Supporting the Hayek Programme
A packed audience at LSE recently gathered to hear Dr Arthur B. Laffer and Matthew Elliott, LSE alumnus and President of the Jobs Foundation, discuss their new book, Prosperity through Growth: Boosting Living Standards in an Age of Autocracy and AI. Drawing on interviews with 33 leading figures in business and politics, the book shows how the UK is forecast to slide down the global GDP per capita rankings (from 30th position in 2024 to a projected 48th by 2050) and outlines the policy changes that could prevent this decline. The event featured an overview by Dr Laffer of the book’s core arguments and findings, followed by a lively discussion chaired by Professor Luis Garicano of LSE’s School of Public Policy and questions from the audience.
Hosted by the Hayek Programme in Economics and Liberal Political Economy, the event exemplified the Programme’s mission: to foster greater appreciation of the ideas of Nobel Laureate and economist F. A. Hayek in particular and the importance of individual liberty, market-tested development, and the rule of law in public policymaking more broadly. As global challenges confront policymakers, LSE’s interdisciplinary focus, blending political economy and various empirical methods, is crucial to inspire creative reform.
Over the past 30 years, a new political economy has emerged, that reconnects economics to its roots and draws on the enduring questions posed by major figures such as Adam Smith, F.A Hayek, and Karl Marx, whose ideas remain deeply relevant in today’s complex global landscape. At LSE, this intellectual tradition is being revitalised through modern theoretical approaches and empirical methods.
The Hayek Programme, hosted at the Suntory and Toyota International Centres for Economics and Related Disciplines (STICERD), supports new research, teaching and public events exploring 21st century challenges in global political economy through the lens of Hayek's ideas. It was established in 2020 with the generous philanthropic support of alumni Alison Rankin Frost (BA International History 1985) and Tim Frost (BSc Government 1987), amongst others. Find out more on the Programme’s activities and achievements thus far.
Next steps
To continue this vital work and to expand its reach, the Hayek Programme relies on the support of visionary donors who believe in the power of ideas to shape society. A new phase of growth is now underway, with plans to deepen research, broaden teaching, and scale public engagement through events like the launch of Dr Laffer’s book.
If you share our belief in the importance of rigorous, open-minded inquiry into political economy, we invite you to support the Hayek Programme. Your gift will help us equip the next generation of thinkers and leaders with the tools to understand and improve the world around them.
To learn more about how you can support the Programme’s research, teaching and public engagement initiatives, please contact Harry Hughes.
