IEA Podcast

In this Institute of Economic Affairs briefing, Director of Communications Callum Price interviews Professor Len Shackleton, IEA Editorial and Research Fellow, about his latest discussion paper "Liberating the Labour Market." The conversation examines how Britain's labour market operates, with around 65% of workers employed by private businesses, 20% in the public sector, and the remainder in charities and nonprofits. They discuss how increasing employment regulation over the past 40 years has created a growing "wedge" between what employers pay and what employees receive, with compliance costs now supporting nearly half a million human resources workers compared to far fewer four decades ago.Professor Shackleton traces the evolution from the Thatcher-era trade union reforms of the 1980s to the current Employment Rights Bill, which spans 299 pages and carries an estimated £5 billion cost. He argues that employment mandates - requirements for employers to provide benefits like parental leave - function as stealth taxes that ultimately reduce worker pay over time. The discussion covers how these regulations have eroded Britain's traditionally flexible labour market advantage compared to heavily regulated European economies, with particular concern about the impact on youth employment opportunities as businesses face higher costs for hiring young workers.The briefing concludes with Shackleton's reform proposals, including scrapping the apprenticeship levy and reviewing occupational regulation requirements that force workers to obtain formal qualifications for jobs like estate agency - a requirement unique to Britain among European countries. He warns that the Employment Rights Bill's union-friendly provisions, including extended strike mandates and easier recognition processes, could lead to increased public sector militancy. Despite these challenges, Shackleton maintains optimism about the private sector's ability to generate employment, pointing to the post-COVID job creation surge as evidence of business adaptability when not constrained by excessive regulation. Get full access to Institute of Economic Affairs | Insider at insider.iea.org.uk/subscribe

In this Institute of Economic Affairs explainer, former Justice Secretary Sir Robert Buckland, IEA Head of Lifestyle Economics Christopher Snowdon, and former ASH Director Clive Bates examine the UK government's proposal to introduce a “generational tobacco ban” as part of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. The panel explores the legal, economic, and public health implications of a policy that would raise the legal smoking age year by year — effectively banning tobacco for future generations.The discussion delves into the legal vulnerabilities of the legislation, including potential challenges under the Equality Act and the European Convention on Human Rights. Buckland outlines how the bill may conflict with the Windsor Framework and create constitutional difficulties in Northern Ireland. Snowdon highlights the unintended consequences of prohibition, drawing on recent examples from Australia where overregulation has led to black market violence and arson attacks. Bates critiques the policy's negligible health impact, arguing that it distracts from more effective harm reduction strategies.The panel also assesses the government's failure to conduct adequate regulatory and equalities impact assessments, the risks of increasing criminalisation, and the broader political motivations behind the bill. They compare the UK’s approach with international examples such as Sweden, which has achieved the lowest adult smoking rates in Europe not through prohibition but by promoting safer alternatives like nicotine pouches and snus.The speakers conclude that the generational ban is unlikely to achieve meaningful health outcomes, may exacerbate the illicit tobacco trade, and undermines adult choice while ignoring the six million existing smokers. Instead, they call for a pragmatic, evidence-based approach focused on enabling safer alternatives rather than coercive bans. Get full access to Institute of Economic Affairs | Insider at insider.iea.org.uk/subscribe

In this Institute of Economic Affairs explainer, IEA Director Eamonn Butler discusses his new book "An Introduction to Schools of Economic Thought" and explores the major economic theories that have shaped our understanding of how resources are created and distributed. Butler examines the evolution from pre-classical economics through Adam Smith's revolutionary ideas about wealth creation, Karl Marx's labour theory of value, and the Austrian School's emphasis on individual choice and subjective value.The discussion covers how different schools approached fundamental economic questions, from the classical economists who challenged mercantilism to the Austrian School's critique of central planning. Butler explains the Keynesian revolution and its focus on government management of the macro economy, the Chicago School's monetarism and economic approach to human behaviour, and the neoclassical synthesis that attempted to mathematise economic theory. He also examines Public Choice economics and its sceptical view of government action, along with modern Behavioural Economics and its insights into human decision-making biases.Butler concludes by emphasising the importance of understanding these different schools of thought to grasp the historical context of economic ideas and to develop better frameworks for understanding economic life. He demonstrates how studying various economic approaches allows us to compare and contrast different explanations, potentially leading to improved economic thinking that builds upon the strengths of previous schools while addressing their limitations. Get full access to Institute of Economic Affairs | Insider at insider.iea.org.uk/subscribe

In this Institute of Economic Affairs podcast, Director of Communications Callum Price hosts a discussion with Executive Director Tom Clougherty and Editorial Director Kristian Niemietz on Labour's first year in government since their July 2024 election victory. The conversation examines Labour's economic performance, focusing on their growth mission, fiscal challenges, and supply-side reforms. They assess the government's struggles with their pro-growth agenda, the impact of their tax-and-spend budget that raised taxes by £40 billion while increasing spending by £70 billion, and the recent market turbulence around gilt yields and the pound.The discussion explores Britain's fiscal fragility, with debt interest payments exceeding £100 billion annually and conventional debt measures at 100% of GDP. Clougherty and Niemietz analyse how the government's inability to control spending within their own coalition has created a challenging political cycle, while examining whether Labour could adopt a supply-side abundance agenda similar to progressive movements in the US. They also address the housing crisis, noting how regulatory burdens are undermining development viability even in high-demand areas like London, and discuss the broader implications for economic growth and political stability.The conversation concludes with an examination of the re-emergence of socialism through figures like Jeremy Corbyn and international examples such as the recent electoral victory in New York, alongside practical policy discussions on fuel duty reform and price transparency in petrol retail. The hosts explore whether Britain faces a potential political realignment between nationalist populism and radical socialism, leaving classical liberals potentially marginalised, while considering the role of economic pressures like housing costs in driving support for more extreme political alternatives. Get full access to Institute of Economic Affairs | Insider at insider.iea.org.uk/subscribe

In this IEA podcast episode, Reem Ibrahim sits down with Professor Daniel Klein to unravel why Adam Smith-writing in 1776 as revolution erupted-predicted America would become "one of the greatest and most formidable empires that ever was in the world." Starting with Smith's remarkable GDP forecast that America would overtake Britain within a century (which proved dead right), they trace how the Scottish economist saw five liberal principles emerging in colonial thought that would drive unprecedented prosperity.Daniel walks us through Smith's analysis of American thinkers like James Otis and John Adams, revealing how subsidiarity, religious freedom, limited government, free trade, and virtuous governance aligned with Smith's own philosophical framework. The discussion explores milestone moments-from Thomas Paine's Common Sense appearing months before The Wealth of Nations, to Smith's 1778 memo showing intimate knowledge of American affairs, and his prescient observation that "from shopkeepers, tradesmen and attorneys, they are become statesmen and legislators."They examine Smith's radical insight about religious free markets - how Pennsylvania's pluralistic approach would produce "candor and moderation" better than established churches - and his conviction that America's "Don't Tread on Me" spirit reflected a healthy recognition that "government is the institutionalization of coercion." The conversation reveals hidden connections between Edinburgh Enlightenment thinkers and the Founding Fathers, showing how David Hume, Edmund Burke, and Smith himself favoured a "let them go" approach to American independence.Looking to today's politics, they debate whether Smith would recognise his liberal hopes in modern America's centralised state, vast bureaucracy, and eroding constitutional checks. From Trump's tariffs to expanding federal power, Klein argues Smith would be "a lot less optimistic" about America's trajectory toward the subsidiarity and natural liberty he once celebrated. If you care about classical liberalism, constitutional design, or why the Scottish Enlightenment saw America as humanity's great experiment, this conversation is for you. Like, subscribe and hit the bell to catch future IEA podcast episodes. Get full access to Institute of Economic Affairs | Insider at insider.iea.org.uk/subscribe

In this Free the Power episode, IEA Andy Mayer sits down with writer and policy analyst Alex Chalmers (Trauma Machine Substack & Works in Progress) to unravel why nuclear power went from cheap and fast-to-build in the 1960s to eye-wateringly expensive today. Starting with fruit-fly radiation studies that won Hermann Muller a Nobel Prize and seeded the “no safe dose” dogma, they trace the cascading effects of U.S. weapons-testing mishaps, the birth of ALARA/ALARP regulation, and how a safety culture of ever-thicker concrete, cable and paperwork priced private builders out of the market. Alex walks us through milestone moments—the Castle Bravo fallout scare, Three Mile Island’s zero-fatality meltdown, and the UK’s decision to demand extra HVAC filters on an advanced boiling-water reactor that would have reduced public exposure by less than “the radiation you get from eating one banana.” The discussion sets out the hidden trade-offs regulators ignore (fossil-fuel particulates kill far more people than low-dose radiation) and why cost escalations of 176 % in a decade were largely debt-finance and delay, not engineering fate. Looking ahead, they debate ways to break the ratchet—smarter risk thresholds, local benefit-sharing, and the UK government’s new Nuclear Regulatory Task Force, which could let Britain reclaim its 1960s lead in affordable, abundant, low-carbon power. If you care about climate targets, energy bills or technological optimism, this conversation is for you. Like, subscribe and hit the bell to catch future Free the Power episodes. Get full access to Institute of Economic Affairs | Insider at insider.iea.org.uk/subscribe

In this Institute of Economic Affairs podcast, IEA Executive Director Tom Clougherty interviews Julia Willemyns, co-founder of the Centre for British Progress. The conversation explores the Centre's mission to promote pro-growth policies from a progressive perspective, examining how the centre-left can embrace economic growth and supply-side liberalisation. Willemyns discusses the organisation's evolution from UK Day One, their focus on addressing barriers to progress in Britain, and their belief that economic growth is essential for human progress and social mobility.The discussion covers key policy areas including planning reform, energy policy, and market dynamism. Willemyns advocates for "system resets" and regulatory simplification, drawing on examples from countries like Denmark's flexicurity model and innovative approaches to housing development in Houston and Israel. She argues for nuclear energy as crucial for Britain's energy independence and abundance, while critiquing both traditional left-wing approaches of regulation and redistribution, and the right's failure to deliver meaningful reform despite pro-growth rhetoric.The interview concludes with Willemyns' optimism about Britain's human capital and talent, while addressing the challenge of retaining high-skilled individuals. She emphasises the need for institutional reform that empowers rather than hollows out the state, advocating for policies that create opportunities for entrepreneurship and innovation. The conversation highlights the Centre for British Progress's approach of loving institutions enough to want them to work effectively, distinguishing their reform agenda from populist "slash and burn" approaches. Get full access to Institute of Economic Affairs | Insider at insider.iea.org.uk/subscribe

In this Institute of Economic Affairs podcast, Communications Manager Reem Ibrahim is joined by Executive Director Tom Clougherty and Editorial Director Kristian Niemietz. The conversation covers NHS productivity challenges, the government's welfare reform U-turn, and Labour's new industrial strategy. They examine how the NHS struggles to convert financial resources into productive medical inputs, despite having adequate funding compared to OECD averages, and discuss the need for decentralised decision-making and increased capital investment in healthcare.The discussion turns to the government's retreat on welfare reforms, particularly around Personal Independence Payments, after facing political pressure. They analyse the dramatic rise in disability benefit claims since the pandemic, with 63,000 people moving directly from student status to long-term sickness benefits without entering the labour market. The hosts explore why current welfare systems create perverse incentives that trap people in economic inactivity, and examine Steve Davies' proposals for moving beyond the welfare state towards community-based mutual aid solutions.The episode concludes with an examination of Labour's industrial strategy, which the panel views as ineffective government intervention in markets. They criticise the approach of subsidising specific businesses while maintaining high energy costs for everyone else, arguing that successful economic policy requires broad supply-side reforms rather than targeted industrial picking. The conversation highlights how governments lack the market knowledge necessary to effectively direct economic resources, referencing Hayek's insights on the knowledge problem in central planning. Get full access to Institute of Economic Affairs | Insider at insider.iea.org.uk/subscribe

In this Institute of Economic Affairs briefing, Communications Manager Reem Ibrahim interviews Dr. Christopher Snowdon, Head of Lifestyle Economics, about the government's consideration of new restrictions on alcohol advertising. The discussion examines why ministers are exploring these plans, potentially to create a "level playing field" with the upcoming junk food advertising ban, and Dr. Snowdon's analysis of why such restrictions would be ineffective and economically damaging. Dr. Snowdon presents comprehensive evidence challenging the effectiveness of alcohol advertising bans, citing Cochrane Reviews and real-world studies that show no meaningful impact on consumption or health outcomes. He explains how advertising primarily affects brand choice and market share rather than overall consumption levels, noting that even substantial increases in advertising spending over recent decades haven't changed drinking patterns. The conversation explores the flawed methodology of recall studies commonly used to justify such bans and why problem drinkers are unlikely to be influenced by advertising restrictions. The briefing concludes with an examination of the unintended consequences of advertising bans, including reduced competition in the alcohol industry and significant financial impacts on broadcasters and media platforms already struggling with declining advertising revenues. Dr. Snowdon argues that if products are legal, they should be advertised freely, provided the advertisements meet standards of honesty and decency. The discussion highlights the broader trend of successive advertising bans across multiple sectors and questions where such restrictions might end. Get full access to Institute of Economic Affairs | Insider at insider.iea.org.uk/subscribe

In this Institute of Economic Affairs Podcast interview, IEA Communications' Callum Price interviews Dr. Steve Davies, Senior Education Fellow, on the growing crisis of state welfare spending in the UK. Davies explains how the welfare bill has ballooned to approximately 12% of government expenditure (excluding pensions and healthcare), with incapacity and disability benefits alone expected to reach £100 billion by 2030 - up 25% since 2019. The discussion explores how Gordon Brown's well-intentioned income supplement system has created a welfare trap, where means-tested benefits impose effective marginal tax rates of 80% that discourage people from increasing their work hours or seeking better-paid employment. Davies argues that the current system is both financially unsustainable and socially destructive, trapping people in dependency while failing to address underlying structural problems like housing costs and low productivity. He critiques the limitations of technocratic reforms, explaining how attempts to tighten eligibility criteria often simply displace demand to other, more expensive programmes. The conversation covers the explosive growth in mental health problems among young people and the geographical mobility constraints caused by housing costs that keep people stuck in areas with limited employment opportunities. The interview concludes with Davies proposing radical alternatives to the current state-dominated system, including a return to mutual aid and voluntary collective action rather than traditional charity or market-based solutions. He advocates for either a minimal state safety net or universal basic services model, combined with locally-controlled, community-based welfare provision that draws on tacit local knowledge. Davies warns that without fundamental reform, the UK risks creating an even more punitive welfare system following a future financial crisis, and calls for honest political conversation about the severity of the challenges facing the current approach to social support. Get full access to Institute of Economic Affairs | Insider at insider.iea.org.uk/subscribe