IEA Podcast

In this episode, we explore Ed Davey's proposal for the UK to rejoin the EU customs union. Reem Ibrahim, Tom Clougherty, and Kristian Niemietz demonstrate why this approach would be a backward step even from a Remainer perspective, highlighting how it would give Britain "the worst of all worlds" while restricting its ability to pursue independent trade deals. Their analysis reveals why the customs...

In this new interview with libertarian power couple Matt and Terry Kibbe, founders of Free the People, hosted by IEA's Communications Manager, Reem Ibrahim, they explore how storytelling and personal narratives can effectively communicate ideas of liberty and economic freedom. From Terry's experience in the defence industry to Matt's discovery of libertarianism through Rush albums and Austrian eco...

In this episode of IEA Briefing, we explore why a 37-year-old paper on UK housing remains shockingly relevant today. Dr. Kristian Niemietz joins us to discuss the republishing of "No Room! No Room!" - Professor Alan Evans' 1988 analysis of Britain's housing crisis. Despite being written when multiplex cinemas were new and the Berlin Wall still stood, the paper's diagnosis of the UK's housing probl...

Dr Christopher Snowdon joins us to discuss the "Not Invented Here" syndrome in activist groups and policy campaigns. From weight loss drugs to e-cigarettes, nuclear power to GM foods, Snowdon explores how campaign groups often resist practical solutions that weren't developed by their own organisations - even when these solutions clearly work. Using real-world examples, Snowdon breaks down how act...

In this episode, we dive into the UK's current borrowing challenges and the government's fiscal rules. Tom Clougherty, Executive Director , explains why the situation presents a significant problem for the government as borrowing costs rise and economic growth remains sluggish. The discussion explores how this could force difficult choices between spending cuts and tax increases, with potential im...

Join us for the IEA Ralph Harris Centenary Lecture featuring Tyler Goodspeed, former Acting Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, who delivers his analysis of the UK's economic challenges. Goodspeed reveals that the UK is approximately 40% poorer per person than the US, with British workers producing less in a full year than American workers do by August. He explains how the 2008 financial...

In this episode of the IEA Podcast, host Reem Ibrahim joins Tom Clougherty and Daniel Freeman to reflect on the economic and policy highlights and lowlights of 2024. The discussion kicks off with a critical analysis of the government's October budget and its impact on British businesses, followed by concerns about rising protectionism in America and the concerning trend of outdoor smoking bans and...

Fraser Nelson, former Editor of The Spectator, joins IEA Communications Manager Reem Ibrahim to discuss his recent Channel 4 documentary "Britain's Benefits Scandal". Nelson explores the concerning rise in long-term sickness benefits claims across the UK, particularly among young adults aged 25-34, where numbers have increased by 65% in just five years. In this conversation, Nelson explains how th...

In this episode of the IEA Briefing, Editorial Director Dr. Kristian Niemietz discusses Jeremy Corbyn's recent speech in Jamaica about reparations and colonialism. Despite losing the general election five years ago, Corbyn remains influential with 2.6 million Twitter followers - more than the Prime Minister, Opposition Leader, and Chancellor combined. Niemietz explains why Corbyn's social media pr...

In this episode of the IEA Podcast, we analyse Angela Rayner's new housing proposals, which include redefining "grey belt" land and changing how housing targets are calculated. Director of Communications Callum Price , Editorial Director Kristian Niemietz , and Managing Editor Daniel Freeman discussed why these market-friendly reforms are coming from an unexpected source and whether they'll be eno...

In this week’s episode of the IEA Podcast, Callum Price (Director of Communications), Tom Clougherty (Executive Director) and Kristian Niemietz (Editorial Director) analyse Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's recent "Plan for Change" speech. The speech set out Labour's vision for growth and public services. Whilst the speech contained some positive ambitions, such as building 1.5 million homes , it...

Join IEA's Communications Manager Reem Ibrahim as she sits down with Andy Mayer, Energy Analyst and COO, to discuss Labour's ambitious 2030 net zero plans and the role of nuclear power in Britain's energy future. Following his recent Telegraph article, Mayer explains why the current target of transitioning from 40% renewable energy to 100% by 2030 faces significant challenges, particularly due to...

The latest IEA Podcast tackles some of the most pressing issues in British politics today. Hosted by Executive Director Tom Clougherty, this episode dives into the zero-emission vehicle mandate and the broader push towards net zero, questioning the feasibility and costs of these ambitious goals. Joining Tom are Dr. Kristian Niemietz and Dr. Stephen Davies, who provide their insights into the polic...

Higher education is in crisis, and Peter Ainsworth, Author of the new IEA Publication 'Shares in Students', has a radical solution. In this podcast, he explains how universities are financially struggling, with graduates earning less and carrying massive debt. His proposal? Tie university funding directly to student employment outcomes. Ainsworth argues that the current system incentivises student...

In this eye-opening episode of the IEA Podcast, Professor Len Shackleton dissects the UK government's latest "Get Britain Working" white paper. With the number of working-age people on benefits rising since COVID, the government is proposing initiatives like mental health consultant support, local trailblazer schemes, and youth work guarantees. Shackleton offers a critical perspective, arguing tha...

In this quick-hit episode, IEA's Editorial Director Kristian Niemietz discusses Ludwig von Mises' 1944 book "Bureaucracy" and its relevance to modern government reform efforts. The conversation explores why simply bringing private sector managers into government - like the recent initiative involving Elon Musk - might not be the solution Mises would have recommended. Niemietz explains how Mises sa...

Join host Callum Price, IEA's Director of Communications, along with Christopher Snowdon, Head of Lifestyle Economics, and Kristian Niemietz, Editorial Director, as they explore the recent farmers' protests in Westminster over inheritance tax changes. Our panel dives into the complex debate around taxing agricultural assets, food security, and the broader implications for Britain's countryside. Th...

In this episode of the IEA podcast, we dive into Wes Streeting's proposed NHS reforms, exploring whether league tables and performance metrics can truly improve healthcare efficiency. Our guests Tom Clougherty and Kristian Niemietz discuss alternative healthcare systems from around the world, from the Netherlands' market-driven approach to Singapore's health savings accounts, examining how these m...

In this IEA Book Club event, Sir Vernon Bogdanor discusses his new book "Making The Weather: Six Politicians Who Changed Modern Britain" with IEA Executive Director Tom Clougherty. Bogdanor examines how certain politicians have shaped Britain's political landscape, focusing particularly on three figures: Aneurin Bevan, Enoch Powell, and Keith Joseph. The discussion explores how these individuals c...

In this episode of the IEA Podcast, we delve into Donald Trump's decisive victory in the 2024 US presidential election and what it means for economic policy. WSJ columnist Joseph Sternberg breaks down why the election was ultimately decided by economic fundamentals rather than cultural issues, exploring Trump's proposed policies on tariffs, taxation, and government spending. The discussion examine...

In this wall-to-wall budget special, Tom Clougherty, Daniel Freeman, and Dr. Kristian Niemietz break down Chancellor Rachel Reeves' first budget. They examine the major tax increases, including the significant rise in employer National Insurance contributions, changes to capital gains tax, and new measures affecting private schools. The team analyses how these changes impact Britain's economic com...

Daniel Freeman of the Institute of Economic Affairs interviews Professor Daniel Waldenström about his new book, "Richer & More Equal: A New History of Wealth in the West." Waldenström's research suggests that wealth inequality has decreased over the past century, with the middle class experiencing significant growth in wealth accumulation. The discussion covers changes in wealth composition, shift...

Join Reem Ibrahim, Acting Director of Communications, as she discusses the latest economic and policy developments with IEA's Executive Director Tom Clougherty and Managing Editor Daniel Freeman. The team dives into pre-budget speculation, particularly focusing on the government's plans to add National Insurance contributions to employer pension contributions - and why the public sector might be e...

In this episode of the IEA Podcast, Tom Clougherty, Harrison Griffiths, and Dr. Kristian Niemietz dive into the upcoming Autumn budget and the potential £40 billion tax increases. They discuss the implications of employer National Insurance contributions and the broader impact on workers, while also touching on capital gains tax and the challenges of taxing different forms of income. The conversat...

In this new episode in the 'In Conversation' series, Charles Moore, Baron Moore of Etchingham and Member of the House of Lords, sits down with Tom Clougherty, Executive Director of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), to discuss the current state of British politics and the legacy of Margaret Thatcher. Moore, the acclaimed biographer of Thatcher and former editor of The Spectator and The Teleg...