Saudi Arabia accused of oil output increase January 18, 2011 THE International Energy Agency (IEA) said yesterday that OPEC leader Saudi Arabia had stealthily boosted output to cool an oil price rally, while OPEC accused the agency of providing inconsistent oil price views. Tensions between oil exporter group OPEC and the agency, representing industrialised consumers, have risen as Western countries put pressure on the Saudis [...]
Public spending rise sees UK fall down freedom rankings January 11, 2011 BRITONS face increasing restrictions on their financial and businesses freedoms, according to an international survey released today. Last year the UK dropped out of the top 10 most economically free countries, and has plummeted a further five places in today’s report. The UK is now ranked 16 in the world, below countries such as Canada, [...]
Public spending rise sees UK fall down freedom rankings January 11, 2011 BRITONS face increasing restrictions on their financial and businesses freedoms, according to an international survey released today. Last year the UK dropped out of the top 10 most economically free countries, and has plummeted a further five places in today’s report. The UK is now ranked 16 in the world, below countries such as Canada, [...]
SME Budget bonanza: entrepreneurs react March 27, 2011 WITH David Cameron urging the British public to be more entrepreneurial in a speech today, many are asking whether the government is doing enough to support start-ups and small businesses. Last week’s Budget was dubbed the “Budget for growth” and offered a number of measured aimed at entrepreneurs and small businesses, but not everyone is [...]
Report: For-profit schools improve chances for poor December 14, 2010 EDUCATION reforms by the coalition government must allow profit making schools, an influential thinktank said today. Reforms in Sweden – which the UK’s plans are loosely based upon – only worked due to the contribution of for-profit schools, according to the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA). “This is especially the case in providing access to [...]
Oil supplies are sufficient until 2015, says IEA June 23, 2010 RISING oil supplies will mostly offset higher demand over the next five years, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said yesterday in a report that helped push prices lower. IEA data showed the supply-demand picture would be virtually unchanged next year compared with this year, although spare capacity would begin to shrink by 2015. Gas markets, [...]
WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE BANKING LEVY? October 21, 2010 PHILIP BOOTH | IEA The burden of this levy will be felt by banks’ owners and customers. Ultimately those who will pay are shareholders – in other words potential pensioners and other savers – and the users of financial services. At most the government should use this tax as a temporary measure NIC CLARKE | [...]
Bet on black: Oil prices discover fresh energy December 6, 2010 FOR a commodity used to grabbing the headlines, crude oil has been overshadowed by its cousins for much of 2010. Unlike copper, coffee or cotton, which have climbed steeply, oil remained entrenched in its trading range between $70 and $85 a barrel. Not any longer. Cold weather sweeping across Europe, strong energy demand from emerging [...]
Future growth needs freedom now September 21, 2010 RICHARD WELLINGS DEPUTY EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, IEA WHEN the Soviet Union collapsed it seemed obvious that economic freedom was essential if individuals and societies were to thrive. But in the 20 years since, the enemies of liberty have fought back. The vested interests and bureaucracies that rely on big government have increasingly used environmental objectives and [...]
Government should scrap new City watchdog, says think-tank August 3, 2010 THE coalition’s plans for financial reform will do little to benefit supervisors, banks or the stock market, according to research by the free-market think-tank the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA). Any replacement of the FSA will not prevent financial scandals, the IEA argues in a research paper, which says UK regulators have historically lacked proper [...]