Opinions from
influencers
order
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occupation
economist
alma mater
University of London
topic
any
agree & disagree

Christopher Pissarides, Nobel Prize winner in Economics
agrees
Basic Income
I am very much in favour, as long as we know how to apply it without taking away incentive to work at the lower end of the market
Juan Manuel Santos,
agrees
Legalise recreational drugs
The business of illicit drugs is behind violence, corruption and crime in almost the entire planet, and we have to recognize that the so-called War on Drugs - which has been going on for half a century - has not been won or won.
Nicholas Bloom, Professor of economics
disagrees
Tariffs
Many people who have lost out in the last few decades voted for Trump. Trump will have a difficult time turning them into winners. The jobs of these people are not at risk because of Chinese or Mexican workers, but because of robots and computers. And new trade barriers and higher tariffs are not going to change that.
Robert Mundell, Canadian economist
agrees
Tariffs
The United States can't keep a completely open system if the rest of the world is less open. The United States may have to take a leaf out of the book of Japan, China, and Germany, and have protectionism inside the system.
Juan Manuel Santos,
disagrees
Tariffs
Protectionism is something that will hurt everybody, but especially the United States.
Sam Bowman,
disagrees
Soda taxes
A tax on sugary soft drinks is the first step on the road to fat taxes and sugar taxes more generally. It makes little sense to tax sugary drinks on their own, rather than sugar more generally – a couple of Mars bars are just as bad as a bottle of Coke – but the Chancellor probably reckons that the public won’t care if he only targets soft drinks. Once the tax is in place, he will follow the lead ...
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Markus Brunnermeier,
Total health expenses and risk will remain high for individuals. It might also shift the norm whether to work. Work = being part of societyGeorge Soros, Business magnate, investor, and philanthropist
disagrees
Brexit
The UK will struggle if it cuts itself off from the rest of Europe

Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development in Canada
agrees
Basic Income
I think it’s the principles behind the idea [of a guaranteed income] that matter. These principles are greater simplicity for the government, greater transparency on the part of families and greater equity for everyone
Patrick Minford, Professor of Applied Economics, Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University
agrees
Brexit
In the medium and long term Breset will herald a major growth-boosting period as the UK breaks free of the over-mighty EU with its protectionist mindset and establishes free trade and intelligent regulation aimed at UK economic interests
Thomas Piketty,
disagrees
Basic Income
I have difficulty in understanding those who insist on wishing to pay a basic income of 500 Euros per month to those earning a salary of 2000 Euros, and then deduct the same sum by raising their taxes deducted at source.

Ricardo Reis, Professor of Economics at London School of Economics
disagrees
Brexit
While leaving could allow for some policy improvements, it would also open the way for a whole list of dreadful policies regarding trade, immigration, and industrial policy that membership in the EU now precludes
Robert Shapiro, Chairman of economic advisory firm Sonecon, IMF advisor, former U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce. Bl
agrees
Carbon Tax
The risks of climate change continue to grow. Global, harmonized net carbon taxes could contain those risk s in an economically-efficient and politically-feasible way.
Gerard Lyons, Economic adviser to Boris Johnson, mayor of London
agrees
Brexit
The choice may be a stark one, between the UK being in an EU that is inward looking [and] insular, [...] or outside, trading with the whole world including Europe, negotiating our own, better suited, trade deals with a focus on what the UK is good at
Alan Blinder, Economist
agrees
Carbon Tax
The 'bang for the buck' from a phased-in CO2 levy would be infinite at first—lots of jobs at zero cost to the federal budget.
William Gale,
agrees
Carbon Tax
The basic rationale for a carbon tax is that it makes good economic sense: unlike most taxes, carbon taxation can correct a market failure and make the economy more efficient.
Richard N. Cooper, American economist, policy adviser, and academic
agrees
Carbon Tax
Levying a charge on CO2 raises the price of CO2-emitting activities,including fossil fuel use, and thus is the most direct method of influencing consumer and industrial behavior on a world-wide scale.
Reza Moghadam, Economist and Vice-chairman for sovereigns and official institutions at Morgan Stanley
Macron is right - the Eurozone needs a finance minister. [...] it focuses on the essential: a collective action mechanism for managing and stabilising economies in crisis. It also does so without the need for EU Treaty changesGerard Lyons, Chief Economic Adviser to Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London
agrees
Brexit
In the medium term, Brexit would be better for the economy than remaining in an unreformed EU

Andrew Sentance, Former MPC member and Senior Economic Adviser, PwC
disagrees
Brexit
[Brexit] would make me more negative about the medium-term for two reasons. (1) Disruption and uncertainty created by Brexit; (2) Lack of a clear alternative to underpin UK's trade and investment relationships
Yvette Cooper,
disagrees
Brexit
There’s a good reason why the TUC, EEF and IMF are talking about the real risk to our jobs and our economy [if we vote to leave the EU]. It is working class people across Britain who would be hardest hit if we end up losing those jobs.
Martin Ravallion, Economist
agrees
Basic Income
A basic-income guarantee would dominate net workfare earnings in terms of the impact on poverty for a given budgetary outlay.
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