Sam Bowman discusses the devolution of business rates on BBC 5 Live

Deputy director of the Adam Smith Institute, Sam Bowman, discusses why devolution of business rates may not make that much of a difference to business owners, and argues the merits of a land value tax system instead.

If and when they do revalue business rates, theres a disincentive to anybody who is a business or is a land owner to improve the property that they're on, and we don't want that. What we want is them to only be paying the value of the land, and to try and get as much as possible from that land, by building as much on that property or the most profitable thing they possibly can. We'd get that with a land value tax, we don't really get that really from business rates.

Listen to Sam's full interview here. (Starts 27:17)

Press Release: Let councils replace business rates with a tax on land values

For Immediate Release | For further comments or to arrange an interview, contact Kate Andrews at kate@adamsmith.org / 07584 778 207

Commenting on the devolution of business rates to local councils, Sam Bowman, Deputy Director of the Adam Smith Institute said:

"What few people, including the Chancellor, seem to realise is that often, it isn't businesses who bear the cost of business rates, but landowners. Over time, most of any cut in business rates will be offset by a proportionate rise in rents - meaning that it's predominantly the landlords who benefit from cuts and lose out from rises, not businesses.(eg http://etheses.lse.ac.uk/2658/ and http://www.ifs.org.uk/uploads/mirrleesreview/design/ch16.pdf) Most of the debate around today's announcement will ignore this crucial fact.

"Business rates discourage investment, because they tax the value of property, and not just the land it is built on. A better idea would be to merge the council tax and business rates systems into a simple tax on land values. This would prevent distortion between whether land is used for residential or commercial purposes, and ensure that business investment is not discouraged. Revaluations can, and should, be done on a regular basis - council tax is in particular need of a revaluation, having never been reviewed since it was first set up in 1993.

"Business rates are far from the ideal. The government would be wise to reform and simplify the current system, to address discrimination between commercial and residential land use."

Notes to editors:

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

Dr Eamonn Butler's letter on Uber regulations features in The Telegraph

Director of the Adam Smith Institute, Dr Eamonn Butler, has had his letter featured in The Telegraph, denouncing proposed regulations on Uber as 'regulatory capture'.

Transport for London’s proposed restrictions on Uber are not about “improving safety”. All Uber trips are tracked on GPS, so passengers are perfectly safe. TfL’s plans are designed to kill a popular new technology. The Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association has a seat on the TfL board; Uber drivers do not. This is a blatant example of regulatory capture.

The letter can be viewed here. 

Kate Andrews debates the ban on smoking in cars on BBC's Mark Forrest Show

Head of Communications, Kate Andrews, took part in a debate on whether or not the law banning smoking in cars with children present is justified or not. Kate disagrees with the law, arguing it's a waste of police time and that the research it is based on is not completely sound. The debate aired on all 39 local BBC radio stations in England and the Channel Islands.

It isn't the case that we should be saying that its completely fine for parents to smoke in front of their children, and with their children in any situation, what we're asking is whether or not the police should be getting involved. Is this something so bad that its worth criminalising?

Listen to the full interview here. (Starts 01:12:52)

The ASI's criticisms of the proposed regulations on Uber feature in The Guardian

The Adam Smith Institute has featured in The Guardian for our opposition to proposed regulations on Uber.

As well as Kirkup’s broadside, there has been strong condemnation from the Institute of Directors, the Adam Smith Institute and Johnson’s fellow Conservative MP Richard Fuller, who sits on the Commons business select committee.

Read the full article here. 

Have Courage To Be Contrarian| Sam Bowman for Sky News

Deputy Director of the Adam Smith Institute, Sam Bowman, was on Sky News Morning Stories, encouraging people to be more contrarian in how they live their life.

Contrarians are always willing to say maybe we're wrong. It always pays to keep an open mind, even when we think its totally obvious whats true.

Sam argues it's beneficial to question things you're told, and lists 4 easy steps on how to do so.

Watch the full clip here. 

Adam Smith Institute's comments on Uber regulations feature in City AM

The Adam Smith Institute was referenced in City AM for our opposition to proposed regulations on Uber:

Free market campaign group the Adam Smith Institute said TfL’s move was an attack on all competition in the private hire space.

Read the full article here.

Kate Andrews discusses the smoking ban in cars on LBC

Head of Communications at the Adam Smith Institute, Kate Andrews, was interviewed by Leading Britain's Conversation on the drawbacks on implementing a smoking ban in cars. Listen to the full discussion here. (Starts Wednesday, on the 1pm show)

ASI Senior Fellow Tim Worstall discusses reparations to Jamaica on BBC World Service

Senior Fellow at the Adam Smith Institute, Tim Worstall, was interviewed by BBC World Service on whether or not Britain should pay Jamaica reparations for past slavery. He argued there was no legal or economic justification for it. Listen to the full discussion here. (Tim starts 03:16)

Press Release: TfL’s Uber crackdown would take ordinary Londoners out of the driving seat

For Immediate Release | For further comments or to arrange an interview, contact Head of Communications Kate Andrews: kate@adamsmith.org | 07476 915072. Commenting on leaked documents which reveal Transport for London's proposed regulations on private hire taxis, Head of Digital Policy at the Adam Smith Institute, Charlotte Bowyer, said:

Transport for London’s leaked consultation document is not only a thinly-veiled attack on Uber, but an attack on all forms of competition and potential new services in the private hire transportation space. Many of the proposals would be truly damaging to passengers and take ordinary Londoners out of the driving seat.

It is hard to see how a mandatory (five minute) wait time between booking a vehicle and it arriving can provide any value or security to consumers, and only furnishes the ‘flag down’ black cab trade with an artificial competitive advantage. And whilst it may be useful for passengers to be able book rides a week in advance, there is absolutely no reason why all private hire firms must be treated as ‘one size fits all’ and forced to offer such a service.

Furthermore, proposed restrictions on the number of operators a driver may work for only serves to hurt hard-working and entrepreneurial drivers, who often combine shifts at traditional minicab companies with flexible and adhoc hours with Uber. Ultimately this will hurt passengers by reducing the supply of drivers.

Notes to Editors:

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