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* TALKING POINT
* FROM HERO TO ZERO
* RATIONING IN HEALTHCARE
* CALLING ALL STUDENTS!
* YOU’RE INVITED

TALKING POINT, BY ANNABEL DENHAM

The game of useless quango whack-a-mole is never-ending. Public Health England may be on the way out but rest assured some nanny statists will always find a way to bring in paternalistic, killjoy, finger-wagging policies.

The latest illustration was a proposal this week from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, an NHS agency, that we log pregnant women’s drinking habits, even against their consent, on their child’s medical record.

Lawyers have voiced data privacy concerns. Charities have raised alarm that this represents yet more societal pressure bearing down on mothers, who are already fending off unsolicited advice on all manner of things, from breastfeeding to natural deliveries.

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And, as I wrote in The Spectator ([link removed]) , this would apply to mothers before they even know they are expecting. Should women, therefore, jot down every tipple on the off chance they might accidentally be pregnant? And, if we record alcohol consumption, why not how much raw fish or blue cheese they’ve been eating?

It is another intrusion, another attempt by public health busybodies to regulate aspects of our lives. And they’re not the only ones: the word “mingle” is now on our statute books (it’s something a family of four cannot do with another family of four should they run into them in the street).

The government is deciding where we can go, what we can do, who we can let into our homes.

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If anything, my optimism ranking on this week’s Live with Littlewood ([link removed]) was generous. Perhaps a second national lockdown is the only way to stop the virus’s exponential growth in its tracks, preventing thousands of Covid deaths. But can our beleaguered economy withstand it?

I was joined on the panel by Matthew Lesh of the Adam Smith Institute, The Times’ Science Editor Tom Whipple, IEA Economics Fellow Julian Jessop, the TaxPayers’ Alliance’s Research Director Duncan Simpson, former Brexit Party MEP Alexandra Phillips, Politeia Director Jonathan Isaby, ConservativeHome’s Chief Executive Mark Wallace and scourge of the nanny state, our Head of Lifestyle Economics Christopher Snowdon. I gave a 3 out of 10; the average rating was 5.1. Catch up here ([link removed]) .

Annabel Denham
Director of Communications, Institute of Economic Affairs

RATIONING IN HEALTHCARE

An indirect effect of the pandemic has been the crowding-out of “conventional” (i.e. non-Covid-related) healthcare. Media reports on the collateral damage being wrought by Covid-19 – NHS cancer delays, cancelled operations, missed appointments – abound.

In a webinar on rationing in healthcare ([link removed]) during the pandemic hosted by the Adam Smith Institute, IEA Head of Political Economy Dr Kristian Niemietz argued that focusing exclusively on how the NHS is handling the virus may not be enough.

We should take greater interest in a health system’s overall response to the challenge, including how well it has managed to keep the show on the road. What does the UK's excess mortality rate – one of the highest in Europe – tell us about our performance? And if we've yet to feel the effects of delayed or cancelled diagnostic tests, is the worst still to come?

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Some of the more market-oriented healthcare systems on the Continent have been putting up a better fight, Kristian pointed out. This is not too surprising: as he showed in his book Universal Healthcare Without the NHS ([link removed]) , published four years ago, these systems tend to outperform the NHS across the board.

You can watch a recording of the ASI event here ([link removed]) , or read Kristian's blog post on the subject here ([link removed]) .

PEAK FREEDOM?

Economic freedom plays a vital role in reducing worldwide poverty and creating opportunities for all.

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However, according to the 2020 Economic Freedom of the World Index ([link removed]) , global economic freedom is likely at its peak this year. The IEA's Policy Adviser to the Director General Alexander Hammond and Fred McMahon of the Fraser Institute have explored this on the IEA blog ([link removed]) .

As governments react to the Covid-19 pandemic and as the world’s freest economy (Hong Kong) comes under growing influence from the Chinese Communist Party, next year’s results are likely to worsen.

And as economic crises grip the globe, it is even more vital to ensure labour market flexibility and enable companies to hire staff without major costs and bureaucratic hurdles.

Writing for the EPiCENTER blog, IEA intern Niccolo Fantini analyses ([link removed]) how various European labour markets performed after the 2008 crisis.

Elsewhere on the blog ([link removed]) , Erik Paessler explores the impact joining the EU has had on member states when it comes to economic freedom.


** CALLING ALL STUDENTS!
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Are you interested in going to Oxford or Cambridge? If so, there’s still time to register for the IEA’s Oxbridge Training Day on Wednesday 30th September, from 1-3.30pm.

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The Day will include lectures from Dr Stephen Davies, the IEA’s Head of Education, who will talk you through the 'Dos and Don’ts for Oxbridge Applications', an open Q&A session, and a discussion with IEA Editorial and Research Fellow and Cambridge Economics Graduate, Professor Len Shackleton.

If you, or someone you know, would like to attend, register here ([link removed]) . You can also find out more by emailing [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .


** YOU'RE INVITED

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*IEA BOOK CLUB EVENT WITH PROFESSOR DIETER HELM
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On Wednesday 23rd September at 6pm, the IEA Book Club will be hosting Professor Dieter Helm, to discuss his latest book “Net Zero: How We Stop Causing Climate Change”, with chair Professor Syed Kamall, IEA Academic and Research Director.

In his latest work, Dieter addresses the action we all need to take to tackle the climate emergency: personal, local, national and global. Reducing our own carbon consumption is the first step. He makes the case for a carbon price, one that applies to everything and everywhere, from flights to food and farming.

Please note, this event is strictly for IEA Book Club members. If you wish to find out more about the IEA Book Club, please contact us at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or call 020 7799 8906.

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*ACADEMIC WEBINAR WITH RANDY KROSZNER: GLOBALISATION – CORONAVIRUS AND OTHER THREATS

On Friday, 25th September at 1pm, the IEA will be hosting an academic webinar with Professor Randall S. Kroszner on the future of globalisation post-pandemic.

Professor Kroszner is the Norman R. Bobins Professor of Economics, and Deputy Dean for Executive Programs at Chicago Booth. He served as a Governor of the Federal Reserve System from 2006 until 2009. His book with Nobel laureate Robert J. Shiller, Reforming US Financial Markets: Before and Beyond Dodd-Frank, appeared on the Washington Post’s “Book World” political bestsellers list.

If you would like to attend, register 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.

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).

"I just want to say that the online stuff you guys are doing is absolutely astonishing! I’ve watched every Live with Littlewood in entirety and just finished watching the latest. It’s been superb entertainment."

"Thanks for making this crisis more of an age of enlightenment."

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