In the UK the number of only-children as a percentage of all dependent children rose from 18 per cent in 1972 to 26 per cent by 2007. Why is it that children without siblings in this country are almost twice as common as they were a generation ago? Surely it is a natal no-brainer? Childcare,… [Read More]
In July 2013, the UK Parliament passed historic legislation to open up marriage to same-sex couples. It followed a bitter row both inside and outside the Palace of Westminster which laid bare some of the deepest divisions in our modern society. The Meaning of Matrimony: Debating Same-Sex Marriage captures that argument in a series of… [Read More]
It is increasingly being recognised that the over-valued pound is holding back the competitiveness of British exporters. While sterling has fallen since 2008, the advantages have not been felt because of continued uncertainty. In this urgent and insightful publication, the economist and entrepreneur, John Mills, argues that the government should set a competitive exchange rate… [Read More]
What is wrong with contemporary capitalism? Was the financial crisis of 2008 caused by deep structural problems in the way firms are organised? Here two of Britain’s most creative thinkers tackle these questions head on, showing that the UK lacks diversity in its forms of corporate governance and is too reliant on the plc model,… [Read More]
Since joining the European Economic Community in 1973, we have steadily lost the power to govern ourselves. In this necessary and insightful book, David Green describes the essential qualities of the free, open and democratic British system which evolved over 1,000 years. Under our constitution, the fact that the government can be removed immediately by… [Read More]
No other country in the world – including the United States – has allowed such a strong anti-interventionist economic policy to take hold in recent years. We, in Britain, have been restricted by the economic disasters of the 70s – which eventually required a bailout of over $4billion from the IMF – to such an… [Read More]
Free speech must include the right to say things that most people don’t like or find offensive, otherwise it is no freedom at all. However, Britain is steadily sacrificing its centuries-old commitment to freedom of speech simply to protect people from hearing views they do not like. In this exciting examination of the history of… [Read More]
Commentators across the political spectrum are pointing to the German system of local banks as a model for Britain to emulate. In this report, Christopher Simpson explains how these local German Savings Banks (Sparkassen) operate. He describes the history, structure and organisation of the Sparkassen, which are only allowed to lend within a geographically defined… [Read More]
At a time of cuts in public expenditure, the Coalition government has committed not only to maintain the foreign aid budget but to increase it. It has set a target of 0.7% GDP, even though opinion polls show that it is unpopular with the public. In this timely survey of the effectiveness of international aid,… [Read More]
Many faith-based groups face discrimination or persecution to some degree, but Christians are targeted more than any other body of believers. Rupert Shortt, Religion Editor of theTimes Literary Supplement, looks in this report at examples of Christianophobia from Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan, Nigeria, India, Burma and China. Christianity is in serious danger of being wiped out… [Read More]