Sam Bowman is quoted in CityAM on the economic benefits of TTIP

The Adam Smith Institute's Research Director, Sam Bowman, was quoted in CityAM explaining the benefits of TTIP for the UK economy

The potential for huge gains from TTIP should perhaps come as no surprise considering the US and the EU together account for nearly half of world GDP.

Sam Bowman, research director at the Adam Smith Institute, said:

For all the talk of emerging markets, the US and Europe are still where the money is economically and will be for many decades.

Many policy researchers and analysts argue Europe can ill-afford to drop the baton in its badly-needed quest for competitiveness.

Bowman told City A.M.:

TTIP is the best thing in international trade for years. Unlike the ambitious, but ultimately doomed, Doha trade talks, which aim to lower trade barriers in dozens of countries at once, including many that have no fundamental attachment to the idea of free trade, TTIP focuses on two parties that are both basically on board with the benefits of trade.

Both the US and EU have tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade for political reasons (ie to protect special interests), it's true, but both are also pretty fundamentally of the view that trade enriches everyone. Indeed, as much as we like to bash the EU, this is one of the cornerstones of the vision behind the Union.

Read the full article here.

Rise of the New Libertarians: Meet Britain's Next Political Generation - Sam Bowman is interviewed by the International Business Times

Research Director of the Adam Smith Institute, Sam Bowman, was featured in the International Business Times' feature on the rise of young libertarians in the UK. He emphasised the ASI's focus on free market policies that benefit the poor:

Bowman has made it his own personal mission, as well as that of the ASI, to remould how people react to libertarianism. To make their ideas appeal not just to the right, but also the left.

"We've made a concerted effort. It's been conscious. We want to make our arguments on the basis of how they would affect the poor because rich people can basically look after themselves," he says.

Read the full article here.

Sam Bowman calls for rolling back the greenbelt outside of London on BBC Newsnight

Research Director of the Adam Smith Institute, Sam Bowman, discussed the benefits of rolling back the greenbelt outside of London to make room for one million new homes on BBC Newsnight. (Starts at 1:15)

Are we too soft on cannabis? Charlotte Bowyer says no, on Sky News

The Adam Smith Institute's Head of Digital Policy, Charlotte Bowyer, explains how legalizing cannabis could help prevent the development of mental illness for its users.

Sam Bowman's comments on national insurance contributions feature in the FT Advisor

Research Director of the Adam Smith Institute, Sam Bowman, was quoted in the FT Advisor on the benefits of taking minimum wage earners out of national insurance tax.

Sam Bowman, research director of the Adam Smith Institute, added that national insurance contributions are not affected by this threshold rise.

"Raising that threshold and pegging the new NI and income tax thresholds to the minimum wage rate should be the next government's top priority to beat the scourge of low pay once and for all."

Ben Southwood's comments on 'Buy British Day' feature in CityAM

Head of Policy at the Adam Smith Institute, Ben Southwood, highlighted the problems with 'Buy British Day' in CityAM.

The father of modern economics Adam Smith wrote: "In every country it always is and must be the interest of the great body of the people to buy whatever they want of those who sell it cheapest".

His writings find voice today in the think tank that bears his name. Head of policy at the Adam Smith Institute Ben Southwood commented:

If people get satisfaction from buying British off their own bat then, there's no problem with that—but that is no reason to encourage them.

Globalisation and the worldwide division of labour have lifted hundreds of millions in the developing world out of poverty, and simultaneously added hundreds of millions of customers onto the world market.

Adam Smith and David Ricardo's theories of free trade are no less true today than they ever were.

Read the full article here.

Kate Andrews argues against further regulations for payday lenders on Sky News

Adam Smith Institute's Communications Manager, Kate Andrews, appeared on Sky News to discuss the beneficial services payday lenders provide to low-earners, who cannot secure loans from banks or credit card companies.

Ben Southwood’s comments on Labour’s proposed mansion tax are featured in CityAM

Head of Policy at the Adam Smith Institute, Ben Southwood, was quoted in two CityAM articles, criticizing Labour's proposed mansion tax:

In the wake of Ed Miliband's speech to the Labour party conference last week, the Adam Smith Institute's head of policy Ben Southwood said:

Labour’s proposal to tax expensive houses and hypothecate the funds for the NHS is bizarre. Although property value taxes are among the least inefficient taxes, and shifting the burden from costlier taxes like stamp duty land tax, corporation tax and income tax is a good idea, we already have a perfectly good property tax system: council tax.

Read the full article here.

Miliband’s proposals have come under fire from economists and homeowners. Adam Smith Institute’s head of policy Ben Southwood dubbed the measures “bizarre” and former Eng­land footballer Sol Campbell said he might join the Conservatives.

Read the full article here.

Sam Bowman's comments on the PM's pledge to lower tax rates feature in the Mail Online

The Adam Smith Institute’s Research Director, Sam Bowman, was quoted in The Mail Online, supporting the Prime Minister’s pledge to cut taxes for low-income workers.

The changes were welcomed by tax campaigners. Sam Bowman, research director of the Adam Smith Institute, said: 'It’s great news that the Prime Minister has pledged to raise the tax-free personal allowance to £12,500. Tax cuts for the poor are one of the best ways to help beat poverty in Britain.

'Taking minimum wage workers out of tax is a way of giving workers a ‘Living Wage’ without risking jobs. The difference between the Living Wage and the minimum wage is entirely tax – if we stopped taxing minimum wage workers, they would earn the equivalent to a post-tax Living Wage. '

Mr Bowman said more could still be done, including easing the burden of National Insurance, which works in a different but similar way to income tax and in effect adds 12 per cent to the tax most workers pay.

He said: 'National Insurance contributions are just another form of income tax and are not affected by this threshold rise. Raising that threshold and pegging the new NI and income tax thresholds to the minimum wage rate should be the next government’s top priority to beat the scourge of low pay once and for all.'

A further tax-cutting commitment was given on business tax, with the Prime Minister promising that the UK would 'always have the most competitive corporate taxes in the G20'.

Read the full article here.

Sam Bowman defends the PM's pledge to cut taxes for low-income workers on Sky News

Research Director of the Adam Smith Institute, Sam Bowman, spoke to Sky News about the Prime Minister's pledge to increase the tax-free allowance to £12,500 and implement a lower tax rate for earners making between £42,000 and £50,000.