Top think tanks compete for Think Tank Top at Institute of Directors July 16, 2014 The Institute of Directors was bustling with activity last night as it hosted a handful of events in its hallowed halls, but boss Simon Walker only had eyes for one shindig – the Think Tank Awards. “It’s fantastic to host an award for these folks, we love think tanks… well, most of them,” [...]
Forget the dodgy numbers: Leaving the EU makes economic sense May 28, 2014 UKIP’S recent electoral triumph has reignited debate about the cost of Britain’s place in the EU. But what do we know about the economics of our membership? Let’s start from the beginning: we’ll find that Brexit has long made economic sense. Prior to joining the then Common Market in 1973, two government white papers and [...]
Scrap minimum wage for more jobs, UK told April 1, 2014 SCRAPPING the minimum wage (NMW) for apprentices and under-18s could help cut youth unemployment and boost growth, the Institute of Economic Affairs said today. Countries without a minimum wage like Germany have far lower youth unemployment rates, the IEA argues, while Britain’s has soared since it was introduced in 1999. The think-tank’s recommendation contrasts starkly with [...]
Bitcoin under fire from European Banking Authority July 4, 2014 The European Banking Authority (EBA) has launched a scathing attack on cryptocurrency Bitcoin, warning that the potential benefits of digital currencies will be outweighed by a host of risks, reports the FT's Sam Fleming. In an address to lawmakers, the EBA argued that the problems associated with Bitcoin could only be addressed by a regulatory [...]
Reviewed – From crisis to confidence: Macroeconomics after the crash August 25, 2014 The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) recently released a monograph by Roger Koppl about the Great Recession (and the theory of recessions and recoveries more generally). Titled From Crisis to Confidence, the wide-ranging document goes through the intellectual history of macroeconomics, discusses modern theories, contrasts Keynesianism and the Austrians, and integrates theory of big players [...]
Bitcoin now legal alternative to US dollar in California June 30, 2014 The governor of California has signed assembly bill 129, which gives Bitcoin and other digital currencies the status of legal money. Jerry Brown's signature has finally clarified Bitcoin as valid form of payment in the golden state after AB-129 was passed in February by the California Senate Banking and Financial Institutions Committee by a 7-1 [...]
Any Other Business – 10/04 April 10, 2014 One of London’s stalwart tech names Moonfruit was in a celebratory mood last night, the company enjoying its 15th birthday in Shoreditch’s Boxpark. Bought by a struggling Hibu (now in administration) for £23m two years ago, the website builder is still going strong – despite of its owner’s strife. Founder Wendy Tan White was due [...]
UK diplomat says Brexit can boost UK’s GDP April 8, 2014 THE UK could boost its GDP by £1.3bn if the country left the EU and negotiated a looser relationship with Brussels, according to the winner of a competition to design a “Brexit” plan. The Institute for Economic Affairs (IEA) announced a competition last year to plan a potential exit from the EU for the UK, [...]
New think tank report lays out looming UK liability time bomb March 12, 2014 THE TREASURY will have to impose massive tax hikes or spending cuts to stem the country’s liabilities time bomb, according to concerning research released today. A report for the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) says that that the UK faces the choice of cutting spending by more than a quarter, or raising steep taxes. “Without [...]
The devil will be in the detail of Osborne’s northern powerhouse plans June 23, 2014 IN THE months before a general election campaign gets going, politicians often look like they’re merely going through the motions. Perhaps that was why George Osborne’s surprisingly radical speech in Manchester yesterday, focused on making the “cities of the north a powerhouse for our economy”, caught many by surprise. But while the speech contained the [...]