Welcome to the IEA Weekend Newsletter!

• Taking the main stage
• Questions for Kate
• The Lonely Libertarian 
• Monetary Policy Essay Prize 2020
• Empowered or Exploited?
• Best of the blog
• You’re Invited!

Taking the main stage

Yesterday morning, IEA Director General Mark Littlewood addressed the Democratic Unionist Party Conference on the future of the BBC licence fee.

Mark took to the main stage to discuss “Next Generation Broadcasting” alongside Gregory Campbell MP.

In front of a packed audience, Mark highlighted that in Northern Ireland, a majority of people are now subscribed to streaming services, and, among these services, Netflix has the most viewers - 41% of them - with BBC iPlayer way down on 23%. 

"Moving to a subscription model would not only set viewers free, it would set the BBC free too. The current funding model increasingly prevents the BBC from properly competing with broadcasting giants such as Netflix and Amazon Prime.

"What would be good for viewers would be good for our wider economy too."

Watch Mark's full speech here.



Mark’s speech at DUP conference follows on from the release of a new IEA report, ‘New Vision: Transforming the BBC into a subscriber-owned mutual’, authored by IEA Senior Academic Fellow Professor Philip Booth, which proposes a new ownership model – based on recognisable and popular institutions like The Co-Operative or the National Trust – removing the obligation to purchase a TV licence.

Download ‘New Vision’ here.

Questions for Kate

IEA Associate Director Kate Andrews took part in the BBC's flagship political programme, Question Time, on Thursday in South Shields.



Kate appeared on the programme with former Chancellor of the Exchequer Lord Lamont, Labour's Richard Leonard MSP, the Liberal Democrat's Caroline Voaden MEP, and film director Ken Loach.

The panel discussed the ongoing Brexit debate, the future of employment in areas like the North East, the pros and cons of the gig economy, and the tragic deaths of 39 people, found in the back of a lorry this week.



Kate argued that the benefits of Brexit could specifically help areas like South Shields, as the Port of Tyne is angling to become a free port after Brexit. She also defended the gig economy and zero-hours contracts, noting that surveys and evidence suggest people on these contracts are much more satisfied than is often assumed.

Kate also made the case for liberalising the UK's immigration system post-Brexit: redefining the Home Office as fair and humane, and tackling its current characterization, made up of the Windrush scandal, home raids, and deportation.

Watch the programme in full here - and watch clips of Kate on our Twitter feed!

The Lonely Libertarian 

The Institute of Economic Affairs is delighted to invite you to the UK launch of Ron Manners excellent new book “The Lonely Libertarian” – a compelling book explaining how to combine a successful career whilst simultaneously still speaking up for liberty.

The event will take place this Wednesday, October 30th, 11am - 1pm at IEA’s offices in Westminster.

Books will be available to purchase at the event at the discounted price of £25.00 [cash sales only].

We very much hope that you will be able to join us for this special event.

Sandwiches and light refreshments will be served.

RSVP here.

Monetary Policy Essay Prize 2020

On Thursday, the IEA launched a new joint essay competition with the Institute of International Monetary Research and the Vinson Centre at the University of Buckingham. 

The Monetary Policy Essay Prize 2020 is open to all undergraduate students at UK universities. 

The understanding of how central banks make policy decisions is key to analyse a modern economy, particularly since the outbreak of the Global Financial Crisis in 2008/09. Rigorous analysis of the effects of changes in the quantity of money on prices and output was forgotten and even neglected by nearly all in the years running up to the crisis. 

1st Prize is £1,000 - click here for more details!

Empowered or Exploited?

Having watched film director Ken Loach's latest film for an Observer review, the IEA’s Mark Littlewood said this: "If you want to see the gloomiest, bleakest, worst possible run of luck that a family in Newcastle could have, working in flexible gig jobs, this film shows it."

But Mark was left scratching his head, thinking about the counterfactual: would this family have been better off in the pre-gig economy world? 

Best of the blog

This week on the IEA blog, IEA Editorial Fellow Prof Len Shackleton asked if Northern Rail’s problems make a case for wider renationalisation of the railways. 



Len argues that the problems with this franchise are long-standing and owe as much to government as to the private sector.

The franchise terms are set by the government and involve a massive £250 million a year ‘social railway’ subsidy. There is little ambition in the targets that the government has set, and little opportunity for innovation and development of new services.



Moreover, the publicly-owned Network Rail has fallen months or even years behind its planned completion dates for major projects. 

Northern Rail could have done better, Len argues. But many of its problems were not entirely of its own making, and it’s not apparent that a government-run body would have done much better. 

Read the full blog here.

You're Invited!

Political and Economic Challenges of Venezuela

The Institute of Economic Affairs is delighted to invite you to our upcoming event with Jorge Jraissati on Tuesday 30th October, from 6-8pm, who will be discussing the ‘Political and Economic Challenges of Venezuela’.

Venezuela is currently facing the worst dictatorial regime in Latin America. Moreover, its economic collapse is the worst in the modern history of the western hemisphere. As a result, Jorge will not only explain how Venezuelans plan to reconquer their democracy and rebuild their economy but also share some lessons from the Venezuelan experience applicable to other nations. Why is the Venezuelan economy ruined? How and why did Venezuela become socialist?

Jorge Jraissati is the President of the Venezuelan Alliance, an international platform for initiatives advancing freedom, human rights and economic development in Venezuela. Jorge’s work has focused on raising international awareness about the importance of achieving a free and democratic Venezuela and he has been invited as a guest lecturer to more than twenty academic institutions such as Harvard, NYU and Cambridge. Academically, Jorge is an economist from the Wilkes Honors College, and a Visiting Fellow of the Abigail Adams Institute at Harvard.

If you would like to attend, please email [email protected] to register.


Christians and Healthcare: Should we leave it to the state?



Philip Booth, IEA Senior Academic Fellow and Professor of Ethics, Finance and Public Policy at St. Mary's University, Twickenham will be giving a lecture on "Christians and healthcare - should we leave it to the state?"

The lecture will take place at St. Mary's University (15 minutes walk from Twickenham station, five minutes walk from Strawberry Hill station) on 1st November at 6.00pm.

This lecture will look at the role of Christians in the provision of healthcare and the move in the post-war period to a position, in many countries, where Christian denominations are bit-part-players. It will also discuss the appropriate relationship between the state and other bodies.

 All are welcome. Sign up here. 


Hayek 2019

The Institute of Economic Affairs will soon be hosting US author Professor Bryan Caplan, who is delivering our 2019 Hayek Memorial Lecture, on 3rd December at Church House, starting at 6.30pm. 

The acclaimed author of The Myth of the Rational Voter - hailed as ‘the best political book of the year’ by the New York Times - will unveil his latest project, POVERTY - Who’s to Blame?

Bryan Caplan is Professor of Economics at George Mason University, Virginia. He’s also author of The Case Against Education and Selfish Reasons to Have More Kids.  He’s featured in many publications - from the Wall Street Journal to the Washington Post - and appeared on ABC, BBC, Fox News and more.

Our thanks to CQS for their generous sponsorship of the Hayek Memorial Lecture.

If you’d like to attend this must-see event, RSVP [email protected] or call 020 7799 8900