Ryan Bourne: Why billionaries are a sign of a fair society

It stretches credulity to just assume that rent-seeking or uncompetitive markets account for all British top wealth.

Ryan Bourne: Thatcher and Cameron made us happier

It really is remarkable. Every self-reported measure of wellbeing has improved near continuously in the past eight years.

Ryan Bourne: Beware the push by Hammond and others to make Britain an EU rule-taker

At stake here is whether Britain ultimately repatriates meaningful economy policy, or remains only ever one small step away from EU re-entry.

Ryan Bourne: Greta Thunberg and Prince Harry are wrong. Our ingenuity is the earth’s ultimate resource.

The only sustainable route to reducing carbon emissions will come precisely from the sorts of innovation that drive the “fairytales” that she bemoans.

Ryan Bourne: To help grow prosperity, let’s focus on people and not places – such as towns

Bowman and Westlake’s policy ideas are perfectly compatible with this end, but pitching them as a city and town agenda risks creating a false impression.

Ryan Bourne: In America, public spending conservatism is being lost. It could happen in Britain.

Former Government advisers see an opportunity to steer the party towards a “bigger government” vision for the party they’ve always spoiled for.

Ryan Bourne: May has chosen to occupy the centre, rather than try to shift it. This bodes badly for Britain, Brexit – and the economy.

The basic principles of limited government, economic and civil liberties, freedom and equality under the law are almost entirely absent from her programme.

Ryan Bourne: The Tories are getting it wrong on childcare

OECD analysis indicates that the cost of childcare as a percentage of income for a two-earner family is now the highest in the developed world.

Ryan Bourne: The post-Brexit vote economy. Our new Prime Minister must resist the temptation of Keynesianism and maintain fiscal sanity

The second in our series of pieces on economic policy after the referendum decision.

Ryan Bourne: When Clegg claimed over two in five families are vulnerable. And other thoughts on this election campaign

Plus: The OBR isn’t needed to audit manifestos. The SNP’s sleight-of-hand on austerity. A lack of debate on healthcare. And: don’t make promises you can’t keep.

Ryan Bourne: The NHS will have to become much more productive to survive. Not that you’d know it from this election campaign.

The inconvenient truth is this: the UK has significantly worse outcomes than many other advanced countries which deliver universal access to healthcare.

Ryan Bourne: Conservatives would be wrong to embrace the aim of reducing inequality

Rather, the problem they should seek to tackle is that of poverty – which can be done by a pro-market agenda.

Ryan Bourne: The second urgent election issue on which the parties are silent. Where will they make most of their cuts?

It seems that during the campaign both parties will be specific on many small items but less specific on big cuts.

Ryan Bourne: How the Conservatives are presiding over the nationalisation of childcare

A more classic case of the state crowding out family and civil society through regulation and subsidy is difficult to find.

Ryan Bourne: Why Conservatives shouldn’t support pensioner bonds

It is a costly fiscal transfer from the broad body of taxpayers to the rich
 and old.