In a new book for the IEA, Dr Edwin van de Haar outlines a classical liberal approach to international relations.
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Universal Basic Income (UBI) is being discussed again because Autonomy, an ‘independent, progressive research organisation’, has announced a micro trial of the policy. It will pay 30 people £1,600 a month for two years, no strings attached, and observe their response.
As I pointed out in CapX ([link removed]) this week, the trial is ill-designed. If the government paid every adult Brit £1,600 a month, even if it replaced all other benefits, government spending would increase by £700 billion or 70 per cent. Tax rates would need to increase dramatically, which would deter work. But the Autonomy trial cannot test this effect because it doesn’t change the tax rates its participants face.
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UBI is a crazy idea from the start. Most want income insurance – a guarantee of some income if you cannot earn your own, perhaps because of illness. In the nineteenth century, this was supplied by friendly societies and similar organisations. You paid in small regular subscription fees and the society paid you an income in the event of unemployment.
In the twentieth century, the state “crowded out” such suppliers with unemployment and incapacity benefits. But what it offers still resembles insurance. You pay regular small “premiums” through taxation, and the state pays you an income if you lose your job.
With a UBI, you receive enough to live on, whether you need it or not, and make large tax payments to fund the entitlement. It’s like a car insurance policy that pays you £15,000 every year, whether or not you have an accident, for which you pay a premium of slightly above £15,000 a year.
Even the progressive people at Autonomy would surely not sign up for such a policy.
Dr Jamie Whyte
IEA Senior Research Fellow
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** Human Nature and World Affairs:
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** An Introduction to Classical Liberalism and International Relations Theory
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This week, the IEA published a new book by political philosopher Edwin Van De Haar outlining a classical liberal approach to international relations.
* Van De Haar’s starting point is a realistic view of human nature, which values the social nature of individuals but also recognises their propensity to quarrel, fight and use violence.
* He posits that war is a regrettable yet inevitable feature of international affairs and that we should seek to manage interstate conflicts rather than naively hope to eliminate them.
* Further, nation states are the main actors on the international stage and, like individuals, their autonomy should be respected.
* The international balance of power is spontaneous order on a global scale, and military intervention is only justified on just war principles.
* The classical liberal theory of international relations champions free trade and globalisation and is sceptical of taxpayer-funded foreign aid.
Press Release ([link removed])
Download Book ([link removed])
Edwin Van De Haar discussed the classical liberal approach to international security and the global economy with the IEA’s Head of Education Dr Steve Davies.
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Edwin Van De Haar wrote for The Critic ([link removed]) about how a post-Brexit Britain needs a foreign policy reset.
The IEA hosted a private lunch at Lord North Street with key international relations scholars, students, and politicians to celebrate the launch.
IEA Latest.
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** Business has a bigger priority than the CBI: to start being proud of itself ([link removed])
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Director General Mark Littlewood, The Times
Be bold… Businesses are unfairly stigmatised and the CBI controversy hasn’t helped matters. Nevertheless, the corporate sector must be willing to highlight the social and economic good that comes from profit-seeking businesses.
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** More public spending today means more misery for kids tomorrow ([link removed])
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Dr Jamie Whyte, The Daily Express
Intergenerational theft… Increased public spending is often hailed as virtuous. But expanding the money supply to support government spending has led to inflation, pushed up mortgages and transferred significant debt to our children.
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** Eco-zealots display a total disregard for democracy ([link removed])
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Energy Analyst Andy Mayer, The Daily Telegraph
Eco-zealotry... Caroline Lucas is stepping down as leader of the Green Party to focus on climate activism. If Lucas and her disciples at Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil are successful in expunging fossil fuels from politics, it will be at the expense of Britain’s warmth.
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** Let’s be honest, even after Brexit we’re still adding more red tape ([link removed])
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Director of Public Policy and Communications
Matthew Lesh, CityAM
Start slashing... Tory leaders have long promised a bonfire of red tape, and Brexit was supposed to deliver just that – yet seven years later damaging regulation continues to mire Britain’s economic prosperity.
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** Why do Nations Succeed? ([link removed])
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Matthew Lesh interviews Dr Bryan Cheang, IEA Podcast
Go for growth… is culture, geography, or ideas driving economic growth? Dr Cheang highlights the importance of open institutions in a new book.
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** Boost for families as BOGOF ban may be scrapped ([link removed])
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Head of Lifestyle Economics Christopher Snowdon,
The Sun ([link removed]) & Daily Mail ([link removed])
Policy victory… A ban on buy-one-get-one-free deals on food and drink is set to come into effect in October. However, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has hinted that the plan could be scrapped. During a cost of living crisis, raising the price of food and drink is regressive and cruel, the ban must be junked.
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** Follow the Money: How much does Britain cost? ([link removed])
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Matthew Lesh interviews Paul Johnson,
IEA YouTube Channel
Follow the money… The IEA Book Club ([link removed]) was delighted to host Paul Johnson, Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, to discuss his latest book, ‘Follow the Money: How much does Britain cost?’ ([link removed])
IEA Insider.
** The Hong Konger screening and panel discussion
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Co-hosted by the IEA and Catholic Social Thought Project, St Mary’s University
Date: Tuesday, 6 July
Time: 18:00 – 21:00
Location: 2 Lord North Street, SW1P 3LB
RSVP: There are limited spaces available for this event, please email
[email protected] to apply (mailto:
[email protected]?subject=null&body=null) .
The film is a moving documentary about Jimmy Lai, the entrepreneur, newspaper publisher, Nobel Peace Prize nominee and Catholic convert and who, having escaped to Hong Kong as a child, has been imprisoned by the Chinese government for his pro-democracy activism.
The panel will include:
* Lord Kamall (Chair), Professor at St. Mary’s University & IEA Academic Fellow
* Benedict Rogers, human rights activist
* Fr. Robert Sirico, President emeritus of the Acton Institute and alumnus of St. Mary’s University
** Vinson Centre Conference in the Classical Political Economy Tradition
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Date: Wednesday, 19 July
Time: 10:00 – 17:00
Location: University of Buckingham,
Vinson Building
The Vinson Centre is excited to host the 2023 Conference in the Classical Political Economy Tradition. The conference comprises three sessions on a variety of pressing political topics delivered by several influential academics, including:
* James Forder, IEA Academic and Research Director,
* Syed Kamall, IEA Academic Fellow
* Martin Ricketts, Chairman of the IEA's Academic Advisory Council
* Mark P., C. Bjørnskov, IEA’s Academic Advisory Council
* P. Schwartz, IEA’s Academic Advisory Council
Register ([link removed])
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