Thomas More Institute

Category Archives: Political Economy

Published on
15 April 2011

A Privatisation Too Far?

Posted in Big Society, British Politics, Political Economy, Public Policy

‘A privatisation too far’. Many would be surprised to know how Margaret Thatcher reportedly viewed the idea of privatising British Rail. Although the Thatcher administration privatised much of the national industrial infrastructure, British Rail was finally sold off by her successor, John Major. The mania for privatisation even saw Britain’s first private prison open its […]

Published on
13 April 2011

Egypt, Tunisia, and the Failure of Neoclassical Economic Theory

Posted in Africa, Middle East, Political Economy, Recommended Links

‘The regime changes in Egypt and Tunisia have been hailed as victories for democracy, as proof of the liberalizing power of social networking media, as testimony to the power of nonviolent political action. All of that they may indeed be; but the events in Egypt and Tunisia also illustrate a major defect in our economic […]

Published on
4 April 2011

Funding and the Arts

Posted in Big Society, Culture, Music & Art, Political Economy, Public Policy

From a Guest Blogger: Painters, writers, musicians, dancers and curators have now been put out of their anxious expectation and into the misery they foretold. The arts are being slashed and there is nothing, it seems, they can do about it. On the lips of so many public servants of all (non-creative) stripes is the […]

Published on
1 April 2011

The Irish General Election and Ireland’s Place in Europe

Posted in Europe, Ireland, Political Economy, Public Policy, World Affairs

From a guest blogger: For anybody who follows Irish politics, the recent general election, in the wake of Ireland’s financial crisis, represents a remarkable change in the Irish political landscape, but is also instructive about the underlying dynamics of Ireland’s relationship with the European union (EU). The centre-right party that has long dominated Irish politics […]

Published on
23 February 2011

Rebuilding ‘Broken Britain’: A Question of Priorities

Posted in British Politics, Marriage & Family, Political Economy, Public Policy

It seems only reasonable that, when there is no paid work to be had in one area, people should seek employment elsewhere. Recently, when asked whether the unemployed of Merthyr Tydfil should look elsewhere for work, Lord Tebbit (of ‘on yer bike’ fame) replied: ‘Yes, people do have to get up and go… People do […]

Published on
15 February 2011

The Loss of Virtue and the Economic Crisis

Posted in Ireland, Political Economy, Recommended Links, Virtue

Anthony Daniels spoke recently on the loss of virtue and the financial crisis at the Iona Institute in Ireland, arguing that ‘the current crisis in Ireland, and not just in Ireland, should give rise not just to a search for better policy in the future, though it should certainly do that, but also to soul-searching […]

Published on
9 February 2011

The UK Nordic Baltic Summit: Dispelling the Nordic Myth

Posted in Europe, Political Economy, Public Policy, World Affairs

From a guest blogger who is a Swedish National: What is so fascinating about the Nordic countries, besides their natural beauty, polar lights, and, allegedly beautiful blondes? To the foreign observer, the region seems to be filled with tranquil mystery churning out high-tech goods, economic growth and happy people. As The Economist rightly notes, this […]

Published on
4 January 2011

Utilitarianism, University Funding, and the Market Model

Posted in Education, Political Economy, Public Policy, Thomas More Institute Events

From a guest blogger. Based on a talk given at the final session of the Thomas More Institute’s reading group entitled ‘University: Training for the “Rat Race” or Forming Virtuous People?’. The value of higher education is often assessed in strictly utilitarian terms. Will having an education to university degree level increase my lifelong earnings? […]