From Institute of Economic Affairs <[email protected]>
Subject Poor Thinking
Date January 31, 2021 8:59 AM
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* TALKING POINT, BY PROFESSOR LEN SHACKLETON
* IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
* APPLES AND ORANGES
* LIVE WITH LITTLEWOOD
* ECONOMICS 101
* YOU'RE INVITED

Another week in lockdown. Like most people with children, we're struggling to keep them happy and focused. The most depressing – though most predictable – news of the week was the announcement that schools won't go back before 8th March at the earliest. Sadly, I can see return being delayed further, perhaps until early May. Our primary school does its best, no doubt, but online learning is just not practical for very young children in particular.

I’ve had quite a busy week. As usual, Oxfam produced its annual report on wealth inequality and, as usual, the IEA responded to some of the extreme language, poor analysis and unrealistic policy proposals put forward by the charity. I wrote a piece for CapX, ([link removed]) took part in a podcast ([link removed]) , and appeared on BBC Radio 4 ([link removed]) . Oxfam has done great things in the past; it’s sad to see it is now just another outlet for anti-capitalist virtue-signalling. You can read my full comments here ([link removed]) .

On Tuesday I spoke at a virtual conference on the theme of the labour market post-pandemic, an exercise in crystal-ball gazing which I summarised for the IEA blog ([link removed]) . This was the week when the monthly ONS employment report came out. The statistics showed a predictable weakening in the labour market, but with the stats always being in arrears (the new 5 per cent unemployment rate which hit the news bulletins is an average of the period September-November, and much has happened since) most of the information is of limited use. And with 5m or so still on furlough, the runes are even more difficult to read than normal.

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The Institute for Fiscal Studies published a report calling for, amongst other things, an increase in tax on the self-employed. I have recently argued against this in an IEA briefing paper ([link removed]) and my comments were featured in The Telegraph ([link removed]) .

I’ve been discussing with colleagues at Buckingham the arrangements for awarding Coase scholarships. Ronald Coase, the Nobel Prize-winning economist and friend of the IEA, left a substantial sum of money to the University. This year we are using these funds to offer up to 14 £11,000 scholarships for those who wish to study on our two-year economics degree programme. If you or your children are interested, have a look at our website: Coase Scholarships | University of Buckingham ([link removed]) .

I also appeared on Live with Littlewood this week. Some interesting guests and lively discussions – you can catch up here ([link removed]) . As usual, Mark asked me for my rating of the prospects for the country in the medium-term. I was even gloomier than last time he asked, but maybe that’s just me. Let’s hope I’m wrong.

Professor Len Shackleton
Editorial and Research Director, Institute of Economic Affairs
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Poor thinking... As Len mentioned, Oxfam this week released its annual report on global poverty and inequality, titled "The Inequality Virus". IEA Director General Mark Littlewood responded that, while the charity is right to highlight the impact the pandemic has had on the world's poorest, its proposed solutions demonstrate "a fundamental misunderstanding of both economics and poverty relief". Mark's comments were featured in The Independent ([link removed]) .

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Len also discussed the report with IEA Director of Communications Annabel Denham on the IEA podcast ([link removed]) , which you can listen to here ([link removed]) .

Moggmentum... On Tuesday evening, IEA Director General Mark Littlewood hosted the Rt Hon Jacob Rees-Mogg MP, live from the House of Commons. In a fascinating, thought-provoking discussion, Mr Rees-Mogg shared his views on a range of topics, including prospects for a UK-US trade deal, the government's handling of the Coronavirus, and the opportunities ahead for Britain outside of the European Union. You can catch up here ([link removed]) .

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Stamp it out... With rumours that Chancellor Rishi Sunak won't be extending the cut to stamp duty at the March Budget, IEA Head of Media Emily Carver sat down with Professor Philip Booth, Director of the Vinson Centre for Economics and Entrepreneurship at the University of Buckingham and an IEA Fellow, to discuss an alternative way to tax property.

You can watch here ([link removed]) or listen on the IEA podcast here ([link removed]) .

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Big tech censors... Following Twitter's decision to suspend the former President of the United States Donald Trump's account, the actions of big tech companies have been the subject of heated debate over recent days and weeks.

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Emily Carver spoke to Sam Bowman, Director of Competition policy at the International Centre for Law and Economics, Tom Slater, Deputy Editor of Spiked Online, and Marc Glendening, the IEA’s Head of Cultural Affairs about the implications on free speech and about whether there is a need for government intervention. You can watch here ([link removed]) or listen here ([link removed]) .
APPLES AND ORANGES

The crusade of paternalism continues across Europe, but the ammunition deployed by many policymakers is often based on misleading statistics. A new report ([link removed]) by our sister organisation and EPICENTER’s Italian member think tank ([link removed]) , the Bruno Leoni Institute, highlights the discrepancies in obesity measurements across OECD countries.

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National governments compile their datasets based on different methodologies and metrics, which makes international comparison redundant and ineffective – and does not lead to evidence-based policy-making. As the authors express in an article for ([link removed])
New Europe ([link removed]) , "the fight against obesity is too important to be fought based on wrong assumptions, unreliable data, and apples-to-oranges comparisons".

You can read the report "Comparing Oranges With Apples? Obesity and Overweight in Italy and the OECD Area" here ([link removed]) .
LIVE WITH LITTLEWOOD

The Oxfam report was one of four topics up for debate on this week's episode of Live with Littlewood. Mark was joined by CapX editor John Ashmore; Cllr Brendan Chilton, CEO at the Independent Business Network; Tom Harwood, Senior Reporter at Guido Fawkes; IEA Chief Operating Officer Andy Mayer; our Editorial and Research Fellow Professor Len Shackleton; classical liberal author and politician Dr Jamie Whyte; and Joanna Williams, founder of CIEO.

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In a discussion over who should be prioritised in the vaccine roll-out, Joanna Williams lamented the impact of school closures on young people's learning and well-being and argued that there may well be a case for teachers to receive priority vaccines, if it means schools can open sooner. The IEA's Andy Mayer point out that vaccinating teachers will not fully address why schools are closed: there is a risk children will take the virus home.

You can catch up on the debate here ([link removed]) . We'll be back this coming Wednesday at 6pm with another stellar panel of guests to discuss the big stories of the week.

ECONOMICS 101

The first in our two-part series of comprehensive economics explainers is now available on our YouTube channel ([link removed]) . Presented by IEA Head of Education Dr Steve Davies, the videos are short, informative and a good resource for students or anyone wanting to brush up on their knowledge. But don't just take our word for it..

"A great initiative.."

"Very useful for anyone wanting to brush up on basic economics.."

"Highly recommended whether you're an interested layman or a high-school student.."

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These videos are available for free, thanks to a generous donation from The Monnery Trust. You can watch the first part of the series here ([link removed]) – and we'll be posting the second part in the coming weeks.

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 ([link removed]) .
YOU'RE INVITED

* IEA Book Club Webinar with Michael Thom - Taxing Sin

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On Tuesday 2nd February at 6pm, the IEA Book Club will be hosting a private webinar ([link removed]) with Michael Thom, Associate Professor at the Sol Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California, to discuss his latest book, 'Taxing Sin', which presents four key case studies on tobacco, marijuana, alcohol, and soda, arguing against the conventional wisdom in taxing these "sins".

Chairing this private discussion will be Christopher Snowdon, IEA Head of Lifestyle Economics and author of “Killjoys: A Critique of Paternalism” ([link removed]) .

* IEA Book Club Webinar with Ryan Bourne

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On Monday 8^th February at 6pm, t
he IEA Book Club will be hosting Ryan Bourne for a private webinar ([link removed]) on his forthcoming book, 'Economics In One Virus: An Introduction to Economic Reasoning Through Covid-19'.

Chairing this discussion will be Dr Steve Davies, IEA Head of Education, who was the keynote speaker at the IEA’s 2020 Annual Hayek Memorial Lecture, The World After the Pandemic ([link removed]) .

Please note, IEA Book Club webinars are exclusive to members. To find out more about the IEA Book Club, follow the link here ([link removed]) or contact us at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

* In Conversation with the Rt Hon David Davis MP

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On Tuesday 9th February at 6pm, the Institute of Economic Affairs will host a discussion with The Rt Hon David Davis MP in the latest episode of our In Conversation series with senior figures from across public life. The event will be chaired by IEA Director General Mark Littlewood, and live streamed on YouTube here ([link removed]) .

David Davis has been the Member of Parliament for Haltemprice and Howden (formerly Boothferry) since 1987. He first joined the government in 1994 as Minister of State for Europe. In opposition, David served as the Shadow Home Secretary, Shadow Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Conservative Party. He returned to government in 2016, where he served as Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union and Chief Brexit Negotiator.

* Teacher's Seminar: Incorporating the history of economic thought into the curriculum

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On 10^th February, 1.45-5pm, the Institute of Economic Affairs and the Vinson Centre for the Public Understanding of Economics and Entrepreneurship at the University of Buckingham will be hosting a free to attend teacher's seminar on incorporating the history of economic thought into the curriculum. The seminar is aimed at A-Level/IB/Scottish Higher teachers of Economics and related subjects.

Sign up for your place now ([link removed]) , and if you have any questions, please email Brittany Davis at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) , and include the name of the school you teach at.

*Upcoming Sixth Form conferences

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Throughout February and March, the IEA and the Vinson Centre for the Public Understanding of Economics and Entrepreneurship at the University of Buckingham will be hosting a number of free conferences for Sixth Form students. Find out more here ([link removed]) . You can sign up for any of our planned conferences this term and if you are interested in partnering on a future event please drop Brittany a line (mailto:[email protected]?subject=Sixth%20Form%20Conference) .

* IIMR Money Webinar series

The Institute of International Monetary Research Money Webinar Series continues this year with three upcoming sessions. You can register here ([link removed]) .

On Wednesday 10th February, Dr 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'.

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