|
The ECONOMIC VALUE of HUMAN LIFE
As Julian notes, this week saw the release of his IEA paper CORONAVIRUS and the ECONOMIC VALUE of HUMAN LIFE or…IS THE LOCKDOWN WORTH IT?
His report - the latest in our series of Covid-19 briefings - highlights the often-controversial topic of health economics and cost-benefit analysis. It’s an issue, he says, which policymakers shouldn’t shy away from. You can read his full report here.
Julian also features in our latest DEFINITE ARTICLE webinar, alongside Victoria Hewson, the IEA’s Head of Regulatory Affairs. In conversation with our Academic and Research Director Syed Kamall, they explore the economic necessities for relaxing the lockdown and examine the preparedness – and implications – of the government’s track and trace measures. Watch it here.
|
|
|
|
GOODBYE to the WORKPLACE?
There’s been much speculation that the lockdown will spark a permanent revolution in working habits. But will the office really become another Covid casualty?
In The Spectator this week, IEA Communications Director Annabel Denham suggests it’s naïve to think that working from home could broaden out to most people in Britain.
She points to our recent research, which showed that the headline statistics on full-time home-workers are misleading (many work from home rather than at home).
And she suspects many workers will ultimately crave the company and collaboration that goes hand-in-hand with office working. Read her article here.
|
|
|
|
BROKEN CHINA?
How will the pandemic affect the West’s relationship with China?
Writing in our blog this week, IEA Head of Education Dr Stephen Davies says there’s already been a significant shift in foreign policy in the US and Europe. If the relationship is badly handled, he warns, it could be economically damaging and politically dangerous – bringing with it the threat of a second cold war. Not only that, it could feed authoritarianism – both in China and in liberal democracies.
But history suggests there’s an alternative to confrontation and military competition. Read why “people’s democracy” could be the answer, here.
|
|
|
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Our enhanced and expanded activities during lockdown have proved to be really popular with our supporters, who’ve been quick to show their approval: “The steady stream of video, publications, interviews, etc., from the IEA has been magnificent! You lead the way. The quality is so professional.”
Here are just a few highlights from the past seven days:
In recent weeks we have seen the resurgence of a debate around the appropriateness of statues in public places. Edward Colston was thrown in a river, a campaign is afoot to remove Cecil Rhodes. In Germany, a far-left party has unveiled a public statue of Lenin, to furious protest. What is the proper way to judge historical figures? Is toppling statues an effective tool to eliminate prejudices? Should we have a Public Memorials (Abolition) Act? Is this the thin end of the wedge: what about blue plaques, or street names? Could it trickle into attitudes towards culture? Watch here.
Transactions have always taken place - in markets and shopping malls around the world. But in the past two decades these physical locations have increasingly been replaced by their virtual counterparts - online platforms. In this webinar, author Michael C. Munger examines the role of these platforms and the part they’ve played in bringing down transaction costs. Watch here.
Elinor Ostrom’s ideas cross ideological and political borders – yet they’ve had little impact on UK policymakers. But the Nobel prizewinner’s research contains powerful lessons for the UK’s burgeoning ’community power’ movement – and for policymakers too. In this webinar, Dr. Simon Kaye, of the NLGN think tank, says Ostrom’s thinking could point the way to a more vibrant, diverse and resilient country in the aftermath of the pandemic. Watch here.
Elinor Ostrom also gave the IEA’s Hayek Memorial Lecture in 2012, just months before she died at the age of 78.
Watch The Future of the Commons - Beyond ’Market Failure’ and Government Regulation here.
Or read the book based on her lecture, here.
In the wake of the coronavirus, are central banks sowing the seeds for double digit inflation by printing money and relaxing bank regulations?
In this IEA video, members of the Institute of International Monetary Research (IIMR) at Buckingham University warn that we could see the return of boom and bust cycles in the next two to three years. Watch it here.
In this week’s edition of School of Thought - our look at great liberal thinkers - we profile social reformer and suffragist Josephine Butler. Dr Stephen Davies examines the work of the woman who made liberal feminism a powerful force in 19th century Britain, confronting policymakers and bringing difficult social issues into the public domain. Watch here.
This series is based on our book School of Thought - 101 Great Liberal Thinkers by Dr Eamonn Butler. Download it for free here.
Although epidemics have arisen during all of human history, many have begun and originated in Asia. Being a region that has dealt with a mass outbreak of infectious diseases, did countries in the region deal with the health and economic impacts in an appropriate manner?
Watch here with guest speakers Ali Salman, CEO of Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs in Kuala Lumpur, Andrew Shuen, Co-Founder of Lion Rock Institute in Hong Kong; and Professor Sinclair Davidson of RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia.
|
|
|
YOUR ONE-STOP SHOP
"We're watching at least one IEA event each day and it's getting hard to choose from such a smorgasbord of delicacies from so many talented chefs"
Monday to Saturday, IEA Daily 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.
"The IEA really is excelling itself at the moment. I haven't encountered a single other company or institution that has stepped up so comprehensively and ramped up its public footprint to such an extent"
If you haven't yet subscribed, click here.
|
|
|
YOU'RE INVITED
Tuesday 30th June (6pm BST) Webinar: IN CONVERSATION with DANNY KRUGER MP
Danny Kruger has been the Member of Parliament for Devizes since the 2019 general election. Prior to that he was Prime Minister Boris Johnson's political secretary, and had occupied a number of roles in the Conservative government.
The IEA’s Academic & Research Director, Professor Syed Kamall, will question Mr. Kruger’s take on No 10’s vision for Britain - and why he thinks it’s misunderstood; he’ll ask whether, as Mr. Kruger has written, Tories have to choose “between beef and liberty”. And he’ll also seek the MP’s thoughts on what the Government should do in the coming months to stop economic disaster.
To register for this event, click here.
Wednesday 1st July (1-2pm BST) Webinar: MYTHS of LOCAL FOOD POLICY: Discussions on a post-Brexit agricultural policy
For several years many activists and policymakers have called for greater agricultural protectionism and local food production. But these initiatives have repeatedly failed to deliver on their promises.
In this webinar, Professor Pierre Desrochers, of the University of Toronto, will argue this outcome was inevitable - because they’d recreated the problems that had historically motivated the development of modern agricultural production practices and of the globalized food supply chain.
By promoting the increased production of local food that does not offer a compelling quality/price ratio whilst also shunning modern production and processing technologies, local food activists and protectionists ensure that our food supply will become more expensive, environmentally damaging and hazardous to our health.
To register for this event, click here.
|
|
|
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.
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 or contact [email protected]. Thank you.
And why not get Amazon to donate too? All you have to do is to start shopping on https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ 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).
|
|
|
|
|
