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Much of the IEA’s output is in response to current economic and political issues in the UK. This may involve opinion pieces and blogs in a range of outlets. These are usually written quickly, perhaps to a media request. An even faster turnaround comes when we are asked to appear on television, radio, or podcasts to give a free market view of today’s headlines. We also make our own videos and social media content.

Longer-term and more in-depth analysis and comment are provided in the discussion papers and books that the IEA publishes ([link removed]) throughout the year. Here we attempt to create waves ourselves, rather than simply respond to an ever-changing media agenda. These may be written by our internal researchers or by academics and other experts we commission to write for us.

Most of these publications relate to the UK and its concerns. However, we also work with EPICENTER to promote pan-European ideas, with regular publications that exploit this network of European think tanks. We work with the wider world through the Atlas Network instituted by our own founder, Antony Fisher.

Our links with the international academic community are also served by our journal Economic Affairs ([link removed]) , published three times a year in collaboration with the University of Buckingham and partner institutions Universidad Francisco Marroquin and Universidad de Las Hesperides. I’m lucky enough to be the editor.

As its cover proclaims, this is an ‘International Journal of Political Economy’, and it draws on contributions from all over the world; recent issues have featured work by authors from the USA, Japan, Argentina, Italy, France, Germany, Sweden, Chile, Peru, Brunei, Brazil, Netherlands, and many other countries.

The subject matter is equally eclectic, with essays and empirical studies on everything from the Bengal famine of the 1940s to the Swedish response to the Covid crisis, from the 19th-century Swiss political economist Sismondi to Hitler’s socialism, from equality in sport to the market-led revolution in cricket.

All work is edited to make it accessible to a wide audience while rigorously refereed to meet high academic standards. Apart from original academic articles, the journal also features a Discussion section and extensive reviews of new books and subject developments.

There is no other academic journal covering the range of Economic Affairs, with its particular emphasis on classical liberalism. Many articles are free to download from Economic Affairs - Wiley Online Library ([link removed]) . Over 100,000 full-length articles are downloaded annually, 75% from outside the UK. Apart from its online presence, a hard copy version is available.

If you are interested in knowing more about the journal, or perhaps contributing an article, please contact me at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]?subject=&body=) .

Len Shackleton

IEA Editorial and Research Fellow
Read Economic Affairs ([link removed])
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RIP Frank Field (1942–2024) ([link removed])

Len Shackleton, IEA Blog ([link removed])

All of us at the IEA were saddened to learn that former Labour Party MP Frank Field passed away this week at the age of 81. As Len explained in his obituary, Field was one of the few Labour MPs willing to engage with figures right across the ideological spectrum, including the IEA.

He joined Lord Vinson for the opening of the Vinson Building at the University of Buckingham in 2018 and contributed a piece on welfare reform to Economic Affairs ([link removed]) in 1996.

The IEA offers its sympathies to Lord Field’s family and many friends.
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** Labour rail nationalisation plans ‘lacking in detail’ ([link removed])
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In response to the Labour Party’s proposals this week for renationalisation of the railways, Len Shackleton, said:

“The Labour proposals are lacking in detail, and seem to involve contradictions. Bureaucracy is to be scrapped, but we’re inventing a new passenger ‘watchdog’. We want more investment, but we’re going to run down existing contracts, suggesting that even routine maintenance will be neglected.

“There is the usual arbitrary state planning ‘targets’ with no understanding of how markets work. There is the the ritual denunciation of profits and the belief that ‘communities’ (or rather political bosses) have a role to play; but their role always seems to be to demand more money, resist closures, and open more lines, irrespective of any commercial discipline.

“The huge omission from these ‘plans’ is how to handle an oversized, often overpaid and relentlessly militant workforce and boost productivity — the only way to keep some sort of control on costs.”
Press Release ([link removed])
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Renationalisation is likely to end in fiasco ([link removed])

Director of Public Policy & Communications Matthew Lesh, Sky News, GB News ([link removed]) & talkTV ([link removed])

Echoes of the past… Post-War nationalised British railways performed worse than the more market-based systems before and after it.
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Some practical questions for proponents of “Railway Corbynism” ([link removed])

Len Shackleton, IEA Blog ([link removed])

Everything-burger transport policy… Labour seems unwilling to accept the tradeoffs inherent in nationalising rail services.

Renationalisation: Back to the Future? ([link removed])

Len Shackleton & Economics Fellow Julian Jessop

Half way house… Many of the problems with partially privatised sectors like rail are symptoms of continued state intervention.
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IEA Latest.
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Kemi Badenoch is right – Empire didn’t make Britain rich ([link removed])

Editorial Director Kristian Niemietz, The Daily Telegraph ([link removed])

The HS2 of its day… For the most part, colonialism was a white elephant. It delivered slim gains for Britain whilst damaging its colonies.
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British Empire, Colonialism & Slavery: Did Empire Enrich Britain? | IEA Podcast ([link removed])

Matthew Lesh interviews Kristian Niemietz, IEA YouTube ([link removed])

Pervasive myths… This week’s controversy over Kemi Badenoch’s comments on the role of colonialism in Britain’s economic success shows just how far myths about the origins of free market capitalism have spread.
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How bad is the news on booze? ([link removed])

Head of Lifestyle Economics Cristopher Snowdon, The Critic ([link removed]) & The Daily Mail ([link removed])

Not letting a tragedy go to waste… Despite ample evidence that measures like Minimum Unit Pricing have failed, public health campaigners have seized on news that alcohol deaths have risen across the UK to push for more state intervention.
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Britain needs a Yimby revolt ([link removed])

Kristian Niemietz, CapX ([link removed]) & IEA Blog ([link removed])

A brave new world… A class conscious YIMBY movement could make a future of abundant housing ([link removed]) a reality.
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Bitcoin, Libertarianism, Milei and the Future of Tax ([link removed])

IEA Executive Director Tom Clougherty interviews comedian Dominic Frisby, IEA YouTube ([link removed])

Success breeds success… If Javier Milei is successful in Argentina, free market ideas could spread like wildfire.
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The IEA begins. The origin story of the “Tufton Street” cabal ([link removed])

Kristian Niemietz, IEA Blog ([link removed])

The origin story… Who were the founders of the IEA and why did they commit themselves to spreading the word about free markets and individual liberty?

IEA Insider.


** LibertyCon Europe 2024
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Last week, IEA team members were in Tbilisi, Georgia to attend Europe’s largest annual gathering of pro-liberty students at Liberty Con Europe.

Over the course of the three day event, more than 975 guests attended, and the IEA distributed hundreds of publications to students from all over Europe at the Liberty Fair.

Tom Clougherty, Christopher Snowdon, Adam Bartha, and Reem Ibrahim took to the main stage of the conference speaking on topics such as the future of liberty in Europe, the libertarian case for open borders, the nanny state, and the future of regulation.


** The Reality of Socialism: Denmark | Mini-Documentary ([link removed])
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Denmark is often described as a socialist or democratic socialist economy. But as the latest mini-documentary from the Realities of Socialism ([link removed]) project shows, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
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** Camp Vinson ([link removed]) 2024
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The IEA, Vinson Centre, and Institute of International Monetary Research are offering a residential programme at the Vinson Centre, University of Buckingham.

The programme, targeted at undergraduates interested in classical liberalism, includes a series of lectures, seminars, debates, discussions, and social activities.

Dates: 17th - 21st June 2024

Location: Vinson Centre, University of Buckingham
Apply for Camp Vinson ([link removed])


** Applications for Freedom Week 2024 are OPEN! ([link removed])
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Freedom Week is an annual, one-week seminar which teaches students about classical liberal, free market, neoliberal and liberal perspectives on economics, politics, history and society. It is open to over-18s who are currently attending or about to start university. The week is entirely free to attend: there is no charge whatsoever for accommodation, food, tuition or materials.

Dates: 19th - 23rd August 2024

Location: Cambridge
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Apply for Freedom Week ([link removed])
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