The cost of minimum alcohol pricing

Sam argues that minimum alcohol pricing is unnecessary and alcohol consumption has already been dropping over the last few years. He claims that the Sheffield Alcohol Policy projections are completely bogus and this policy will hit the poor hardest and is based on a moral panic about an exaggerated issue.

You can listen to his interview here (from 15.44 mins in).

Summary

Sam Bowman talks on BBC Radio Humberside on why minimum alcohol pricing is a bad idea and will not help problem drinkers. 

The working poor

In his interview, Sam argues that the government must stop taxing those on minimum wage to help the working poor. He also argues that welfare benefits need to be curtailed so that it pays to work and claims that a minimum wage actually creates more unemployment.

You can watch his interview here from 03.52mins in. 

Summary

Sam Bowman appears on BBC Look North talking about the rising cost of living and the working poor.

Economic stagnation is here to stay

In response to Osborne’s Autumn Statement, Sam Bowman, Policy Director at the Adam Smith Institute, said:

“One thing became clear today: economic stagnation is here to stay. There is no growth and no prospect of growth without a change of course that focuses on deregulation and targeted tax cuts. There is no trade-off between growth and deficit reduction. You can’t have one without the other.
 
“The key is to go for private sector growth. Government regulation is smothering small and medium-sized businesses, and today’s rate relief announcement is not enough to help them. National Insurance is a tax on jobs and prevents the creation of over 500,000 jobs by small and medium businesses. It should be scrapped. The best way to stimulate the economy is to give small businesses a break.
 
“The highlight of today’s budget is the rise in the tax-free personal allowance, which the Adam Smith Institute has long called for. It should be raised to the minimum wage level so that the poorest earners pay no tax at all. Scrapping of the fuel duty hike is a good thing, but we should not be too impressed at a Chancellor deciding not to raise taxes – we need cuts to regressive consumption taxes.
 
“The government and media have focused on trivial changes in spending like the £5bn newly allocated to capital projects. Meanwhile, the state borrows that amount every two weeks – or another £331 million every day.
 
“Deeper cuts to public spending are clearly needed to cut the deficit, but these are not possible without a fundamental shift away from socialistic monoliths like the NHS. The only way real cuts to expenditure can be made is by shifting to more efficient, market-based models of social insurance for healthcare and welfare. The claim that we can make substantial savings by ‘trimming waste’ is a lie – and we’re fast learning what a dangerous one it has been.”

The alternative autumn statement

You can read the full article here. 

Summary

Sam Bowman writes on Channel 4 News on what he would include in the Autumn Statement if he was Chancellor. 

What should be in the chancellor's Autumn Statement?

You can read his piece here. 

Summary

Dr Eamonn Butler writes on the BBC News website, suggesting the necessary policies Osborne should include in his Autumn Statement if he wants to see more economic growth in the UK.