The state’s ability to raise taxes may have reached a limit, as capital and labour flee high tax economies. The government has three options: it can cut spending; it can oblige the private sector to fund programmes; or it can shift the basis of tax to consumption. Irwin Stelzer suggests that a new direction is needed.

*Taxes in a Global Economy: Efficiency, Fairness and Incentive by Irwin Stelzer is available onlinehttp://www.politeia.co.uk/Portals/0/Taxes.pdf">

For the press release please   read more...

Each year thousands of teachers leave their jobs – the official figure suggests around 9 per cent (of whom c. 2 per cent retire). Schools often face grave shortages, especially those in the inner cities or for 11-16. Some subjects fare worse than others, e.g. physics and modern languages. Meanwhile, the vacancy figures for headships are high. The position may become worse given the age profile of the profession, with half over 45. Politeia’s conference will address a number of vital questions. The panel will include Professors David Burghes, Professor Bob Moon, John O’Leary and Chris Woodhead.

For tickets apply to secretary2@politeia.co.uk
  read more...

Pensions today are central to the policy debate. As the UK and other western countries face demographic change, paying for retirement becomes more important to governments and their electorates. Over the past decades the UK ’s pensions system seems to have become less robust. The role of regulation has become increasingly controversial. Policy, it is thought, can have dramatic effect on savings, pensions and insurance.
Chris Daykin, HM Government Actuary (1989-2007), will discuss Regulation and Pensions, on Tuesday 20th May 2008.
Tickets available from Politeia
  read more...

While tax and public spending return to the policy agenda, regulation remains the ‘hidden tax’. Like tax and public spending some regulation may be necessary and efficient. Some may be unnecessary and damaging. Why then does it receive far less political scrutiny?

Professor Vito Tanzi, in his recent lecture, discussed why regulation must have far more attention. He suggested that we must be ever more on guard so it does not become a substitute for tax and spending.  

Governments now resort increasingly to regulation as an instrument of policy: Politeia’s 2008 series will examine the role and implications of regulation. Like the other instruments of policy such as tax and public spending, some regulation
may be necessary and efficient, some unnecessary and damaging. However, unlike tax and public spending, regulation
prompts far less political or public attention and debate.
  read more...

As transport moves to the centre of the policy debate, there is fresh focus on rail. How far can the environmentally friendly train compete against the convenient car or the cheaper air mile? Chris Green, a non-Executive Director of Network Rail, explains that rail use is poised for further expansion after a decade of growth. Stability is essential to tackle problems such as overcrowding, capacity and reliability.
This pamphlet is the first of a series of Politeia debates 'On Track…?'

*Reviving Rail: What Strategy for Success by Chris Green is available online http://www.politeia.co.uk/Portals/0/Final_Green.pdf">
 

Unemployment is back in the news. The Government and the Conservative Party aim to tighten the rules for drawing benefit. But with around 1.7 million unemployed the present approach needs more radical overhaul.
Politeia’s new pamphlet proposes scrapping the present unemployment benefit system and changing to a Savings Account. Everyone may draw, as now, benefit. But those who stay in work will have a higher state pension.

*'Working to Account? Social Security Without Dependency' by Peter Birch Sorensen and Arij Lans Bovenberg is available online http://www.politeia.co.uk/Portals/0/sorensen_final.pdf">
For the press release please click   read more...

Each year around 1,000 EU measures become law in the UK. Most of these are never debated in the House of Commons. Many are not even considered by the Committees of the House. Theresa May, Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, explains in Politeia’s pamphlet* that there is a failure of scrutiny.

* Restoring Parliamentary Authority: EU Laws and British Scrutiny, by Theresa May and Nicholas Timothy, is available online: http://www.politeia.co.uk/Portals/0/may_final.pdf