The NHS is stuck in its annual winter crisis, and while it has become a cliché to describe each of these crises as "the worst on record," this time, it is actually true in some ways.  

As the IEA’s in-house pessimist, I don’t normally go out of my way to look for silver linings – but there actually is some good news as well in all this. Pointing out that there are alternative healthcare systems, and that some of them achieve substantially better results than ours, is no longer the social taboo it once was.

Several commentators, including two former Secretaries of State, have been making the case for social health insurance (SHI) systems in recent months (see here and here). And while the Nuffield Trust has published a critique of SHI, that is, in itself, a good sign: they would not do this if it were a wacky fringe idea which nobody takes seriously. It is safe to say that the case for SHI systems has entered the Overton Window, and I would like to think that the IEA has played some role in this over the years.  

The IEA's work in this area continues. This week, I have written a rejoinder to the Nuffield Trust’s critique of SHI, as well as a review of a book about the transition to a market-based health system of the Netherlands. Over on our “sister blog” 1828, I have been speculating about what our healthcare system might look like today if the Cameron/Clegg coalition had found the courage to start a root-and-branch reform a decade ago (Part 2 out tomorrow).  

Kristian Niemietz
Head of Political Economy, Institute of Economic Affairs

FOUND IN TRANSLATION

Our international partners in Pakistan had an eventful winter break – in December National Influencers launched the Urdu translation of the IEA's book ‘An Introduction to Economic Inequality’.



Over 110 young Pakistanis were interested in the launch event at the University of Peshawar and thanks to study circles organised by our partner think tank, over 1000 copies were distributed across Pakistan and countries with significant Urdu speaking minorities – such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka. Our joint endeavour with the Network for a Free Society enables us to support our partners across the globe to help them continue changing the hearts and minds of local youngsters and build the support for free societies and free markets.

PANIC AT DOVER

As the Prime Minister announces his intention to "stop the small boats," IEA Director General Mark Littlewood has delved into the economics of immigration and three steps he believes Rishi Sunak must take in order to fix our "broken" system. 



In his fortnightly column for The Times, Mark pointed out:

“A reasoned case can be put that the NHS, the education system, welfare state, housing stock and even our transport infrastructure cannot cope with a rapid and relentless growth in the number of people living here. However, these are all areas run or heavily controlled by the state. It’s rare to hear Tesco complain that there are too many customers wanting to buy groceries or cinemas that too many wish to watch movies.”



Mark also set out the arguments on TalkTV. You can watch his interview with presenter Mike Graham here.

ENERGY WOES



When the previous government announced the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, our Energy Analyst Andy Mayer responded that tax cuts and targeted support would have been a more effective solution. The government will be scaling back the Scheme from April to focus on heavy energy-using sectors, and Andy told Julia Hartley-Brewer on TalkTV:

"We can't persist with this scheme. The government has tried to give a softer landing to a scheme that they should probably have never brought in in the first place!"

Watch here.



Andy also spoke to Mike Graham following the news that Citizens Advice has called for a ban on energy companies "forcing" customers onto prepayment meters. He agreed that companies should be held to their regulated duties, but warned that retail companies are not welfare providers, and government should realise their fundamental job is buying energy from the grid and selling it on.

Watch here.



And, responding to former Conservative minister Claire Perry O'Neill's suggestion that Labour are now 'serious' when it comes to energy, Andy wrote a piece for CapX in which he said:

"The central problem with energy policy is one that Perry O’Neill endorses: making a fetish of decarbonisation, when other goals like security of supply and affordability are generally more important. Pursing the former without the latter means the lights go out, businesses fold, and many vulnerable people freeze to death in winter. It is neither an election winner nor a moral path."

iN THE MEDIA



Creeping prohibition... IEA Head of Lifestyle Economics Christopher Snowdon wrote for Spiked! responding to calls to crack down on smoking and implement New Zealand-style tobacco restrictions. Commenting on the consequences of such a policy, Christopher wrote:

"If we decide to stagger even further down Loony Avenue and copy New Zealand’s policy of removing the nicotine from cigarettes as well, the illicit trade could make up nearly 100 per cent of tobacco sales. Tobacco duty, which brought in around £10 billion last year, will fall and so other taxes will have to rise."



Microchip autarky... IEA Head of Public Policy Matthew Lesh argued against the UK adopting a microchip production plan in City AM. Outlining the situation, Matthew wrote:

"Geostrategic concerns about China and Covid-related shortages have drawn the attention of policymakers to this topic. The Biden Administration has signed a $52bn law to encourage domestic production and, in an unprecedented step, banned US companies from supplying chips to Chinese companies. The European Union is also pursuing a Chips Act, making €11bn available for research and development and aiming to double European chip production."

TEACHER SEMINAR 2023

On 8 February, we will be holding our 2023 Teacher Seminar with IEA Head of Education Dr Steve Davies. The topic will be 'Productivity and Secular Stagnation'. 

The event will run from 9:45am-3pm, with lunch provided – though those unavailable to attend in person are welcome to join online. While it is aimed at A-level Economics teachers, all are welcome! To find out more and reserve your place, please contact [email protected]. 



And a reminder that applications for our Future Thought Leader Programmes for sixth-formers and undergraduates are now open. There will be two weeks for sixth formers in April, and one in July. The undergraduate programmes will take place in July and August.

You can find out more information on the programmes and how to apply here.

IEA DIGITAL



Is the internet lost?... IEA Communications Officer Harrison Griffiths interviewed IEA Head of Political Economy Kristian Niemietz on a blog he penned for 1828 explaining the Left's seeming domination of social media.

The recording can be viewed here and Kristian's blog can be read here..



Are Britain's high streets dying?... Since the Coronavirus pandemic the future of Britain's high streets seems less certain than ever. In 2022, more than 17,000 shops closed in the UK, but does that give us the full picture and what can government to do to help? To discuss this, IEA Director of Communications Annabel Denham spoke to IEA Editorial and Research Fellow Professor Len Shackleton.

Watch here.



IEA Podcast... In this week's podcast, IEA Head of Public Policy Matthew Lesh spoke to Catherine McBride, an economist with an extensive professional background in financial services and a former IEA researcher. They discuss whether last December's 'Edinburgh Reforms' will be enough to give British finance the edge over international competition.

Watch here.