Adam Smith Institute

The statue of Adam Smith was unveiled in Edinburgh on Friday 4th July 2008.

It is the first major public statue of Adam Smith in the world and represents a long overdue recognition of his achievements.

The statue stands outside St Giles Cathedral on the High Street, known as the Royal Mile. It was created by Alexander Stoddart, Scotland's leading monumental sculptor, and was unveiled by Nobel Laureate Economist Professor Vernon L. Smith.

Please visit our Statue Section for more information.

Tax Freedom Day 2008

The UK's Tax Freedom Day fell on June 2 in 2008. That means that average Brits are spending more than five months of the year working for the Chancellor, rather than working for themselves. Government spending is set to reach £600 billion – £10,000 for person in the UK, and twice as much as in 1997. If public spending had only grown in line with inflation since then, we could have abolished income tax, corporation tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax by now, leaving the taxpayer £200 billion better off. When you factor in government borrowing the picture is even worse – Tax Freedom Day does not come until June 14. Click here to visit our Tax Freedom Day website.

Latest Publications

Privatization – Reviving the Momentum calls for a new wave of privatizations which would net the exchequer more than £20bn and deliver significant operational benefits.The leading privatization candidates identified by the report include the Royal Mail, Channel 4, BBC Worldwide, Scottish Water, Northern Ireland Water, Glas Cymru, the National Air Traffic Control System, as well as government stakes in British Energy and the Nuclear industry.
The Waste of Nations advocates the full liberalization of the refuse collection sector and the introduction of pay-as-you-throw waste charges as the best way to encourage recycling and to boost profitable waste businesses. The report stresses that PAYT must not be used as a 'dustbin tax' and that its introduction must be accompanied by a corresponding fall in local taxes.
Unfair Trade argues that for all its good intentions, Fairtrade is not fair. While only 10 percent of the premium paid by consumers makes it to producers, Fairtrade can distort markets, hold back economic development, and entice people away from better alternatives, ultimately doing more harm than good. Only free trade can sustainably raise people out of poverty.

ASI bookshop

Check out our online bookshop, full of tomes from the world of politics and current affairs.

Adam Smith Diaries

Our popular Adam Smith Economist Diaries are available to buy here.

Around the world in 80 ideas

Read our compilation of 80 ideas in economic and social reform, illustrated by practical examples from around the world.

The works of Adam Smith

Read Adam Smith's Theory of Moral Sentiments and The Wealth of Nations free on our website.

About our conference division

Through its conference division, the Adam Smith Institute has been highly successful in organising top-level international forums, conferences and workshops for senior executives and key decision-makers in business, government, industry and technology.

About the ASI

The Adam Smith Institute is the UK's leading innovator of free-market economic and social policies. Politically independent and non-profit, the Institute promotes its ideas through reports, briefings, events, media appearances, and its website and blog. For further information, click here.

Contact details

Tel +44 (0)20 7222 4995
Email info@adamsmith.org

Adam Smith Institute
23 Great Smith Street
London SW1P 3BL, UK

Join our email list

Keep up-to-date with the latest events, reports and information from the Adam Smith Institute by joining our fortnightly email list. It's free and you can unsubscribe at any point. Just enter your email address here:

Latest commentary from the ASI blog