A weekly roundup of publications, reports, events & articles from the leading UK think tanks.

On the assumption that most people who read this are as sad and nerdy about politics as I am this week’s ‘must read’ item is ‘Taming Leviathan’ from IEA, more details below.

Other than that enjoy and as ever please flag anything I may have missed. Also if anyone would like to be included in the email version please let me know…

Reports & Publications…

• The Centre for Policy Studies have two interesting reports this week. Anthony Jay presents his view on the need for a much-slimmed down, self-financing BBC and Maurice Saatchi has a highly provocative paper called “Enemy of the People” – a mocked-up high court judgement on Labour’s 10 years in office.
• The Centre for European Reform have a briefing note by the CER analysts on the French EU Presidency – “France’s EU presidency was always going to be ambitious, with wide-ranging plans for climate change, immigration and defence. Now, however, President Sarkozy will have to focus on resolving the legal and institutional mess created by the Irish No to the EU’s Lisbon treaty.”
• The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has an interesting report on how free-market liberal think tanks can influence public policy the world over – drawing on insights from 13 authors from think tanks around the globe it observes that “though the ‘war of ideas’ has been hard fought, it has been only partially won. New threats to freedom have emerged, including environmentalism and big-government conservatism. In some countries the burden taxation and regulation has never been greater” – the report is called ‘Taming Leviathan’ and you can read it here.
• IPPR North released a paper on the Barnett Formula arguing that “current disparities in funding across the UK is becoming an increasing source of tension between the four nations, especially between England and Scotland, and that unless addressed it could have implications for the union”
• The Joseph Rowntree foundation published a report by Andrea Waylen and Sarah Stewart-Brown called “Parenting in ordinary families: Diversity, complexity and change”. The report ‘examines parenting in Britain during early and middle childhood within different social and cultural groups and looks at how parenting develops and changes over time’.
• The New Local Government Network offer up a collection of essays on ‘Next Steps for Local Democracy: Leadership, accountability and partnership’. The collection “brings together the reflections of leading thinkers within local government, setting out a range of ideas on future service delivery, leadership, citizen interaction and rebalancing the relationship between central and local government”
• The Policy Exchange have produced a report on gun & knife crime which, according to the Sunday Times, is getting some attention in Downing St. I’ve spoken to Policy Exchange and the report isn’t actually online at the time of writing (Friday 11th am) but will be later today – their publication area is here.

Articles & Briefings…

• Peter Taylor-Gooby has an interesting essay for the Fabian Society on the disconnect between public support for higher spending on social services but a reluctance to accept tax increases to pay for it.
• Alex Wadden has a good article on Policy Network on the challenges in reforming US healthcare, tax policy etc. and the likely difficulties facing either Barack Obama or John McCain should they try.
• The Henry Jackson Society published an open letter to Gordon Brown, George Bush, Javier Solana & Thabo Mbeki on ‘Zimbawe’s right to a democratic future’ – no record of a reply as yet.

Events & Meetings…

• Reform is hosting a lunch and roundtable debate on the future of public service broadcasting. Lead speaker will be Mark Bunting, Strategy Manager of Ofcom and the event will take place at Reform’s offices at 12.45pm on Wed 16th July. Places are limited so please RSVP to anna.calvert@reform.co.uk.
• The Foreign Policy Centre is hosting an event on ‘Corporate Social Responsibility & the Environment in Emerging Markets’. It will take place next Wednesday 16th July at 15.00 in the Grimond Room, Portcullis House. Please contact eventsfpc@googlemail.com or tel: +44 (0)20 7729 7566 for details.
• Demos are hosting what looks to be an interesting discussion on Mon 14th July – “Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing Without Organizations.” The speaker is Clay Shirky and he’ll be addressing themes from his new book such as the opportunities and threats new technology brings, Wikinomics, wikigovernment etc. and what the consequences of this revolution is likely to mean for governments, democracy and society. Please RSVP seminars@demos.co.uk.

People…

• The New Economics Foundation is looking for an ‘exceptional person’ to chair their board of Trustees – someone with a demonstrable track record of clear leadership, an energetic and fresh perspective and the desire to create change. Click here for a Job Description and the deadline for applications is 5pm, Thursday 31st July 2008.
• Compass have announced the results of their Management Committee Election – the winners in vote / transfer order were Neal Lawson; Meg Russell; Chuka Umunna; Mark Cooke; Neil Foster; Ben Folley; Anna Helga Horrox and Gemma Tumelty’.