Events
Politeia's events. If you are interested in attending any of our events, then please e-mail secretary2@politeia.co.uk to apply.
Places are limited at events with an asterisk.
The 2012 Politeia Economics Lecture Series
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Recession or Recovery - What Policies are Best for British Business?
Mark Prisk MP, Minister of State for Business and Enterprise, will give the opening lecture, Cutting the Burden and Cost of Regulation,to Politeia's new series.
As the UK competes in an ever more competitive global economy, the
Business Minister considers the best way to help British business succeed. He will consider:
- What priority should be given to curbing regulatory, fiscal and employment costs in the UK?
- What impact do external factors play?
- How best can businesses be helped to compete with lower cost orprotected economies?
Safeguarding the Future of British Universities?
Universities Minister David Willetts delivers Politeia's New Year Address
Giving Politeia’s New Year Address on 19th January, David Willetts discussed the importance of universities as institutions for the transmission of learning and wisdom over generations.
His Address also explored the different ideas of a university which had developed over centuries with the focus on teaching and research, and a future in which a diversity of aims and institutions should be encouraged to flourish. The Coalition’s aim had been to put the universities on a sound financial footing for the future, and its proposals for future universities’ finance were designed to strengthen the link between the student and the institution, something which a system based on a ‘graduate tax’ would not do.
Is the Idea of a University Dead?
David Willetts MP, Universities Minister, gives Politeia's New Year Address
Across the world British Universities have been applauded for their tradition of learning and scholarship, for freedom and open intellectual enquiry and for excellence in the humanities and pioneering research in the sciences. Today, British universities attract students from around the world for undergraduate courses as well as post-graduate training and research.
But there are fears that the UK universities are under threat. Costs are rising at a time when the levels of available public funds are shrinking. Over the past decades increasing central control has undermined freedom and official standardization has threatened excellence. Meanwhile, rival institutions worldwide attract able scholars and students from the UK.
Is the idea of a university as it has developed over generations in this country, now dead? On 19th January David Willetts will speak on the future of UK universities in the 21st century.
How To Cut Public Spending: Is Fiscal Policy a Waste of Time? Politeia Lecture Series 2011
The Coalition has prioritized its policy of cutting the deficit. The cuts, say protagonists, are necessary to return growth and confidence to the economy. Critics, however fear that cutting too far and too fast will damage hopes of recovery, and urge higher levels of spending to stimulate growth.
In the last lecture of Politeia’s current series, "How to Cut Public Spending", Professor Tim Congdon* suggested that the emphasis on fiscal policy is misplaced.
American and British experience over the last 30 years shows that reductions in the budget deficit have not prompted a withdrawal of demand from the economy. Indeed, cuts in the budget deficit have been accompanied by above-trend growth in demand and output. He will also suggest that the widely feared danger of 'a liquidity trap' once money market rates have been reduced to zero is illusory.
* Professor Tim Congdon is founder of International Monetary Research Ltd. He has was a member of the Treasury Panel of Independent Forecasters (the so-called “wise men”) between 1992 and 1997. Professor Congdon’s new book is Money in a Free Society, in which he takes issue with U.S. economists Larry Summers and Paul Krugman.
Cutting Courts or the State?: Is the Justice Ministry right or wrong on the Magistrates’ courts?
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As the Coalition proceeds with its policy to close one third of the magistrates’ courts, Politeia’s autumn conference will review the case for closure and whether the policy is sensible. Today magistrates hear 95 per cent of criminal cases with around 30,000 magistrates giving their services voluntarily, as they have for six hundred years.
The Ministry of Justice alleges savings (of around £41.5m) and claims the system of justice will be streamlined and modernized. Critics warn that justice will suffer and costs will rise. The policy of closure will reduce access to justice and bring a bigger state with more officials and higher costs. Besides, it undermines the constitutional principle of an independent judiciary. Who is right, the ministry or its critics?
Speaking at Politeia’s autumn conference on Wednesday, 19th October, were:
- Stanley Brodie, QC - author of The Cost to Justice: Government Policy and the Magistrates Courts
- Imran Ahmad, Political Advisor to Andy Slaughter MP - Labour’s Shadow Justice Minister
- Sir Ivan Lawrence, QC - former Chairman, Home Affairs Select Committee (1992-1997)
- John Thornhill - Chairman, The Magistrates’ Association
