| Home \ Conferences and Programmes \ Events \ Previous Events |
|
Previous EventsSearch for: in: Amigo Society: The Flat Tax Revolution: Rising from the East
Date: 25 April 2006
Location: Hotel Amigo Rue de l’Amigo 1-3, Brussels, Belgium Speakers: Ondrej Socuvka, Adviser to the PM Slovakia and Prof. Jef Vuchelen, Free University of Brussels Flat tax systems now dominate much of Eastern Europe, causing governments across Europe and the world to investigate whether they should follow suit. The hope is that a flat tax system would galvanize the economy by making it pay for people to work harder, taking many people out of the income tax system altogether and helping to combat the increasing complexity of the tax system. But would it work? Is it a fairer system for all, not just in theory, but in practice? Or is it just a disguised tax cut for the rich which would hurt the middle classes and leave the least wealthy of us even worse off?
This event will take place from 7pm -8pm (cocktails to follow) on 25 April at the Hotel Amigo.  Westminster Fringe Debate: Free Trade
Date: 23 March 2006
Location: One Great George Street, Westminster, London Speakers: Chair: Simon Cox, The Economist. Speakers: Gibril Faal, AFFORD; John Hilary, War on Want; Andrew Mwenda, The Monitor, Uganda; Dr Yingqi Wei, Lancaster University The Motion: Free trade is the only way to make the poor world richer
Is free trade the only way of raising people in the developing world out of poverty? Could protectionism for poorer countries be an effective tool to level the global playing field? Or would this just lead to unsustainable economic policies as each nation retreats into isolationism? Would the comprehensive removal of international trade barriers improve the lives of people in the poorest countries? Or should we be considering less uniform policies that genuinely work in the interests of all? Amigo Society: Consumers and Health Information: Is Knowledge Really Power?'
Date: 21 March 2006
Location: Brussels, Belgium Speakers: Peter Pitts, fmr FDA, James Copping, European Commission, Colin Webb, EPF A recent consumer survey in Europe asked people in eight old and new EU member countries what reforms would most likely increase their quality of care. In every nation, by a large margin, "giving patients more information about their illness" was the preferred solution.
Health care education is the consumer's Rosetta Stone. Public policy institutes, pharmaceutical companies, health care professionals and patient advocates, along with government must be allied in the drive to deliver information to patients, for it is, ultimately, about saving lives and saving our health care systems. Moreover, increasing information to patients will improve disease awareness and aid in defeating patient non-compliance estimated to cost billions of euros a year in increased emergency room visits, unnecessary surgeries, expensive hospital stays, and lost productivity. IPRs and SMEs- A Barrier to Innovation or an Engine for Growth?
Date: 08 March 2006
Location: Brussels Speakers: Dr Geoff Gregson, University of Edinburgh, Liz Coleman, UK Patent Office and David Doll Steinberg, Tribeka Ltd In partnership with Managing Intellectual Property magazine, the Stockholm Network will be co-hosting a publication launch and workshop on the topic of intellectual property rights (IPRs) and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Chaired by Dr Meir P. Pugatch, Head of the Stockholm Network’s IP and Competition Programme, the central issue of discussion will be whether IPRs are a ‘barrier to innovation or an engine for growth’ for SMEs.
Defusing the Pensions Time Bomb
Date: 24 February 2006
Location: Jolly Hotel du Grand Sablon, Rue Bodenbroek 2, Brussels Speakers: Matthew Bishop, Liam Halligan, Dan Clifton, Giuseppe Pannisi, Wilfried Prewo, Christofer Fjellner MEP, Ian Vasquez, Kamil Kajetanowicz, Edward Palmer European citizens are faced with the prospect of a dismal retirement. Pension systems in Europe are grappling with mounting deficits and a demographic ‘time bomb’. Current pay-as-you-go social insurance schemes are proving to be too expensive and unsustainable. In short, Europeans face a stark choice: reform today, or ruin tomorrow.
Yet, which kind of reform is needed is hotly debated. Should pay-as-you-go systems be tweaked only slightly? Is there a role for the market in providing pensions? If so, how extensive should that role be? What are the benefits to the citizen? To the government? What can be learned from countries that have already reformed? Is the Chilean model suitable for the ailing systems in Europe? Or is the Swedish approach to reform more appropriate? Amigo Society: Biotechnology and Tailor Made Medicines
Date: 22 February 2006
Location: Brussels, Belgium Speakers: Dr. Anders Sandberg and Mr. Robby Berloznik The life sciences have ushered in a veritable revolution in healthcare. More than ever before, genetics, computers and pharmacology intertwine to speed up the pace of scientific discovery. The mapping of the human genome offers new insights into how our organism functions, and how to cure previously fatal diseases. By taking into account our genetic patterns, medicine will be able to adapt to every individual’s needs. This raises important social and political issues: drug testing, the sale of genetic information, medical insurance, enhancement of physical abilities as opposed to prevention and cure. Should these developments be controlled and, if so, by whom?
Westminster Fringe Debate: Public Services
Date: 09 February 2006
Location: One Great George Street, Westminster, London Speakers: Chair: Edward Carr. Speakers: Tim Gosling, Matthew Hancock, Margie Jaffe, Henry Pitman The motion: If Britain wants decent and efficient public services, it should hand them over to the private sector.
The government spends more than £2 billion a week on public services. But still we complain about the state of our schools and hospitals; and still our cities are blighted by poverty. Isn't running public services simply too important to leave to timeserving bureaucrats? Surely the best way to ensure that public services are decent and good value is to turn to the best managers we can find. Company executives understand how organisations work and what people want, whether they are hospital patients or aircraft passengers. Or would the profit motive end up poisoning the commitment and dedication of our teachers and doctors? Wouldn't a system geared towards making money inevitably line executives' pockets at the expense of ordinary people? As one of Britain's great achievements, doesn't the Welfare State need defending rather than dismantling? A flat tax system is the best way forward for Britain
Date: 26 January 2006
Location: One Great George Street, Westminster, London Speakers: Chair: Paul Wallace. Speakers: Allister Heath, Susan Kramer, Ondrej Socuvka, Prof. Lord Richard Layard Flat tax systems now dominate much of Eastern Europe, and over here, the Tories are investigating whether Britain can follow suit. The hope is that a flat tax system would galvanise the economy by making it pay for people to work harder; also it would take many people out of the income tax system altogether; and could help to combat the increasing complexity of the tax system. But would it work? Is it a fairer system for all, not just in theory, but in practice? Or is it just a disguised tax cut for the rich which would hurt middle Britain and leave the least wealthy of us even worse off?
Will European transport take us too far?
Date: 24 January 2006
Location: Hotel Amigo, rue de l'Amigo, 1-3, Brussels, Belgium Speakers: Dr. Guoda Stepanoviciene, Mr. Olivier Charon There is a raging debate about transport policy in Europe - made more visible as the EU admits 10 new member countries. Everyone complains that long vehicles clog our motorways, yet how else can we supply what consumers demand?
Digital technology will strengthen, not weaken public service broadcasting
Date: 24 November 2005
Location: One Great George Street, Westminster, London Speakers: Chair: Edward Carr. Speakers: Jocelyn Hay, Helen Weeds, Eben Wilson, David Levy Can tax-financed public service broadcasting survive the infinite choice and variety presented by digital technology? Are the public goods it offers increasingly available elsewhere, or increasingly scarce? Or is the real danger that the digitisation of public service broadcasting will create online media so powerful that they crowd out their for-profit competitors?
|
Ondrej Socuvka (ppt)