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I first came to free markets through watching Milton Friedman’s Free to Choose documentary on YouTube in high school. In the opening scenes, Friedman explains the success of New York, a city built by people who were driven from Europe by fear into a land of freedom and plenty.
Sweat, enterprise, and a vision of a better future. There was nobody to turn to if things didn’t work out, but also relatively few rules and regulations to prevent enterprising individuals from succeeding. They found a free market and most of them thrived.
Watching Friedman reminded me of my own family story. My grandparents did not migrate to the United States. But they did sail from Europe to escape pogroms, abject poverty and tyrannical evil.
I was lucky enough that they found Australia. A much freer, more tolerant and prosperous society than they left behind. They struggled, worked hard and through enterprising grit their children and grandchildren live a much better life.
Freedom is a value that, as Reagan said, must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation. My mission, over the last almost decade working at think tanks has been to discuss, analyse, and promote the values that not only made my home and adopted country succeed but have meant so much for my own family.
This will be my last weekend leading the IEA’s communications. It has been a blast being responsible for the best team at the IEA.
Since our founding in 1955, we have always been in the business of communicating ideas. If is the very essence of a think tank. Today there is much greater ability to reach much wider audiences. The traditional gatekeepers have disappeared, and with that it is incumbent to take every opportunity, on every platform, to get out our essential message. That’s just what we do, reaching millions of people every month across conventional media and digital outreach.
I would like to thank the IEA, its trustees and my colleagues for the trust they have placed in me. Particular appreciation goes to my long-suffering team, Harrison, Reem and Jamie – thank you.
There are plenty of problems in Britain. But we must lose sight of the fact that we are some of the luckiest people, not just in the world but in human history. Let’s protect that.
Matthew Lesh
IEA Director of Public Policy & Communications
P.S. The best way to support our vital research and educational programmes is to become a paid IEA Insider. For a limited time, new paid subscribers will receive a copy of Steve Davies’ new book Apocalypse Next: The Economics of Global Catastrophic Risks) and a 15% discount.
Is Liberty Dying in Britain? | IEA Podcast, Communications Officer Reem Ibrahim, Communications Manager Harrison Griffiths, and Director of Public Policy & Communications Matthew Lesh, IEA YouTube
Robin Hood in Reverse: Foreign aid spending in regions that are richer than parts of the UK
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UK taxpayers have been funding projects in wealthy areas of China, Mexico, and Malaysia within the last five years
By freelance journalist Mark Tovey
UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) spent in regions with higher GDP per capita than some parts of the UK.
Misallocation of development funds to wealthy regions means less money for the poorest, undermining global poverty reduction efforts.
The richest recipient, Ordos in China, has GDP per capita of £27,500 – more than 69 UK regions.
The International Development Act should be amended to prevent ‘Robin Hood in reverse’ aid.
Robin Hood in Reverse, Reem Ibrahim, GB News; Harrison Griffiths, GB News; Matthew Lesh, talkTV; & Managing Editor Daniel Freeman, talkTV
What is the point of foreign aid?, Daniel Freeman, CapX
UK aid spent in areas of China that are richer than parts of UK, Robin Hood in Reverse featured in The Times, The Sun, The Daily Express, GB News, MSN, The Daily Mail, The Daily Telegraph, The Yorkshire Times, and ConservativeHome
News, Views & Upcoming Events
Trophy Hunting Import Bill undermines UK’s position in CITES, WTO, Dr Francis Vorhies discusses his IEA research on trophy hunting in The Botswana Guardian and The Daily Mail
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Free speech is no panacea, but it’s still worth protecting, Editorial Director Kristian Niemietz, CapX
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Modern state is in danger of over-regulating society, IEA research by Matthew Lesh referenced in The Times
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The Housing Scotland Bill is unworkable as it stands, IEA research on the impact of rent controls referenced in The Scotsman, Edinburgh Evening News, Property Industry Eye, Letting Agent Today, the Knight Frank Blog, and The Housing Quality Network
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Freedom Week
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This week, the IEA and Adam Smith Institute hosted some of the best and brightest students from across the UK and beyond in Cambridge for Freedom Week, our annual summer school in classical liberalism.
Senior Education Fellow Steve Davies, Kristian Niemietz, Matthew Lesh, and Reem Ibrahim all gave talks to students across the week about a wide range of important economic and philosophical topics in classical liberalism.
 | A guest post by
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