International Policy Network
Encyclopedia
The International Policy Network (IPN) is a global think tank headquartered in the City of London
. It defines itself as a non-partisan, non-profit organization, but has also been described as a "corporate-funded campaigning group". IPN runs public education campaigns on international issues ranging from trade and development to healthcare and the environment.
In the context of global policy issues, IPN’s campaigns highlight the role of markets and market institutions as a means of empowering individuals so that they are able to improve their own lives and the lives of others. IPN hopes that as a result of its programs, individuals will be better able to achieve their aspirations, regardless of race, color, creed, nationality or human condition.
IPN works in partnership with over 75 think tanks around the world.
, "IPN aims to empower individuals and promote respect for people and property in order to eliminate poverty
, improve human health
and protect the environment. IPN promotes public awareness of the importance of this vision for all people, both rich and poor.
"IPN seeks to achieve its vision by promoting the role of market institutions in certain key international policy
debates: sustainable development
, health, and globalisation
and trade
. IPN works with academics
, think tank
s, journalist
s and policymakers on every continent
."
IPN’s sister organization, International Policy Network US Inc., is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization incorporated in 2001. The two organizations are separate legal and financial entities with independent boards, working together with a common vision.
IPN has received grants totaling hundreds of thousands of pounds from the multinational energy company ExxonMobil
., although has not received money from the energy sector for some years.
The Freedom to Trade Campaign is run in collaboration with the Atlas Global Initiative. The campaign joins 73 think tanks in 48 countries to support free trade and oppose protectionism.
IPN’s Bastiat Prize for Journalism was founded in 2002. The Prize recognises and rewards journalists and commentators who support the free society. This year, IPN will award the first Bastiat Prize for Online Journalism.
IPN was founded by Antony Fisher
in the UK as the International Institute for Economic Research (IIER) in 1971. Fisher went on to found the Atlas Economic Research Foundation
in the USA in 1981, and from this point the IIER traded as Atlas Foundation UK. The organisation underwent a further rebranding in 2001, when it changed its name to IPN. In the USA, the Atlas Foundation also provides training and funding to start libertarian think-tanks. Fisher founded the influential Institute of Economic Affairs
(IEA), a classical liberal think tank based in London. The founding Director of IPN, Julian Morris was previously Director of the IEA's Environment and Technology Programme.
Julian Morris founded International Policy Network in 2001. He has been the Director of the IEA’s Environment and Technology Programme. Julian graduated from Edinburgh University in 1992 with a degree in economics. He has two Masters Degrees in economics and a Graduate Diploma in Law from the University of Westminster. He is also a Visiting Professor at the University of Buckingham
.
Mark Baillie has worked in more than 14 countries in the fields of security, finance, economics, business and politics as a soldier, foreign correspondent, diplomat and business consultant. He works in English, French, Spanish and Italian and works to spread the message of IPN and its associates in international news media.
Kendra Okonski has worked in environmental policy since 1997. She has edited several IPN publications, including two books, Adapt or Die (2003) and Environment and Health (2004). She writes frequently in the international media and appears on television and radio. She has a BA in Economics from Hillsdale College (Michigan, USA) and grew up in Montana and Chile.
Philip is the author of numerous health policy publications, including Free Trade for Better Health (2005) http://www.fightingdiseases.org/pdf/Trade&health_web.pdf, The real determinants of health (2005)http://www.fightingdiseases.org/pdf/Determinants_of_Health_web.pdf and The 10/90 Gap and the diseases of poverty (2004).http://www.fightingdiseases.org/pdf/Diseases_of_Poverty_FINAL.pdf His writings on health policy have appeared in a wide range of international newspapers. Philip has also held research positions at the Adam Smith Institute and Reform in London, and spent several years as a management consultant. He holds degrees from the London School of Economics
and Durham University.
Alec van Gelder has a B.S. in finance from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania in the U.S and a Master’s degree in International Economics and Development from Université Catholique de Louvain La Neuve (UCL) in Belgium. Alec has worked for the Regional United Nations
Information Centre in Brussels.
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
. It defines itself as a non-partisan, non-profit organization, but has also been described as a "corporate-funded campaigning group". IPN runs public education campaigns on international issues ranging from trade and development to healthcare and the environment.
In the context of global policy issues, IPN’s campaigns highlight the role of markets and market institutions as a means of empowering individuals so that they are able to improve their own lives and the lives of others. IPN hopes that as a result of its programs, individuals will be better able to achieve their aspirations, regardless of race, color, creed, nationality or human condition.
IPN works in partnership with over 75 think tanks around the world.
Vision
According to its websiteWebsite
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
, "IPN aims to empower individuals and promote respect for people and property in order to eliminate poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
, improve human health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
and protect the environment. IPN promotes public awareness of the importance of this vision for all people, both rich and poor.
"IPN seeks to achieve its vision by promoting the role of market institutions in certain key international policy
Policy
A policy is typically described as a principle or rule to guide decisions and achieve rational outcome. The term is not normally used to denote what is actually done, this is normally referred to as either procedure or protocol...
debates: sustainable development
Sustainable development
Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use, that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come...
, health, and globalisation
Globalization
Globalization refers to the increasingly global relationships of culture, people and economic activity. Most often, it refers to economics: the global distribution of the production of goods and services, through reduction of barriers to international trade such as tariffs, export fees, and import...
and trade
Trade
Trade is the transfer of ownership of goods and services from one person or entity to another. Trade is sometimes loosely called commerce or financial transaction or barter. A network that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter, the direct exchange of goods and...
. IPN works with academics
Academia
Academia is the community of students and scholars engaged in higher education and research.-Etymology:The word comes from the akademeia in ancient Greece. Outside the city walls of Athens, the gymnasium was made famous by Plato as a center of learning...
, think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
s, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
s and policymakers on every continent
Continent
A continent is one of several very large landmasses on Earth. They are generally identified by convention rather than any strict criteria, with seven regions commonly regarded as continents—they are : Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia.Plate tectonics is...
."
History
IPN was founded as a UK Charity by Sir Antony Fisher in 1971. The mission of this body is to “Promote the advancement of learning by research into economic and political science and the publication of such research.” The charity’s original name was The International Institute for Economic Research, and now is The Atlas Economic Research Foundation (UK), but operates under the name International Policy Network.IPN’s sister organization, International Policy Network US Inc., is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization incorporated in 2001. The two organizations are separate legal and financial entities with independent boards, working together with a common vision.
Funding
IPN is funded entirely by voluntary, charitable gifts from foundations, individuals and businesses. IPN does not receive any funding from governments or political parties, and it does no contract work. IPN develops and implements a research and advocacy agenda that encompasses not one or a few, but many public policy issues.IPN has received grants totaling hundreds of thousands of pounds from the multinational energy company ExxonMobil
ExxonMobil
Exxon Mobil Corporation or ExxonMobil, is an American multinational oil and gas corporation. It is a direct descendant of John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil company, and was formed on November 30, 1999, by the merger of Exxon and Mobil. Its headquarters are in Irving, Texas...
., although has not received money from the energy sector for some years.
Programs
IPN undertakes ongoing work on public policy in the areas of health, environment, economic development, trade, creativity and innovation.The Freedom to Trade Campaign is run in collaboration with the Atlas Global Initiative. The campaign joins 73 think tanks in 48 countries to support free trade and oppose protectionism.
IPN’s Bastiat Prize for Journalism was founded in 2002. The Prize recognises and rewards journalists and commentators who support the free society. This year, IPN will award the first Bastiat Prize for Online Journalism.
Links to other organisations
- The Institute of Economic AffairsInstitute of Economic AffairsThe Institute of Economic Affairs , founded in 1955, styles itself the UK's pre-eminent free-market think-tank. Its mission is to improve understanding of the fundamental institutions of a free society by analysing and expounding the role of markets in solving economic and social...
- Atlas Economic Research FoundationAtlas Economic Research FoundationThe Atlas Economic Research Foundation, also known as the Atlas Network, is a non-profit organization based in the United States which organizes and convenes workshops, offers training, runs prize programs, and provides advisory services in order to continue growing and strengthening an informal...
- CriticalOpinion.org
- Electronic Journal of Sustainable Development
IPN was founded by Antony Fisher
Antony Fisher
Sir Antony Fisher was one of the most influential background players in the global rise of libertarian think-tanks during the second half of the twentieth century, founding the Institute of Economic Affairs and the Atlas Economic Research Foundation. Through Atlas, he helped establish up to 150...
in the UK as the International Institute for Economic Research (IIER) in 1971. Fisher went on to found the Atlas Economic Research Foundation
Atlas Economic Research Foundation
The Atlas Economic Research Foundation, also known as the Atlas Network, is a non-profit organization based in the United States which organizes and convenes workshops, offers training, runs prize programs, and provides advisory services in order to continue growing and strengthening an informal...
in the USA in 1981, and from this point the IIER traded as Atlas Foundation UK. The organisation underwent a further rebranding in 2001, when it changed its name to IPN. In the USA, the Atlas Foundation also provides training and funding to start libertarian think-tanks. Fisher founded the influential Institute of Economic Affairs
Institute of Economic Affairs
The Institute of Economic Affairs , founded in 1955, styles itself the UK's pre-eminent free-market think-tank. Its mission is to improve understanding of the fundamental institutions of a free society by analysing and expounding the role of markets in solving economic and social...
(IEA), a classical liberal think tank based in London. The founding Director of IPN, Julian Morris was previously Director of the IEA's Environment and Technology Programme.
Staff
- Julian MorrisJulian MorrisJulian Morris is director of think-tank International Policy Network, was formerly a Research Fellow and subsequently Director of the Environment and Technology Programme of the Institute of Economic Affairs. He is also a visiting professor of Economics at the University of Buckingham. Recently he...
, Executive Director
Julian Morris founded International Policy Network in 2001. He has been the Director of the IEA’s Environment and Technology Programme. Julian graduated from Edinburgh University in 1992 with a degree in economics. He has two Masters Degrees in economics and a Graduate Diploma in Law from the University of Westminster. He is also a Visiting Professor at the University of Buckingham
University of Buckingham
The University of Buckingham is an independent, non-sectarian, research and teaching university located in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, England, on the banks of the River Great Ouse. It was originally founded as Buckingham University College in the 1970s and received its Royal Charter from the...
.
- Mark Baillie, Editor
Mark Baillie has worked in more than 14 countries in the fields of security, finance, economics, business and politics as a soldier, foreign correspondent, diplomat and business consultant. He works in English, French, Spanish and Italian and works to spread the message of IPN and its associates in international news media.
- Kendra Okonski, Environment Programme Director
Kendra Okonski has worked in environmental policy since 1997. She has edited several IPN publications, including two books, Adapt or Die (2003) and Environment and Health (2004). She writes frequently in the international media and appears on television and radio. She has a BA in Economics from Hillsdale College (Michigan, USA) and grew up in Montana and Chile.
- Philip Stevens, Health Programme Director
Philip is the author of numerous health policy publications, including Free Trade for Better Health (2005) http://www.fightingdiseases.org/pdf/Trade&health_web.pdf, The real determinants of health (2005)http://www.fightingdiseases.org/pdf/Determinants_of_Health_web.pdf and The 10/90 Gap and the diseases of poverty (2004).http://www.fightingdiseases.org/pdf/Diseases_of_Poverty_FINAL.pdf His writings on health policy have appeared in a wide range of international newspapers. Philip has also held research positions at the Adam Smith Institute and Reform in London, and spent several years as a management consultant. He holds degrees from the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
and Durham University.
- Alec van Gelder, Research Fellow
Alec van Gelder has a B.S. in finance from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania in the U.S and a Master’s degree in International Economics and Development from Université Catholique de Louvain La Neuve (UCL) in Belgium. Alec has worked for the Regional United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Information Centre in Brussels.
Trustees/Directors
- Linda Whetstone (Chairman)
- Robert Boyd
- John BlundellJohn Blundell (economist)John Blundell is the former Director General and Ralph Harris Fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs. Blundell has been involved in the creation and development of numerous free-market think tanks.-Biography:...
- Mike Fisher
- George F. Ohrstrom
- Daniel Oliver
- Bridgett Wagner
Previous staff
- Kristen Veblen, (left in 2007)
- Stephanie Drnasin, Events (left in 2006)
- Ellen Bisnath, Communications (left in 2007)
- Nicole Grey, Development and Events (left in 2005)
- Roger BateRoger BateRoger Bate is an economist who has held a variety of positions in free market, libertarian, and conservative think tanks and lobby groups promoting anti-regulatory, pro-business causes. His current work focuses on counterfeit and substandard medicines, particularly those in the developing world. ...
, Director (left in 2003) - Margalit Edelman, Media Director (left in 2002)
- Philippa Jeffery, Coordinator (left in 2002)
- Marcia Leighton, Coordinator (left in 2002)
Some of IPN's Partners
- Institute of Public Policy Analysis, Nigeria
- Inter Region Economic NetworkInter Region Economic NetworkThe Inter Region Economic Network is a non-governmental organization based in Nairobi, Kenya, which advocates free market economics for the development of Africa. Its director is James Shikwati....
, Kenya - Free Market Foundation, South Africa
- Africa Resource Bank
- Action Research Community Health, India
- Institute of Public AffairsInstitute of Public AffairsThe Institute of Public Affairs is a public policy think tank based in Melbourne, Australia. It advocates free market economic policies such as privatisation and deregulation of state-owned enterprises, trade liberalisation and deregulated workplaces, climate change skepticism , and the...
, Australia - Making Our Economy RightMaking Our Economy RightMaking Our Economy Right is a free market think tank in Bangladesh. Headquartered in Dhaka, the institute was established in 1991 by Nizam Ahmad. MOER is sponsored by the Atlas Foundation in the United States...
, Bangladesh - Association for Liberal ThinkingAssociation for Liberal ThinkingThe Association for Liberal Thinking is a Turkish libertarian think-tank.-History:The group was informally founded on 26 December 1992 by former conservative intellectuals and gained official status as an association under Turkish law on 1 April 1994...
(Liberal Düşünce Topluluğu), Turkey - TimbroTimbroTimbro is a libertarian, free market think tank and book publisher based in Stockholm, Sweden, that works to promote ideas, influence legislation and public opinion...
, Sweden - Liberty Institute, India
- Centre for Civil SocietyCentre for Civil SocietyThe Centre for Civil Society is a Indian think tank and an independent, non-profit, research and educational organisation, established in 1997 and working towards improving the quality of life for all citizens of India by reviving and reinvigorating civil society.In 2004, CSS was awarded the...
, India - Institute of Economic AffairsInstitute of Economic AffairsThe Institute of Economic Affairs , founded in 1955, styles itself the UK's pre-eminent free-market think-tank. Its mission is to improve understanding of the fundamental institutions of a free society by analysing and expounding the role of markets in solving economic and social...
- Montreal Economic InstituteMontreal Economic InstituteThe Montreal Economic Institute is a non-profit research organization based in Montreal. It aims at promoting economic education of the general public and efficient public policies in Quebec and Canada through studies and conferences. Its research areas include different topics such as health...
- Centro de Divulgacion del Conocimiento Economico, Venezuela
- Libertad y DesarrolloLibertad y DesarrolloLibertad y Desarrollo, abbreviated to LyD, is a Chilean think tank focused on liberal, free market economic studies. Founded in 1990, the think tank defines itself as a "center for studies and private research, independent of any political, religious, business, or governmental organization, that...
, Chile - Fundacion Libertad Democracia y Desarrollo, Bolivia
- Instituto de Libre Empresa, Peru
- The Lion Rock InstituteThe Lion Rock InstituteThe Lion Rock Institute is a non-profit, public policy think tank that advocates free market solutions for Hong Kong's policy challenges. Founded in 2004, The Lion Rock Institute remains Hong Kong's only independent free-market think tank...
, Hong Kong - Instituto LiberdadeInstituto LiberdadeInstituto Liberdade do Rio Grande do Sul is a Brazilian independent think tank, formed by intellectual entrepreneurs, based in Porto Alegre.Instituto Liberdade is not endowed and does not accept government funding...
, Brazil
External links
- IPN web site
- Entry for IPN on the SourceWatchSourceWatchSourceWatch is an internet wiki site that is a collaborative project of the liberal Center for Media and Democracy...
web site. - George MonbiotGeorge MonbiotGeorge Joshua Richard Monbiot is an English writer, known for his environmental and political activism. He lives in Machynlleth, Wales, writes a weekly column for The Guardian, and is the author of a number of books, including Captive State: The Corporate Takeover of Britain and Bring on the...
, Smoke in our eyes, The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, 27 September 2006 - George MonbiotGeorge MonbiotGeorge Joshua Richard Monbiot is an English writer, known for his environmental and political activism. He lives in Machynlleth, Wales, writes a weekly column for The Guardian, and is the author of a number of books, including Captive State: The Corporate Takeover of Britain and Bring on the...
, Pundits who contest climate change should tell us who is paying them, The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, 26 September 2006