While shortages of PPE and ventilators have been at the top of the political agenda throughout the pandemic, this has “masked a far more intractable problem: the global shortage of doctors”. 

In a new report published by the IEA, ‘Is there a doctor in the house? Averting a post-pandemic staffing crisis in the NHS’, author Mark Tovey argues that fast-acting reforms are needed in order to avoid a catastrophic shortage of doctors in the UK, which currently ranks 27th out of 36 OECD countries for number of physicians. 

Mark’s recommendations include granting more NHS professionals the power to prescribe medications, opening up the NHS to graduates from similar, non-medical fields and allowing NHS Trusts to set their own wages.

Would you like £10,000 for a new project? If you’re under the age of 35 and have an exciting idea or contribution to policy debate, you could be in with the chance of winning one of two cheques for £10,000, courtesy of Brexit Central.

The winning idea could be a campaign group or think-tank you’ve set up or are hoping to set up; it could be a book proposal; or perhaps you’re looking to fund a research project, podcast or short film?

Applications are welcome from across the political spectrum - and can be on any issue, policy or subject you feel passionate about. 

Entries should be emailed to [email protected] by midnight on Sunday, 8th November and should cover (on no more than two sides of A4) an outline of your plan and how you hope to execute it. 

All submissions will then be sifted and judged by a panel comprising former Editor-at-Large of Brexit Central Matthew Elliott, Director of Politeia Jonathan Isaby, The Spectator's Kate Andrews, businessman Peter Cruddas, Conservative Peer Helena Morrissey DBE, businessman Jon Moynihan and Chief Executive of ConservativeHome Mark Wallace. 

It’s been another jam-packed week at the IEA, with a number of live events. On Thursday evening, IEA Director General Mark Littlewood hosted a US election special of Live with Littlewood. 



Mark was joined by US Editor of The Critic Oliver Wiseman, US Editor at The Spectator Freddy Gray, Morgan Schondelmeier of the Adam Smith Institute, Economics Correspondent at The Spectator Kate Andrews, Terry Kibbe of Washington-based Free The People, Patrick Basham of The Democracy Institute and the IEA’s Alexander Hammond to discuss the disunited state of America. 

Panellists gave their analysis of the latest polling, debated whether Trump will win a second term and gave their insight into what a Biden administration might look like. And, after a turbulent summer in the States, they discussed fears that dissatisfied voters will take to the streets - whatever the outcome of the election.

You can catch up here. 



Looking to the East, the IEA’s Academic and Research Director Professor Syed Kamall hosted an impressive panel of guests to discuss the UK’s future relations with China, including what strategy the government should adopt in light of China’s increasingly authoritarian behaviour.

Joining the panel were former Brexit Secretary David Davis MP, Sir Ian Duncan Smith MP, Damian Green MP along with Mark Littlewood and the IEA’s Head of Education, Dr Steve Davies. 

You can catch up on the discussion here. 



Syed also recently hosted a webinar with Gisela Stuart, former Labour MP for Birmingham Edgbaston.

Gisela spoke to Syed about what we can learn in 2020 from Ludwig Erhard, the ‘father’ of the Social Market Economy and widely considered to be one of the key people responsible for the German economic recovery in the 1950s. 

Are you interested in joining our growing media team? If so, we’ve got two exciting opportunities for you!

We’re looking for a new Head of Digital, responsible for managing the IEA’s digital strategy and output. You’ll be tasked with growing our social media output and taking our YouTube channel to new heights!

We’re also on the hunt for a Communications and Marketing Assistant to join our team. There’s no “typical day” for the IEA communications team, so we’ll expect you to get stuck into anything from drafting press releases and liaising with journalists, to supporting the IEA’s Head of Public Affairs with our new Free Market Forum initiative.  

For more information on both roles, and to apply, click here. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. The final deadline is 5pm on Friday 6th November.

* IEA Webinar: When will Covid end?

Earlier in the year, Dr Steve Davies authored a briefing paper titled: “Going Viral: The History and Economics of Pandemics”. In it, he identified how most viral pandemics last for two years. With that in mind, he concluded, this crisis could be behind us by Summer 2021.

What can we learn from historical precedent – could Covid-19 involve into a more benign, less virulent strain, and could this pandemic be over within the next nine months?

To discuss this, Steve will be joined by an illustrious panel of guests: Professor Karol Sikora, Founding Deane of the Medicine School at the University of Buckingham, Science journalist Laura Spinney and Tom Whipple, Science Editor at The Times.

The event will take place on Tuesday 3rd November at 1pm - register here to attend.

* Institute of International Monetary Research Money Annual Monetary Conference

The Institute of International Monetary Research will continue its Money Webinar series with two more sessions in November.

Alberto Musso, of the European Central Bank, will discuss inflation cycles, money cycles and credit cycles on Wednesday, 4th November at 4pm.

And on Wednesday, 11th November at 4pm, the Bank of England’s Ryland Thomas will discuss The Bank of England as Lender of Last Resort in the 19th century.

You can register and find out more here.

* Sixth form conference: 6th November from 1-6pm with Loretto School

Every year we hold FREE economics conferences for A-Level and IB students. We work with teachers to create the programme for talks based on the academic syllabus to help prepare students for their exams.

Register here for the conference where we will be discussing the economics of Brexit, market and government failure, the financial system and more.

You can sign up for any of our planned conferences this term and if you are interested in partnering on a future event please contact Brittany Davis at [email protected].

*Teachers' Seminar: 'Teaching the Syllabus after C-19' on 4th November

Every year the IEA hosts a free to attend seminar for A-Level/IB/Scottish Higher teachers of Economics and related subjects.

The seminar features talks from prominent economists on topical issues and how they relate to the academic syllabus – this seminar will focus on the state of the UK economy after Covid, Labour markets post-coronavirus, and ask if the tide has turned on globalisation.

Sign up for your place now.

If you have any questions, please email Brittany Davis at [email protected], and include the name of the school you teach at. 

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).