TheSocial Market Foundation(SMF) is an independentBritishpolitical public policythink-tankbased inWestminster,London.It is one of the 'Top 12 Think Tanks in Britain'[3]and was named 'UK Think Tank of the Year' byProspectin 2012.[4]Its purpose is to "advance the education of the public in the economic, social and political sciences" and to "champion ideas that marry a pro-market orientation with concern for social justice".[2]Policy ideas are based on the concept of thesocial market economy.
 | |
| Abbreviation | SMF |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1989 |
| Founder | Robert Skidelsky Daniel Finkelstein |
| Type | Think tank |
| Registration no. | 1000971[1] |
| Legal status | Charity[2] |
| Purpose | "To advance the education of the public in the economic, social and political sciences"[2] |
| Headquarters | 11 Tufton Street,Westminster,London,United Kingdom[2] |
| Coordinates | 51°30′26″N0°07′40″W/ 51.5073509°N 0.127758°W[2] |
| Fields | Cost of living,productivity,financial services,Public Sector Reform[2] |
Official language | English[2] |
Director | James Kirkup[2] |
Chief Economist | Shreya Nanda[2] |
Research Director | Aveek Bhattacharya[2] |
| Mary Ann Sieghart(Chair), BaronessOlly Grender,Nicola Horlick,Sir Brian Pomeroy CBE,Matthew d'Ancona,Professor Tim Bale, Peter Readman, Rt Hon BaronessGillian Shephard[2] | |
| Affiliations | 'Continuing' SDP(1989–90) Conservative Party Labour Party Liberal Democrats[2] |
Revenue | £826,860[1] |
| Expenses | £810,360[1] |
| Staff | 14[1] |
| Website | smf.co.uk |
History
editFounded in 1989, the organisation was established by individuals close toDavid Owen's'continuing' Social Democratic Party,which had itself been formed the year beforehand by those members of the originalSDPwho refused to accept that party's merger with theLiberals.Owen had made much use of the term 'social market' when describing the economic model he espoused as an alternative toThatcherism,and upon the Foundation's establishment he was made one of its trustees.[5]The Foundation's first executive director was the 'continuing' SDP peerLord Kilmarnock,and its chairman from 1991 wasRobert Skidelsky,Professor of Political Economy atWarwick University,who was responsible for much of the Owenite SDP's economic policy, having written agreen paperon the social market economy for the party's first conference in September 1988.[5][6]
Following the demise of the 'continuing' SDP in 1990, the Foundation gravitated to the post-ThatcherConservative Party,and in press circles it was often cited as "John Major's favourite thinktank ".[7][8]Skidelsky himself joined the Conservatives in 1992, shortly after being made a life peer by the government, while two directors, Rick Nye andDaniel Finkelstein,both former SDP activists and political advisers to David Owen, later left the Foundation to work for theConservative Research Department.[9]
In the late 1990s the Foundation moved closer toNew Labour,withGordon Browngiving a speech about 'social markets' at the Foundation in 2003,[9]and SMF publishing a paper by Gordon Brown in 2004.[10]In 2001, Lord Skidelsky was replaced as chair byDavid, Lord Lipsey,who in the 1970s had been a special adviser to the Labour politicianAnthony Crosland.[11]The Foundation was thus associated with some of the policies of New Labour, particularly issues of public service reform.[citation needed]
In September 2010Mary Ann Sieghart,the political and social affairs journalist, took over as Chair.
Policy goals
editThe SMF’s remit is to focus on domestic public policy, particularly the public services and welfare. The majority of publications are therefore focused on issues concerning education, health care and employment. However it also produces publications on wide-ranging subjects such as road-pricing,casinosandenergypolicy.[citation needed]
The SMF has a 20 member Policy Advisory Board, which as of 2018 included theMembers of Parliament(MPs)Stephen Kinnock,Norman Lamb,Chris Leslie,Alison McGovern,Tom Tugendhat,Chuka UmunnaandJohn Woodcock.[12]
Funding
editIn November 2022, the funding transparency websiteWho Funds You?gave The Social Market Foundation a B grade (rating goes from A to E).[13]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^abcd"Charity overview".charitycommission.gov.uk.Retrieved6 October2017.
- ^abcdefghijkl"Home, The Social Market Foundation (SMF) think tank - Social Market Foundation".Social Market Foundation.Retrieved6 October2017.
- ^Helm, Toby; Hope, Christopher (6 October 2017)."The top twelve think tanks in Britain".Retrieved6 October2017– via telegraph.co.uk.
- ^Prospect."Think Tank of the Year Awards 2012".prospectmagazine.co.uk.Retrieved6 October2017.
- ^abDavid Owen,Time to Declare(London: Penguin, 1992), p. 802.ISBN9780140148053
- ^Robin Oakley, "A few problems with party's 'very own big idea'",The Times,20 September 1988, p. 4.
- ^Shrimsley, R (1995), 'Defector from SDP to head Tory research',Financial Times,August 24, p. 7
- ^"Mr Major's Speech to the Social Market Foundation".John Major. 9 September 1994.Retrieved23 March2014.
- ^ab"Social Market Foundation".New Statesman.29 May 2009.Retrieved23 March2014.
- ^Gordon Brown (May 2004).A Modern Agenda for Prosperity and Social Reform(PDF)(Report). Social Market Foundation.Retrieved23 March2014.
- ^"Lipsey".Who's Who.Vol. 2023 (online ed.). A & C Black.(Subscription orUK public library membershiprequired.)
- ^"About Us".Social Market Foundation.Retrieved21 August2018.
- ^"Who Funds You? Social Market Foundation".