Insights into Regulation
The Knowledge Problem
The latest blog from the RPI explores the knowledge problem, tracing insights from Adam Smith to Hayek and what
September 27, 2026
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Insights into Regulation
Smith, Coase, and the Nature of Markets
This blog discusses Adam Smith’s insights on money and the absence of a market theory in his Wealth of
August 27, 2026
Insights into Regulation
An Antidote to Sustained Incoherence – Lest we forget
Incoherence in governance hampers effective policymaking, echoing historical patterns of folly. To improve outcomes, a balanced approach integrating diverse
August 10, 2026
Insights into Regulation
Smith, Coase and Institutional Economics
Chapter 4 of the Wealth of Nations discusses money’s role in reducing exchange transaction costs, illustrating that institutional structures
July 17, 2026
Insights into Regulation
The Theory of Moral Sentiments and Neuroscience
Smith’s Theory of Moral Sentiments, published in 1759, explores human nature and moral judgement through the concept of a
June 29, 2026
Insights into Regulation
The Invisible Hand Metaphor
Umpteen scholars have made the point that the Invisible Hand metaphor, which is used only once in the Wealth
May 29, 2026
Insights into Regulation
Adam Smith on Monopolies and De-Monopolisation
Monopoly is a major theme in the Wealth of Nations, as reflected in 175 usages of the word in
April 24, 2026
Insights into Regulation
Adam Smith’s ‘Theory of Productivity Growth’
The full title of Adam Smith’s major work is An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of
March 23, 2026
Insights into Regulation
Adam Smith and the Navigation Acts
Marking the 250th anniversary year of the publication of the Wealth of Nations, in the second of a series
February 24, 2026
Insights into Regulation
Revisiting Adam Smith’s Four Principles of Taxation
In The Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith put forward four general principles that he judged a tax system should
January 30, 2026
Studies in Regulation
What happens when digital competition policy meets AI?
In this paper, Daniel Pryor argues that competition interventions in digital markets have often been premised on faulty economic
November 2, 2025
Past Learnings
Commercial Society and its Internal Enemies – A Smithian Synopsis
In this new piece in our Past Learnings Series, George Yarrow discusses the publicly perceived “untrustworthiness” of politicians
July 4, 2025
Insights into Regulation
On tariffs and tanks – M. Bastiat vs. Mr Trump
Scaling geologic time to (say) one year, homo sapiens has existed for less than an hour. In that twinkling
February 13, 2025
Past Learnings
Fabellia Revisited: A Thought Experiment on the Regulation of Migration Flows
The 6th piece in our series Past Learnings, this piece is an extensive re-working of a paper first published
January 21, 2025
Past Learnings
Past Learnings: Simple stories, complex systems and corrupted economics
The RPI’s latest piece in our Past Learnings Series discusses the complexity of economic systems and the common inability
October 29, 2024
Books
Airport Enterprises: An Economic Analysis
‘Airport Enterprises: An Economic Analysis’ frames the airport firm as a business platform for a broad spectrum of commercial activities, some of which enjoy the characteristics of two-sided markets