Kate Andrews discusses the Keystone Pipeline and the state of US politics on SKY News

Communications Manager at the Adam Smith Institute, Kate Andrews, defends the Keystone Pipeline initiative on SKY News, arguing that government needs to stop interfering in private sector initiatives to make the US energy independent.

Sam Bowman defence of high CEO pay features in Channel 4 News article

Deputy Director of the Adam Smith Institute, Sam Bowman, offers a defence of high CEO and top executive pay in a Channel 4 News article on wage discrepancies.

Sam Bowman, deputy director of the free-market think thank, the Adam Smith Institute, said: "Considering how important the decisions made by CEOs are to their firms' success, it would be very strange if they were not paid very highly.

"Multi-billion pound firms can live or die based on the choices their directors make - a Steve Jobs can turn a firm into a world leader, while a bad CEO can ruin a thriving company. Think of how important it is for Tesco to make the right strategic decisions in the coming years. It is no surprise that it is willing to pay well for the best CEO it can find."

Read the full article here. 

Press Release: Eurozone deflation needs to be stopped to forestall return to darkest days of the crisis

For further comments or to arrange an interview, contact Communications Manager Kate Andrews: kate@adamsmith.org / 07584 778207.

Commenting on Eurozone deflation of 0.2% in December, Head of Research of the Adam Smith Institute, Ben Southwood, said:

Eurozone deflation needs to be stopped as soon as possible to forestall a return to the darkest days of the crisis.

The European Central Bank must act now—easing monetary policy by buying bonds—or, even better, changing their whole regime, and targeting the price level, or even nominal GDP, instead of inflation.

There is only one positive angle to Europe's macroeconomic state: that much of the downward pressure on inflation is coming from supply-side improvements, like cheaper fuel and food.

But demand-side inflation is hardly healthy, and after years of lacklustre income growth the ECB should be overshooting, not undershooting their target.

Continued depression will only undergird support for extremist parties in the peripheral areas of the bloc, undoing all the progress that has been made in recent decades.

Notes to editors: For further comments or to arrange an interview, contact Kate Andrews, Communications Manager, at kate@adamsmith.org / 07584 778207.

The Adam Smith Institute is an independent libertarian think tank based in London. It advocates classically liberal public policies to create a richer, freer world.

Sam Bowman discusses the launch of the party campaigns on LBC with Iain Dale

Deputy Director of the Adam Smith Institute, Sam Bowman, spoke to LBC's Iain Dale about the official launch of the party campaigns, Ed Miliband's Manchester speech, and the priorities of the upcoming election. Listen to the interview here. (5:05pm with Iain Dale)

Dr Eamonn Butler discusses corporate social responsibility on BBC Radio 4

Director of the Adam Smith Institute, Dr Eamonn Butler, speaks to BBC Radio 4 about the role of business and whether we should demand corporate social responsibility from them.

Ben Southwood argues against the re-nationalization of UK railways on BBC Radio Leicester

The Adam Smith Institute's Head of Research, Ben Southwood, argues against the re-nationalization of British railways on BBC Radio Leicester. Listen to the full interview here. (Starts 09:05)

Sam Bowman's criticizes Ed Miliband's remarks on 'slave wages' in CityAM

Deputy Director of the Adam Smith Institute, Sam Bowman, was quoted in CityAM criticizing Ed Miliband's remarks on "businesses recruiting at slave wages."

Sam Bowman, deputy director of the Adam Smith Institute, added:

We already have rules that prevent businesses from hiring workers of any nationality at "slave wages" and protect health and safety standards in the workplace, so what Ed Miliband is proposing is either meaningless or code for rules that disadvantage foreign workers to protect British workers. Rules that make it costlier for British firms to hire foreign workers will increase costs for consumers and reduce British firms’ efficiency.

Read the full article here.

As police unions slam New York’s mayor, could the city be losing faith in its cops? - Kate Andrews argues 'yes' in the CityAM Forum

Communications Manager at the Adam Smith Institute, Kate Andrews, argues that the trust between police officers and citizens is disintegrating in areas like New York City in the CityAM Forum.

The death of Eric Garner, after an incident with police officers, has become a national tragedy in the US, in part because Americans know it wasn’t isolated. The New York Daily News found that at least 179 people were killed by on-duty New York Police Department (NYPD) officers in the last 15 years. Only three deaths led to an indictment in the state court. One officer has been convicted for killing a civilian, and he didn’t serve jail time.

Currently, the national media is running almost-daily stories about policy brutality throughout the States, and the long-held view that police officers are taking advantage of their power is spreading. The shooting of two NYPD police officers over the weekend did not bring the police and protesters together in solidarity, but escalated tensions and encouraged finger pointing.

The police feel stereotyped. The public feels brutalised. Trust between law enforcement and the communities it serves is fundamentally fraying.

Read the full debate here.

Sam Bowman discusses the 1.8% spending cuts to local council budgets on The Jeremy Vine Show

Deputy Director of the Adam Smith Institute, Sam Bowman, spoke to The Jeremy Vine Show on BBC Radio 2 about the 1.8% spending cuts for local English councils. Listen here. (Starts 39:55)

The ASI's work on immigration policy is featured in the Daily Telegraph

The Adam Smith Institute's pro-immigration work was featured in the Daily Telegraph: 

Meanwhile back on the immigration debate, Boris is hardly alone in his argument that the free movement of people across borders enriches us. While Ukip, the Conservative leadership and at least some of the Labour Party talk up their willingness to restrict immigration, a curious band of political actors is putting the contrary view.

Among the most enthusiastic supporters of a more liberal approach to immigration are the Institute of Directors and the Adam Smith Institute, generally perceived as bastions of the free-market Right.

Read the full article here.