Latest Publications
Fair Markets
Markets are the best way to create and distribute wealth, but they don’t always work well for all the people in them. We research ways that sensible interactions between the state and the private sector can maximise growth and fairness.
Latest Publications:
Publication
Up for grabs? Public attitudes on the pensions ‘pot-for-life’ proposal
The SMF recently published proposals for ‘member choice’ over pensions, whereby individuals can direct their contributions to a scheme of their choice. Meanwhile, the government is consulting on related proposals for a ‘lifetime provider’ model. This paper presents evidence on public attitudes to these proposals, drawing on a survey of workers, and two expert roundtable discussions on the topic.
| Published: | 26 April 2024 |
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| Author: | Niamh O Regan |
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Beyond the comfort zone: How can planning reform boost housing supply and affordability?
Planning reform is of growing interest to policymakers across the Anglosphere as a way to increase the rate of housebuilding at minimal cost to the public purse. This report – the fifth and final instalment of our series on the housing crisis – looks at how effective planning reform is at increasing supply and how the UK can learn from failures elsewhere to ensure it succeeds here.
| Published: | 16 April 2024 |
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| Author: | Gideon Salutin |
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Affordable living: Alternatives to the traditional homeownership model
High house prices are putting homeownership out of reach for many, but rising rents and insecurity of tenure make the private rental sector an undesirable long-term option. This report – the fourth in our series on the problem of housing – looks at the role social and cooperative housing can play and what the UK can learn from other countries.
| Published: | 11 April 2024 |
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| Author(s): | Niamh O Regan, Jamie Gollings |
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Let down: Rental regulations, subsidies and tenants’ rights across the English-speaking world
The UK’s private rental sector has grown since the 1990s, but long term renting is still not an attractive option for many due to high costs and limited renters’ rights. In this report, the third in our ongoing series, we present lessons for the UK from across the English-speaking world.
| Published: | 04 April 2024 |
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| Author(s): | Jamie Gollings, Niamh O Regan |
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Data Protection and Digital Information Bill: A threat to fair markets and open public services
The Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, currently at Committee stage in the House of Lords, is set to undermine vital rights that protect vulnerable consumers and help workers understand how they are monitored by companies and public bodies. The Bill is a threat to fair markets and open public services.
| Published: | 20 March 2024 |
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| Author(s): | Alex Lawrence-Archer, Ravi Naik |
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Home economics: Financial policies to increase homeownership
Homeownership is a dream for millions in countries across the Anglosphere, but rising prices have put that dream out of reach for many households. This report – the second in a series on the problem of housing – surveys homeownership challenges and policies in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Ireland to understand what has gone wrong and how we might fix it.
| Published: | 19 March 2024 |
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| Author: | Gideon Salutin |
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Dwelling on it: Housing crises in the English speaking world
Countries across the English-speaking world are wracked by a housing crisis that is pushing the matter firmly up politicians’ agendas. This introductory paper – the first of a series of SMF reports on addressing the problem of housing – provides an overview of the scale of the crisis in homeownership, private renting, social housing and homelessness across the UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
| Published: | 13 March 2024 |
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| Author: | Jamie Gollings |
Publication
Member choice for pensions: Addressing some common questions
This paper builds on the SMF paper published in December 2023, which argued for ‘member choice’ in pensions. With such a proposal under consideration by the Government, it addresses some common questions and misapprehensions.
| Published: | 16 February 2024 |
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| Author: | Michael Johnson |
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Weighing the pounds: The economics of public health intervention
This is the third of three papers exploring tobacco, alcohol, obesity and gambling policy. It argues that the contribution of such activities to the economy should not be used as a justification to avoid action to discourage them, whereas the costs they generate through ill health are more significant – though they should not be overstated.
| Published: | 09 February 2024 |
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| Author: | Aveek Bhattacharya |