From Institute of Economic Affairs <[email protected]>
Subject A shot in the arm
Date January 17, 2021 8:59 AM
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* TALKING POINT, BY MARK LITTLEWOOD
* A SHOT IN THE ARM
* INTRODUCING..
* WHO IS YOUR NANNY?
* IT'S BACK!
* YOU'RE INVITED

I hope you are all having a good start to 2021 – or at least as good as can be expected in these extraordinary and worrying times. The rollout of the vaccine may now mean that an end to the Covid-19 pandemic – and the return of the freedoms we have lost over recent months – is in sight.

For lovers of liberty, we must not assume that a return of basic rights will be automatic. As Hayek warned us in The Road to Serfdom ([link removed]) , crises often lead to a great extension in government power and to state actors believing that their central planning in “wartime” can be translated into solving all manner of problems in “peacetime”. Already, some public health officials are suggesting that some of the “good habits” we have acquired should continue to be practiced after the coronavirus has passed. Of course, for most of us, these aren’t so much new habits which we have decided to embrace but rather government edicts which we are obliged to obey.

In the months to come, the IEA will be making the case for a new era of freedom. The damage done to the economy will best be repaired by allowing markets to properly function rather than rolling out an endless series of state programmes.

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I recently discussed how we might escape from these dark days for freedom with our friends at the Atlas Network, which you can listen to here ([link removed]) . I also had a conversation with IEA Advisory Council member and former MP, Douglas Carswell, about the challenges facing the freedom movement. This was live streamed on the IEA YouTube channel ([link removed]) , and you can catch up here ([link removed]) . Douglas has recently become CEO of the free market Mississippi Center for Public Policy ([link removed]) , and in the interview he outlined how he intends to go about tackling a wide range of challenges to freedom in the US.

The Covid-19 disaster will pass but, as it does, we will need to make a strong case for freedom. A return to the level of liberty we enjoyed just a year ago will not happen by accident. I hope you’ll join me in once again seeking to win the case for small government and limited state intervention in the never-ending battle of ideas.

Stay safe, stay free and thanks for all your support.

Mark Littlewood
Director General, Institute of Economic Affairs
A SHOT IN THE ARM

The Prime Minister has set a goal of offering protection to 15m people by mid-February before beginning to loosen lockdown restrictions. But is the government's strategy of inoculating the most vulnerable first the right one? And is there a case for a privately available vaccine?

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IEA Director of Communications Annabel Denham put these questions and more to Dr Kristian Niemietz, the IEA's Head of Political Economy, and Jonathan Kitson, co-author of the Adam Smith Institute Briefing Paper 'Worth a Shot – Accelerating COVID 19 Vaccinations' ([link removed]) which offers 22 ways to increase both supply and distribution of the the vaccine across the UK.

You can watch the discussion on the IEA's YouTube channel here ([link removed]) .
INTRODUCING...

We’re delighted to announce that Marc Glendening will be joining the IEA team as Head of Cultural Affairs. Leading this exciting new venture, Marc will focus on issues relating to freedom of speech and expression, with a view to injecting some much-needed liberal rationality into the debate.

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Previously Marc worked for Policy Exchange focusing on freedom of speech related issues and the political implications of human rights law. He has been campaign director of the all-party Democracy Movement and in 2010 was a co-founder of the People’s Pledge. He is also an honorary secretary of the Sohemian Society, which is dedicated to the history and liberal values of Soho.

IEA Academic and Research Director Professor Syed Kamall said:

“Marc brings with him years of experience in building coalitions across the ideological and political spectrum, which will be invaluable as he seeks to understand the rationale of those who wish to close down freedom of speech and expression. His work will provide free market solutions to the challenges of censorship, cancel culture and increased polarisation – we are delighted to welcome him to the team.”
WHO IS YOUR NANNY?

The World Health Organisation came under criticism for its slow response during the early days of the pandemic, including from our Head of Lifestyle Economics Christopher Snowdon ([link removed]) .

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Instead of focusing on the public health emergency, the WHO continues to engage in paternalistic lifestyle regulations, despite its lack of competency in enforcing them. The latest idea is a renewed global Alcohol Strategy that follows a neo-prohibitionist approach.

Christopher outlines in an article ([link removed]) for EPICENTER why this approach leads to negative unintended consequences and how the WHO might be better advised to focus on more urgent matters, such as helping to end the worst pandemic of the century.

You can read Christopher's briefing 'You had one job' ([link removed]) on the failings of both the WHO and Public Health England during the pandemic here ([link removed]) .
IT'S BACK!

Join us at 6pm on Wednesday 20th January for the new season of Live with Littlewood. IEA Director General Mark Littlewood will be joined by a stellar cast of think tankers, journalists, commentators, economists and more to discuss vaccines, our economic recovery, and the inauguration of Joe Biden as 46th President of the United States.

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Don't miss out – LIVE at 6pm, Wednesday 20th January, on the IEA's YouTube channel ([link removed]) .
BUDGET CHALLENGE

The deadline is fast approaching to enter the IEA Budget Challenge! It's your chance to put yourself in the shoes of the Chancellor and win £1,000 for you and your school!

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Teams of up to four A-level students can submit a Budget with taxation and spending policy for the UK in the coming financial year, as well as a brief analysis of the macroeconomic conditions with a broad policy and strategy response.

Please submit your entry to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) by Friday 29^th January 2021. Find out more here ([link removed]) .
MAKE THE (LOCKDOWN) BREAKTHROUGH!

Looking for a lockdown project? Why not take part in our Richard Koch Breakthrough Prize?

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The competition is looking for ways of helping ‘left-behind’ Britain – and there’s a first prize of £50,000 for the winning essay. The competition judges are seeking the best answers to this question:

"In the current severe economic climate, what pro-market, pro-enterprise policy would be the best way of supercharging growth, employment and living standards in 'left behind' Britain?"

Why not make lockdown work for you? You can find out all the details at breakthroughprize.org.uk.
YOU'RE INVITED

* In Conversation with the Rt Hon Baroness Morgan of Cotes

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On Tuesday 19th January at 6pm, the IEA will be hosting the Rt Hon Baroness Morgan for the latest in our In Conversation series with senior figures across public life, livestreamed on the IEA YouTube channel ([link removed]) . You can watch here ([link removed]) .

The conversation will cover on various aspects of her political career, her priorities for her time in the House of Lords, including the future of online harms legislation, and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Nicky Morgan was Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport from 24 July 2019 to 13 February 2020, and has served as Education Secretary, Minister for Women and Equalities, and Economic Secretary and Financial Secretary to the Treasury. After stepping down from the House of Commons at the 2019 election, she was elevated to the House of Lords as Baroness Morgan of Cotes.

* IIMR Money Webinar series

The Institute of International Monetary Research Money Webinar Series continues this year with three upcoming sessions.

On Wednesday 27th January, Steve Hanke ([link removed]) of Johns Hopkins University will give a talk on 'Alternative monetary regimes to fight inflation in emerging economies: dollarisation, currency boards and monetary competition'. On Wednesday 10th February, Dimitrios Tsomocos ([link removed]) of the Said Business School will lead a discussion on 'The role of money in modern macroeconomic modelling'. And on Wednesday 24th February, Gabriel Stein ([link removed]) of Stein Brothers (UK) will present on 'Macroeconomic forecasting and inflation leading indicators; 2021-22'.

You can register here ([link removed]) .

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