Policy area: Regulation

Reports

Last orders

This report from UK think tank the Adam Smith Institute recommends a shift toward a pro-growth, framework to ensure that Britain’s nightlife remains a global attraction. The report Last Orders, co-authored by Sacha Lord and the Adam Smith Institute, highlights the precarious state of Britain’s hospitality and night-time economy. It argues that the sector—once a...

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Profitable peripherals

This report from UK think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs argues that the UK should use its offshore network to embrace financial and technological innovation. Territories (CDOTs) are not a 'Second Empire' of illicit finance, but indispensable pillars of the UK’s economic strength. Far from being strategic liabilities, these jurisdictions act as sophisticated conduits...

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Strategic planning for green prosperity

This report from UK think tank IPPR argues that the objective should be to deliver high-quality housing that meets the needs of local communities and has the buy-in of local people. Land is a finite resource, and the demands made of it have only increased over time. Not only do we need to house and...

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Sanctions solutions

This report from UK think tank the Adam Smith Institute discusses how to implement more effective sanctions. The report by the Adam Smith Institute, Sanctions Solutions, argues that the United Kingdom’s post-Brexit sanctions regime has become a convoluted and inefficient bureaucratic machine that stifles British commerce while failing to meet its strategic objectives. Since the...

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Harnessing the power of the atom

This report from UK think tank the Henry Jackson Society reconsiders our nuclear energy policies, both at home and abroad. Back in 1953, the future looked bright. At the United Nations General Assembly, President Eisenhower heralded a new era for humanity: the era of nuclear power. The energy source would be “a great boon, for...

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Trump and the implications for digital assets in the UK

This report from UK think tank the Adam Smith Institute presents an analysis of President Trump’s potential impact on digital assets in the UK. The report by the Adam Smith Institute characterises the inauguration of a pro-digital asset administration in the United States as a "Sputnik moment" for the United Kingdom's financial sector. For several...

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19 million years of life

This report from UK think tank the Adam Smith Institute puts the case for a real harm reduction policy. At the Adam Smith Institute, we believe that the Government’s current fixation on prohibitionist policies—epitomised by the Tobacco and Vapes Bill—is a profound misstep that threatens to undermine decades of progress in public health. Our report,...

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The shape of a social tariff

This report from UK think tank the Social Market Foundation lays out some options for unified social tariff design. As households struggle to afford their water bills, social tariffs have a crucial role to play in ensuring that water is affordable for everyone who needs it. While social tariffs are in place already, their design...

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Whitehall Monitor 2025

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government is their annual, data-based assessment of the UK civil service over the past year.  High staff turnover, confused workforce planning, slipping morale and uncompetitive pay are hindering the civil service’s ability to deliver Labour’s missions. Whitehall Monitor 2025, the IfG’s annual data-driven stocktake of the...

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How the government can design better asylum policy

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government puts forward recommendations to help the government set a clear direction and a coherent asylum strategy. The government must exert its authority over the whole asylum system and avoid short-sighted measures aimed at conjuring an illusion of control. This report puts forward recommendations to help...

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How should regulators balance competition, economic growth and other political priorities?

This report from UK think tank the Social Market Foundation explores whether there is a trade-off and, if so, how the tensions can be resolved. Some business leaders fear competition policy and regulation are jeopardising the government’s economic growth mission. Former CMA Strategy Director and Downing Street Special Adviser Stuart Hudson explores whether there is...

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Rebuilding the nation 04: A mountain to scale

This report from UK think tank the Future Governance Forum sets out how government can unlock greater investment and help transform start-up potential into scale-up success. In opposition, Chancellor Rachel Reeves set out her ambition to make Britain “the best place to start and grow a business.” However, while the UK excels at helping companies...

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Present tense

This report from UK think tank Localis assesses the current state of local government financial governance and sustainability to ask what the case for reform might be. In English local government, the ‘golden triangle ‘of chief executive, monitoring officer and chief finance officer – who exercise their leadership responsibilities to own and champion good governance...

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How to set up a public body

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government sets out how government can set up public bodies better. As government priorities change, particularly after a general election, there is often a need to set up new institutions to deliver on those priorities. Public bodies can be well placed to do this. If set...

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Why a circular economy is good for business

This report from UK think tank Green Alliance outlines five reasons why a circular economy is good for business. In a circular economy materials are kept in use for as long as possible, reducing the need for new resources and minimising environmental impacts from extraction to disposal. This approach not only benefits the environment but...

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