IEA Podcast

In this interview, former Institute for Fiscal Studies Director Paul Johnson joins IEA Executive Director Tom Clougherty to discuss the major fiscal policy trends in Britain over Johnson's 14-year tenure. Johnson offers a comprehensive analysis of how the UK tax system has evolved under Conservative governments, highlighting the surprising increase in tax progressivity and the record-high tax burden as a percentage of national income, which has risen from around 33-34% historically to 38% today.The discussion explores challenging fiscal realities facing the UK, including rising public debt, increasing demands on public services, and the impact of recent global economic shocks. Johnson provides thoughtful commentary on the structural issues within the UK tax system, including problematic thresholds, the "impoverishment" of high earners, and what he calls the "tyranny of the status quo" that prevents meaningful reform despite broad expert consensus on what changes are needed.As he prepares to step down from the IFS this summer, Johnson shares his perspective on growth-enhancing reforms, the significant constraints on public spending reduction, and his assessment of the current government's rhetoric versus action on economic policy. Drawing on insights from his book "Follow the Money," Johnson offers viewers a balanced and informed examination of Britain's fiscal challenges and potential paths forward in an increasingly uncertain global economic environment.The Institute of Economic Affairs is an educational charity, it does not endorse or give support for any political party in the UK or elsewhere. Our mission is to improve understanding of the fundamental institutions of a free society by analysing and expounding the role of markets in solving economic and social problems. Get full access to Institute of Economic Affairs | Insider at insider.iea.org.uk/subscribe

In this episode of the IEA podcast, host Callum Price, Director of Communications, is joined by Tom Clougherty, Executive Director, and Dr. Kristian Niemietz, Editorial Director, to discuss recent economic developments. The conversation begins with an analysis of President Trump's tariff policies, including his recent 90-day pause on certain tariff increases beyond the 10% base rate. They then examine Westminster City Council's controversial proposal to seize properties left empty for over six months, and finally discuss the economic implications of the newly approved Universal theme park in Bedford, debating whether it should be required to use exclusively British steel.The discussion delves into the unpredictable nature of Trump's trade approach, exploring whether it represents a coherent economic nationalist vision or a more capricious policy stance. The conversation then shifts to examine Westminster Council's empty homes proposal, with the hosts arguing that undermining property rights is a dangerous approach to addressing housing shortages.Finally, they debate the merits of government intervention in the steel industry amid news of the Universal theme park development, questioning whether nationalisation of steel production is economically viable and if theme park construction should be tied to supporting domestic steel manufacturing.We bring you a public affairs podcast with a difference. We want to get beyond the headlines and instead focus on the big ideas and foundational principles that matter to classical liberals.The Institute of Economic Affairs is an educational charity, it does not endorse or give support for any political party in the UK or elsewhere. Our mission is to improve understanding of the fundamental institutions of a free society by analysing and expounding the role of markets in solving economic and social problems. Get full access to Institute of Economic Affairs | Insider at insider.iea.org.uk/subscribe

In this IEA Live event interview, Executive Director Tom Clougherty sits down with Lord Moynihan of Chelsea to explore the key themes from his two-volume work "Return to Growth." Lord Moynihan presents his analysis of what he calls "the three devils" preventing UK economic growth: excessive government spending, high taxation, and burdensome regulation. Throughout their conversation, they explore how the UK has moved from a position of economic strength to facing stagnant growth, with current GDP per capita growth effectively at zero. Lord Moynihan offers a stark assessment of Britain's economic decline, arguing that the country has transitioned from a free market economy toward an increasingly extractive state system. He suggests that returning to policies similar to those of early Blair-era Britain, when government spending was around 30% of GDP rather than today's 45%, could help restore annual growth to 3%. The conversation delves into specific issues such as energy policy, employment regulations, and the challenges posed by Wagner's Law—the tendency of democracies to demand ever-expanding government services. The discussion also explores broader cultural factors affecting growth, including the exodus of entrepreneurial talent from the UK and the psychological differences between "head" and "heart" decision-making that influence political choices. Lord Moynihan concludes with a sobering analysis of how difficult meaningful reform might be given the entrenched regulatory state but maintains that a shift in the Overton Window of acceptable political discourse could eventually create the conditions for change, similar to what happened before the Thatcher revolution of the 1980s.The Institute of Economic Affairs is an educational charity, it does not endorse or give support for any political party in the UK or elsewhere. Our mission is to improve understanding of the fundamental institutions of a free society by analysing and expounding the role of markets in solving economic and social problems. Get full access to Institute of Economic Affairs | Insider at insider.iea.org.uk/subscribe

Join us for the premiere episode of "Free the Power," the new IEA series exploring market-based solutions to the UK's energy challenges. Host Andy Mayer sits down with David Turver, Independent Energy Analyst and Author of the Eigen Values SubStack, to unpack the government's controversial green hydrogen strategy.In this first episode, Trevor explains why green hydrogen costs 7 times more than natural gas and reveals how the government's "gas shipper obligation" could add up to £216 annually to domestic bills while nearly doubling industrial energy costs. Trevor calls the plan "a crime against thermodynamics" and questions why the UK is pursuing an energy strategy abandoned by major oil companies and unviable in free markets.This is the first installment of our series examining energy policies through a free market lens. Subscribe to catch future episodes featuring leading thinkers who challenge conventional wisdom on renewable subsidies, grid reliability, and affordable energy solutions. Is the UK's energy transition headed for disaster or can market principles provide a better path forward? Get full access to Institute of Economic Affairs | Insider at insider.iea.org.uk/subscribe

In this IEA In Conversation event, Dr. Christopher Snowdon, Head of Lifestyle Economics, hosts Prof. Mario Rizzo of New York University for an incisive examination of behavioural economics and its paternalistic implications. Prof. Rizzo, co-author of the acclaimed "Escaping Paternalism" and co-director of the Classical Liberal Institute at NYU, challenges the fundamental premises of behavioural public policy with sharp precision and intellectual rigor. The lecture delves into the limitations of behavioural economics' approach to policy-making, exploring how context-dependent biases are, why quantifying them accurately is nearly impossible, and how government intervention may inadvertently weaken individuals' capacity for self-regulation. Prof. Rizzo dissects Cass Sunstein's provocative claim that Friedrich Hayek might have approved of some behavioural interventions, revealing the flawed assumptions underlying this hypothesis. Following the lecture, Dr. Snowdon leads a stimulating Q&A session exploring practical applications of these ideas, from pension auto-enrollment to food positioning, organ donation policies, and the reality of slippery slope concerns in regulation. Throughout, Prof. Rizzo offers a compelling case that while acknowledging human fallibility is important, the contextual nature of decision-making and our limited knowledge of individual circumstances make paternalistic interventions fundamentally problematic. Get full access to Institute of Economic Affairs | Insider at insider.iea.org.uk/subscribe

In this episode of the IEA podcast, host Callum Price, Director of Communications, is joined by Tom Clougherty, Executive Director, and Dr. Kristian Niemietz, Editorial Director, to discuss recent economic developments. The conversation begins with an analysis of former President Trump's newly announced tariff plan, which imposes varying rates from 10% to 46% on different countries, with the UK subject to the minimum 10% rate. The guests examine the formula behind these tariffs and the potential impact on international trade.The podcast then shifts to domestic UK issues, focusing on potential changes to cash ISAs (Individual Savings Accounts) by Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Tom explains the rumored plans to limit how much can be saved in cash ISAs versus stocks and shares, discussing why this interference in consumer choice is problematic despite Britons potentially under-investing in equities. The conversation also addresses wealth inequality in the UK, with Kristian noting that contrary to popular belief, wealth inequality hasn't significantly increased in recent decades.The discussion concludes with Tom challenging the narrative that Britain doesn't tax wealth enough, presenting OECD data showing the UK actually taxes property, inheritance, and capital gains at higher rates than many competitor countries. The guests argue that supply-side reforms rather than redistributive measures are needed to address the UK's growth challenges.We bring you a public affairs podcast with a difference. We want to get beyond the headlines and instead focus on the big ideas and foundational principles that matter to classical liberals.The Institute of Economic Affairs is an educational charity, it does not endorse or give support for any political party in the UK or elsewhere. Our mission is to improve understanding of the fundamental institutions of a free society by analysing and expounding the role of markets in solving economic and social problems. Get full access to Institute of Economic Affairs | Insider at insider.iea.org.uk/subscribe

In this IEA briefing, Communications Manager Reem Ibrahim sits down with Yaron Brook, Chairman of the Ayn Rand Institute, to discuss free trade and its economic importance. Brook criticises President Trump's tariff policies, explaining how they contradict fundamental principles of economic freedom. He argues that trade barriers make Americans poorer by restricting individual rights to voluntary exchange and dismisses the notion that "Freedom Day" has anything to do with actual freedom. The conversation explores the theoretical foundations of free trade, examining how specialisation and comparative advantage create wealth. Brook emphasises that voluntary trade is always win-win and criticises political interests that lobby for protectionist policies. The discussion turns to UK trade policy post-Brexit, with Brook suggesting Britain missed an opportunity to become a model for global free trade by maintaining EU regulations while pursuing limited trade agreements. In the final segment, Brook introduces viewers to Objectivism, Ayn Rand's philosophical system. He outlines its comprehensive approach to values, explaining how it promotes individual liberty grounded in a morality of rational self-interest. Brook describes Objectivism's view of government as limited to protecting individual rights through police, military, and judiciary functions while leaving people free to pursue their own values without interference. Get full access to Institute of Economic Affairs | Insider at insider.iea.org.uk/subscribe

IEA Executive Director Tom Clougherty analyses Chancellor Rachel Reeves's Spring Budget statement of March 26, 2025. With economic forecasts worsening since October, the government's fiscal headroom has disappeared, leading to cuts in welfare and departmental spending alongside another effort to tackle tax avoidance. The budget appears to be an exercise in meeting minimum fiscal targets rather than addressing fundamental economic issues. Clougherty criticises how fiscal events have become focused on gaming OBR forecasts five years out rather than implementing principled long-term policymaking. Growth forecasts have been halved to just 1% for 2025, with lacklustre projections through the forecast window. He notes that 2024 and 2025 are essentially "lost years" in terms of per capita economic growth, with productivity improvements still being anticipated despite failing to materialise since the financial crisis. While the Chancellor's rhetoric around pro-growth policies is promising, Clougherty questions whether the substance matches the vision. He argues that a more radical approach to supply-side liberalisation is needed, pointing out that if minor planning reforms can boost GDP by 0.2% at no fiscal cost, more comprehensive reforms across planning, financial regulation, and energy could deliver significantly greater growth benefits that the UK economy desperately needs. Get full access to Institute of Economic Affairs | Insider at insider.iea.org.uk/subscribe

Download the full paper here: https://iea.org.uk/publications/44943/ In this new IEA Briefing, Communications Manager Reem Ibrahim sits down with independent economist Damian Pudner to discuss the new IEA paper "Rethinking Monetary Policy." Pudner explains why the Bank of England's current 2% inflation targeting system fails to provide a balanced approach during supply shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing interest rate hikes that exacerbated the cost of living crisis while hampering economic growth and recovery. Pudner presents a compelling alternative: nominal GDP targeting, which would require the Bank of England to consider both inflation and economic growth simultaneously. This more holistic approach could prevent unnecessary interest rate increases during supply shocks, giving businesses more stability and breathing room to invest and recover. Using examples like Scott Sumner's nominal GDP futures contracts, Pudner outlines practical implementation methods that align with free market principles while potentially delivering the current government's "growth, growth, growth" mission. With historical context showing that monetary policy regimes typically evolve over time, Pudner argues the Bank of England has an opportunity to lead monetary innovation as it did in the early 1990s with inflation targeting. Discover why this shift could create a more stable macroeconomic environment and how it might reshape Britain's economic landscape. Read Pudner's complete paper "Rethinking Monetary Policy" at iea.org.uk and learn more about the IEA's work at insider.iea.org.uk. Get full access to Institute of Economic Affairs | Insider at insider.iea.org.uk/subscribe

In this episode of the IEA Podcast, Communications Manager Reem Ibrahim is joined by Tom Clougherty, Executive Director, and Dr. Kristian Niemietz, Editorial Director at the Institute for Economic Affairs. The team discusses whether the left has turned against woke ideology, examining how socialist figures are now distancing themselves from identity politics to refocus on class struggle. The conversation shifts to Kemi Badenoch's recent speech rejecting net zero targets, with Tom arguing that while abandoning the 2050 goal is sensible, the issue isn't that net zero is impossible but rather that it's undesirable at the necessary cost. The panel explores how nuclear energy could play a larger role in Britain's energy mix if planning reforms were implemented. The podcast concludes with an analysis of the government's new welfare benefit reforms, addressing the concerning rise in long-term sickness benefits. Tom notes that Britain is uniquely experiencing this trend and discusses how pandemic-era policies, remote assessments, and changing attitudes toward state support have contributed to 2.8 million people now claiming these benefits. We bring you a public affairs podcast with a difference. We want to get beyond the headlines and instead focus on the big ideas and foundational principles that matter to classical liberals.The Institute of Economic Affairs is an educational charity, it does not endorse or give support for any political party in the UK or elsewhere. Our mission is to improve understanding of the fundamental institutions of a free society by analysing and expounding the role of markets in solving economic and social problems. Get full access to Institute of Economic Affairs | Insider at insider.iea.org.uk/subscribe