**
------------------------------------------------------------


** Sunday 10th May 2020 View this email in your browser ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------


** Welcome to the IEA's Weekend Newsletter!
------------------------------------------------------------
* TALKING POINT: Where next for the lockdown?
* Live with Littlewood
* Under threat
* Zeroing In
* A question of latitude
* You're invited

TALKING POINT: Where next for the lockdown?
By the IEA’s Head of Lifestyle Economics, Christopher Snowdon

As we enter the eighth week of virtual house arrest, we must never become accustomed to our loss of freedom. It is difficult to think of any historic precedent, even in wartime, for our current situation.

Never before have churches and pubs been closed for so long. Never before have we needed a ‘reasonable excuse’ to leave the house. If even a fraction of the emergency powers granted to the government remain in place after the crisis has passed, it will be a serious blow to civil liberties.

This week the IEA published my briefing paper ([link removed]) explaining what the lockdown laws permit (not much) and what the long-term threats to freedom could be. I also wrote for the Telegraph ([link removed]) and appeared on Sky News ([link removed]) to demand some clarity from the government on why the lockdown is still in place despite the stated objectives being met.

[link removed]

Perhaps the greatest danger is that people will learn from the wrong lessons. It is an ill wind that blows no good and there has undoubtedly been a decline in carbon emissions and a fall in the crime rate. We must never forget the enormous economic and human cost that was required to produce them. I discussed this in more length with IEA Director General Mark Littlewood on The Definite Article ([link removed]) .

Britain’s handling of Covid-19 could certainly have been better. The handful of countries that have reduced the number of new cases to zero have used diagnostic testing and contact tracing on a large scale and have recommended the use of face masks.

After two frantic months, the UK has just about got a handle on testing, but its embryonic contact tracing app has the hallmarks of another government IT fiasco, and there are barely enough face masks for health workers, let alone the general public.

[link removed]

Some have blamed under-funding but, as I showed in a new briefing paper ([link removed]) on Thursday, NHS funding is at record highs and Public Health England’s budget for ‘protection from infectious diseases’ rose from £52 million in 2014/15 to £86.9 million in 2018/19. There have been no cuts in this crucial area.

The real problem is that only a fraction of England’s £4 billion public health budget is spent on genuine public health problems. For example, more than twice as much is spent on obesity than on preparing for pandemics. I wrote about this for The Spectator ([link removed]) and for the IEA blog ([link removed]) .

Live with Littlewood

On Wednesday, the IEA hosted some of the UK’s finest free marketeers for the first edition of our new webinar, Live with Littlewood. Catch up here ([link removed]) on our YouTube channel ([link removed]) and tune in this Thursday, 14th May at 6pm for the next live edition.

Panellists included The Spectator’s Economics Correspondent Kate Andrews, Sam Bowman from the International Center for Law and Economics, Tom Harwood of Guido Fawkes, TaxPayers' Alliance Chief Executive John O’Connell and our Head of Political Economy Dr Kristian Niemietz.

[link removed]

The thought-provoking conversation, led by our Director General Mark Littlewood and watched over 2,400 times, focused on the UK’s economic recovery.

Later in the week, Mark interviewed ([link removed]) author and businessman Neil Monnery on Sir John Cowperthwaite: The Man Who Made Hong Kong. As Mark pointed out, there are lessons our leaders could learn from Hong Kong’s “Architect of Prosperity” as we begin to prepare to exit the lockdown. Watch here ([link removed]) .

Under threat

Since coronavirus was declared a global pandemic, we’ve seen countries shutting down, limiting flights and cutting off links with the outside world. Borders have closed and whole regions have been quarantined.

With calls for greater self-sufficiency, national food security and less international travel, globalisation as we know it is under attack. In a fascinating webinar, the IEA’s Senior Academic Fellow Professor Philip Booth outlined the positive aspects of globalisation and the threats to it. You can catch up on our YouTube channel here ([link removed]) .

[link removed]

We also released a short trailer ([link removed]) with Mark Littlewood, IEA Head of Education Dr Stephen Davies and the Swedish author Johan Norberg – asking whether Covid-19 will bring about a rise in economic nationalism.

The short and medium-term economic damage from coronavirus was the subject of a fascinating webinar ([link removed]) with Rt Hon Sir Vince Cable, former Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills, and Sam Bowman of the ICLE, moderated by our Academic and Research Director Professor Syed Kamall. Watch here ([link removed]) .


** Zeroing In
------------------------------------------------------------

One consequence of lockdown has been the dramatic drop in pollution, which has brought some comfort to environmentalists. But will this have any lasting impact on the climate change debate?

[link removed]

The IEA continues to examine free market approaches to the Net Zero by 2050 target. In this week’s episode of the IEA’s Zeroing In series, Professor Syed Kamall was joined by Bruno Prior, Director of Summerleaze Ltd and member of the IEA Board of Trustees, to discuss whether we could meet our energy needs purely from renewables.

You can watch the episode here ([link removed]) on our YouTube channel.


** Your one-stop shop
------------------------------------------------------------

“REALLY LIKE THE DAILY BULLETIN – IT’S GETTING BETTER AND BETTER”

Monday to Saturday, IEA Da ([link removed]) ily ([link removed]) brings you the key stories of the day – plus the latest on all our online activities and recommendations on must-reads, must-listens and more.

"GREAT MATERIALS AND LOVING THE FORMAT”

[link removed]
If you haven't yet subscribed, just click here ([link removed]) .

“SO PLEASED THE IEA IS MAINTAINING ITS CUTTING EDGE WORK THROUGH THESE EXTRAORDINARY TIMES”


** A question of latitude…
------------------------------------------------------------

Governments across the world have handled the coronavirus crisis differently, but how have their populations reacted? This week, the IEA hosted a webinar ([link removed]) with Sam Lyon, Managing Director of CTF Partners.

Sam shared newly gathered data from the C|T Group’s “Covid-19 Leadership Insights Tracker” which is running weekly in five countries (the US, UK, India, Hong Kong and Australia) tracking behavioural and consumption shifts, attitudes to the coronavirus crisis and public expectations of business.

[link removed]

Catch up on the presentation, followed by analysis from Mark Littlewood, Adam Bartha, Director of the Epicenter Network of European think-tanks, and Christopher Snowdon, IEA Head of Lifestyle Economics here ([link removed]) .


** You're invited
------------------------------------------------------------

Freedom or security? Governments everywhere are making choices between health security and economic and social freedom as they manage the current global pandemic. But will populations accept security at any cost?

On Tuesday 12th May at 6pm (BST), the Professor Syed Kamall will host a webinar with Grover Norquist, Founder and President of Americans for Tax Reform. Please follow thelink here ([link removed]) to register.

[link removed]

The key to prosperity… On Wednesday 13th May from 6-8pm (BST), the IEA Book Club will be hosting a webinar ([link removed]) with Dan Hannan, former MEP and founder and President of the Initiative for Free Trade, and Daniel Lacalle, author of “Freedom or Equality: The Key to Prosperity Through Social Capitalism”.

In his book, Daniel proposes social capitalism as the key to delivering superior growth and prosperity worldwide. If you would like to attend, please register by following the link here ([link removed]) .

And don’t forget to tune into our next Live with Littlewood webinar, Thursday 14th May, 6pm.


** With a little help from our friends...
------------------------------------------------------------

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.

[link removed]

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.

And why not get Amazon to donate too? All you have to do is to start shopping on [link removed] and pick the IEA as your chosen charity. The IEA will then receive 0.5% of your spending on most items. Everything else remains the same (and at no additional cost to you).

============================================================
** Twitter ([link removed])
** Facebook ([link removed])
** LinkedIn ([link removed])

You are receiving this email from the Institute of Economic Affairs
** Unsubscribe ([link removed])
from this list.

© 2020 Institute of Economic Affairs
Institute of Economic Affairs 2 Lord North Street London, London SW1P 3LB United Kingdom

Registered in England 755502, Charity No. CC/235 351, Limited by Guarantee

** Forward ([link removed])
this email to a friend

This email was sent to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
why did I get this? ([link removed]) unsubscribe from this list ([link removed]) update subscription preferences ([link removed])
Institute of Economic Affairs . 2 Lord North Street . London, London SW1P 3LB . United Kingdom