Blog Editor

Had Adam Smith somehow survived until today, he would be 290 years old, having been born on 5th June 1723. The economist, now adorning the £20 note and credited with founding the modern discipline of economics (or political economy as it was known earlier) was originally renowned as a moral philosopher for his widely respected Theory of Moral Sentiments.

Stephen Littlechild, Professor emeritus at the University of Birmingham, fellow of Judge Business School at the University of Cambridge and a top regulator from 1983 to 1998, explains how politicians and regulators have, by misunderstanding how markets work, regulated to boost energy firms' profits at the expense of higher bills for consumers.

Summary: US household spending is holding up

What the chart shows: The chart shows the % change in US personal income and expenditure in nominal terms in the most recent three months (January-March 2013) compared with the previous three months (October-December 2012)

Martin Durkin's documentary is to be shown on Channel 4 at 7.00pm on Saturday April 13th.  Amid all the anti-Thatcher myths put out by the chatterati, this movie offers a refreshing assessment of how she changed the lives of ordinary people for the better.

On a gap year and looking for something interesting?

If you are already on a gap year and looking for something stimulating, rewarding and worthwhile that can also enhance your CV and your experience, you might consider spending some time with the Adam Smith Institute.  We have space for someone currently on a gap year who might join us to help on some exciting new projects. 

This week on Samizdata, Brian Micklethwait has been writing some very nice things about the Adam Smith Institute and Madsen Pirie's book 'Think Tank'.