charity, the work we do work is entirely funded by donations. If you are able to help please click here ([link removed]) or contact [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]?body=Dear%20Angela%2C) . Thank you.

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