As the world economy teeters on the edge of another recession, Keynesian-inclined economists are coming up with more and more outlandish ideas for stimulating the economy, from encouraging shoplifting, to faking an alien invasion as an excuse to ramp up military spending. These mechanisms, I will try to argue, while insane, do indicate how current… [Read More]
This year’s GCSE results face additional scrutiny against the new EBacc benchmark: A*-C achievement in the five ‘core’ academic subjects. How schools measure up aside, the government is failing on this indicator.
Greece’s second bailout package looks to be on the cusp of unravelling, as several member states are pushing for their own conditions in return for their bailout contributions. The ring leader, Finland’s new government, is proving a thorn in the side of the would-be Eurozone ‘fixers’, obstinately refusing to roll over and ‘play ball’ and leading others… [Read More]
In our report, Swedish Lessons (2008), we described a troubling rate of grade inflation: Results from the ALIS project use the International Test of Developed Abilities to compare the attainment of pupils from year to year. Taking an average of 40 A-level subjects, Robert Coe found that those scoring 50 per cent on the ITDA… [Read More]
Everyone is keen emphasise how the English riots change everything. But one of the worst things that the Government and policy-makers could do in reaction to the riots is overreact.
Each time the EU finds itself floundering, you can be sure of two things: there will be a rush of people saying ‘I told you so’, and the respective leaders of France and Germany will appear, united on a podium, with a ‘cunning plan’ to salvage the day. This usually involves some suggestion of ‘deeper… [Read More]
In the Matrix Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) asks Thomas A. Anderson or Neo (Keanu Reeves) – You take the blue pill – the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill – you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole… [Read More]
Buried amidst the media flurry sparked the recent riots, a seemingly inconsequential nugget of news has slipped largely undetected beneath the public radar.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission contributes very little to meaningful equality in Britain today and should be abolished, according to a new Civitas report. Added to the Government’s much trumpeted ‘bonfire of the quangos’, the EHRC would save the Treasury tens of millions of pounds at no obvious cost to the general public. Small… [Read More]
Contrary to Government claims, EU green energy policies are predicted to destroy tens of thousands of British jobs Green economic policies mean more pain than gain for Britain, according to a new Civitas report. The Green Mirage, by John Constable, finds claims that the low-carbon economy can deliver so-called ‘green collar’ jobs are staggeringly far-fetched… [Read More]