Books published by Institute of Economic Affairs

Shows how tax and benefits policy has undermined family life in Britain and encouraged fraud and dishonesty. This title also shows how the tax and benefits systems are particularly harsh on single-earner couples who have to earn over GBP50,000 before there is no loss from declaring their relationship to the authorities.

Presents a collection of papers from the Beesley Lecture series on regulation held jointly by the IEA and the London Business School in the autumn of 2000. The chapters in this volume are followed by comments made by the chairman.

Examines those areas where the freedom of individual men and women to voluntarily engage in mutually advantageous exchanges is prohibited or restricted by government. This collection looks at the economic and philosophical rationale for the prohibition of alcohol, sale of body parts, medicinal drugs, pornography, prostitution, and others.

Malaria kills millions of people each year and hundreds of millions more suffer chronic illness. Economic development is inhibited and poverty is perpetuated. This work argues that action against malaria is over-centralised and narrowly focused, ignoring local conditions and concerns.

Ludwig von Mises was one of the greatest economists and political scientists of the 20th century. He revolutionised the understanding of money, inflation and recessions; refuted the arguments for socialism; and, provided a devastating critique of the methodologies of mainstream economics. This book provides an overview of Mises' achievements.

Economic historian Professor Nick Crafts gives a wide-ranging assessment of the economic record of the recent Conservative Government.

Contains chapters on a number of prominent concerns, including changes in the British system of utility regulation, the spectrum allocation question, liberalisation of EU energy markets, security of supply issues, reform in the European postal sector, the future of rail regulation, the cost of capital and Ofcom's strategic approach to regulation.

In this volume, the authors propose the privatization of the UK road network. In doing so, they examine the traditional objections to privatization and find them wanting. With lively discussion and making good use of practical examples, the authors also look at related issues such as road taxation, the planning system, pricing, regulation, and the management of congestion. While they admit that there are valid objections to road privatization--and straightforward privatization may not suit all types of roads--there are many imaginative schemes outlined that could deal with those objections. The authors also show that the nationalization of roads has not been a success. This study is essential reading for policymakers, academics, and students in the field of transport and logistics.

Successive governments have promised to reduce business red tape, whilst doing nothing about it. In fact, with regard to the tax system, ever-greater numbers of taxes and ever-greater complexity have increased burdens on business. This book shows that this should not be the case, and propose ways of reducing the burden of tax bureaucracy.