Kristian Niemietz

Dr. Kristian Niemietz, Editorial Director at the Institute of Economic Affairs known for his insights on fiscal policy, and Daniel Freeman, the Managing Editor who provides detailed budget analyses, dive deep into the latest budget by Rachel Reeves. They discuss the staggering £70 billion tax rise and its implications for the UK's highest-ever tax-to-GDP ratio. Notably, they critique the lack of real growth actions, the impact of progressive taxes on productivity, and the political oddity of new taxes with impending elections, painting a complex picture of Britain’s fiscal landscape.

Kristian Niemietz, Director at the Institute of Economic Affairs, dives into the secretive world of powerful think tanks advocating for free-market policies. He debates trickle-down economics while discussing the IEA's Hayekian origins and its influence on figures like Thatcher. The conversation highlights the tension between national and local governance, explores the shift in his own political beliefs, and emphasizes the importance of funding transparency in think tanks. Niemietz's insights reveal the complexities behind neoliberal ideologies and modern economic discussions.