Lord David Owen, one of the founders of the SDP, played a key role in the establishment of the Social Market Foundation. In this publication, Lord Owen looks at the social market today.
This publication, part of the ongoing celebrations of the SMF at Twenty-One, looks back at the intellectual history of the Social Market Foundation to show how social market ideas can influence policy and politics into the future. Read more...
Why are we are no happier than we once were? Should raising well-being be the aim of government? This book brings together celebrated academics and commentators to look for answers in the work of earlier thinkers, from JS Mill to JK Galbraith.
Richard Reeves, Liam Halligan, Will Hutton, Kevin Hickson and Marina Bianchi examine the arguments of their chosen theorists. Lord Richard Layard, the best known contemporary advocate for government action in this area, concludes by giving his own take on why government should put well-being at the centre of its agenda. Read more...
In The New Blue, the Social Market Foundation brings together leading Conservative parliamentary candidates to address the challenges faced by government and society. How can we raise aspirations and prevent the “marginalization” of deprived communities? What policies should we introduce to help protect women and address violent crime? Can we stop the loss of faith in politics and politicians? Could the answer lie in a more compassionate economic policy? How can we meet the needs of cities while moving away from an urban bias in politics? What is the role of education in promoting our sense of community? As well as addressing key policy challenges, this collection provides an insight into the ideas of the next generation of Conservative thinkers that may well dominate politics in the years ahead. Read more...
Many of the major challenges facing society today require that individuals change their behaviour. However, policies introduced so far have had mixed results. The proportion of the population classified as obese continues to grow, despite the significant provision of information on the health risks this brings and the diet and activity needed to avoid it. People continue to save too little for their old age, although numerous financial and other incentives have been deployed to promote saving. Despite high-profile campaigns on the harmful effects of human activity on the environment, individual behaviour to address climate change has not shifted as quickly as policymakers have hoped. Read more...
AntiSocial Britain is critical of politicians of all parties for attempting - and failing - to appease consumerism instead of arguing for citizenship, and for accepting a range of social responsibilities which they cannot fulfil. Read more...
Writing on topics as diverse as the future of the EU, welfare reform, direct democracy, and social markets, the contributors address head on the questions which will define the future direction of the Party: the appropriate role of the state; the strengths and limitations of markets; and strengthening civil society. Read more...
This report outlines the findings of the Business Forum: Regulatory Best Practice Group, which canvassed views from the business community on the difficulties they face in dealing with the institutions of the government. Read more...
This paper outlines three perspectives on what role the state should play where the management of personal finances is concerned. Read more...