Centre for Political Studies

CEPOS is the Danish Centre for Political Studies - a Danish think tank founded in 2004 with the stated aim of 'promoting a society based on freedom, responsibility, private initiative and limited government'. The 'independent research institution' was founded by 'Danish academic, arts, business and media representatives, thinkers and cultural personalities'.

According to their website, CEPOS seek to influence government policy by:

• generating new knowledge about social organization through analysis and research.
• developing solutions and practical policy proposals.
• influencing present and future decision makers through media, meetings, conferences, publications and education.

Cepos is part of the Stockholm Network a working group of European market-oriented think-tanks.

Ideology and aims

CEPOS started its work on March 10th 2005 as a classical liberal-conservative think-tank in Denmark. According to their website CEPOS promotes 'a society based on economic freedom, wishing to reform and limit direct and indirect economic support from the public authorities to the population'. CEPOS has three main aims stated on their website, these are:

• to contribute to more personal and economic freedom, rule of law and democracy as well as a limited government sustained by healthy civil institutions such as family, civil associations and cultural life.

• to reform and limit direct and indirect economic support from the public authorities to the population. Government support shall benefit only the disadvantaged and will be abolished for people who can support themselves.

• to encourage competition, supports free markets and global free trade, and opposes government subsidies to businesses.

Cepos also assert their independence by arguing that they 'do not work at the request of any political party, public authority, commercial enterprise, organization or individual'.

CEPOS Views on Climate Change

Martin Agerup stated after 2009 UN Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen that “we should not confuse climate and weather”. “The world leaders are about to try to reach an agreement [on climate change] with the wrong approach,” insists Agerup, “They want to commit themselves to some firm targets about how to reduce emissions. I think this is wrong. We need to look on putting a price on carbon and then see how much reduction we get out of that.” Agerup is of the opinion that climate change agreement was created because it would be inconceivable for leaders to end the conference without any agreement. Therefore “they are going to celebrate some kind of agreement.” It is going to be more costly than what the world will get out of it “but this is the way things are,” says the economist. Additionally to that, he stated that other pressing issues need to be taken into account. “It’s not the end of the world, it is not the world’s biggest problem, millions of people die of all kinds of diseases… Poverty is the main issue we have to deal with.”

CEPOS report on wind energy

One of the studies made for CEPOS that received a great deal of attention was the study by Hugh Sharman on Danish wind experience. The main points made by author were on the costs of Danish power and on wind and the implications for the US. It is known that the cost of electricity in Denmark is high, but as the CEPOS study points out, this has not resulted from wind deployment, but from Danish tax policies. According to the European Union's statistics prepared by Eurostat, the pre-tax price of electricity for an average household in Denmark is almost equal to an average price of electricity for a household in Europe. CEPOS emphasises that after taxation, the price of electricity significantly rises and is much higher than in Europe. CEPOS stresses that although Denmark is a small country, but has been able to develop a great deal of wind power. The reason for that power is that Denmark is strongly inter-connected with its neighbours, Germany, Norway and Sweden. As a result Denmark can use their hydropower to balance the fluctuations that wind imposes on the system. Denmark has no electricity storage within its electricity system and because of the fact that Denmark neighbours have much larger power systems, they balance the stochastic variations in Denmark's wind power, turning their hydropower systems up and down. Hugh Sharman explains that these neighbouring countries play a role of the 'electric storage batteries' for Denmark. CEPOS recently criticised the performance of Danish wind energy. CEPOS made a controversial study on wind energy, claiming that most of the Danish wind power has been recently exported as well as using wind turbines in Denmark is an expensive way of reducing emissions of CO2. CEPOS stated in its report that usage of wind turbines causes energy taxes rising for private consumers in Denmark. It is known that CEPOS has been criticised for spreading disinformation regarding the Danish wind industry. <youtube align="right" width="small" height="100">qgUsun3hIT0</youtube> CEPOS admitted that its report on Denmark’s wind energy was commissioned and paid for by US think tank with close ties to the coal and oil industries. The report claimed that the Danish wind energy figures were misleading and indicated that Danish wind turbine industry model was not effective. CEPOS report has been strongly criticised by the numerous experts for its conclusions. Martin Agerup, after strong critique, admitted that the report was commissioned and paid for by Institute for Energy Research (IER) but in a defense he added that he was not aware of IER receiving funding from the coal and oil industry. Agerup admitted, however, that he and report author, Hugh Sharman, were made aware of the relationship between IER and the American coal and oil industries. Agerup emphasized that IER financing the wind energy report agreed for fully independent conclusion and the assessments made by CEPOS.

Controversies and US connections

It is known that CEPOS has been criticised for spreading disinformation regarding the Danish wind industry. CEPOS was accused of spending time and money in the United States spreading disinformation regarding the Danish wind industry. It is believed that facts and figures distributing by CEPOS have never been checked by university experts to get feedback. CEPOS was also accused for rushing their misinformation to the American news media. David E. Nye, one of the authors who criticised CEPOS report stated that if CEPOS really believed in the free market, they would not need to use their resources to attack Danish wind energy, because if they are right, wind power would lose out in competition with other alternatives. There were many questions asked, what was the purpose of spreading disinformation about Denmark in the United States and who CEPOS is really working for? Moreover, who is donating money to support CEPOS? CEPOS was accused of not being a think tank. ‘’CEPOS is not a think tank, it is a gun for hire, perhaps one that is quite willing to work with groups that deny the existence of global warming.’’

Funding

From the time of its inception, CEPOS has been bringing in the necessary grants and contributions from foundations, corporations, and individual sponsors. However, it is commonly known, that some of the organisations that challenge scientific warnings about the climate change have refused to reveal who finances their work. The absence of transparency rules in Europe allowed European independent think tanks to behave in a secretive fashion. CEPOS was among groups that refused to give precise details about how they are funded. According to Greenpeace report, Koch Industries, a U.S. conglomerate dominated by oil and chemical interest, by financing various groups, aim to deny climate change and oppose clean energy. According to Greenpeace, from 2005 to 2009, Koch Industries contributed almost 25 million dollars to groups opposing renewable energy and decisive action aimed at reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. One of the research institutions linked to Koch Industries was CEPOS in Denmark. CEPOS in its publication questioned if Denmark’s investment in wind power was bringing environmental benefits and that publication was supported financially by the Institute for Energy Research (IER) in the U.S. That institute, in turn, according to Greenpeace, had been aided by Koch Industries. CEPOS Chief Executive made a controversial statement questioned whether CEPOS has ever received financial help from the fossil fuel industry, and who has been funding CEPOS and was a main donor. He generally replied ‘no’ and added that they don’t give out information about donors. However, according to Greenpeace, climate deniers create enough doubt about the climate science to limit public pressure on governments to act on climate change. Defending CEPOS irresponsibility accusations and disinformation about climate change, Martin Agerup stated that he is in favour of a free market approach towards environmental issues. He added that he is not denying that climate change is happening. However he added that he is septic towards the current approach on fixed targets of reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and legally-binding international agreements regarding this matter. Martin Agerup has admitted that the money was given to them through the "Institute for Energy Research" a lobby organization funded by the American coal and oil industries. Agerup claimed that he did not know the Institute for Energy Research was a lobby organization, and thought it was, like CEPOS, a think tank.

People

Employees

Angela Brink | Henrik Christofferson | Mads Lundby Hansen | Henrik Gade Jensen | Jacob Mchangama | Martin Agerup

Founders

Poul Schlüter | , Uffe Ellemann-Jensen | Bent Blüdnikow | Nicolai Juul Foss | Jesper Lau Hansen | Bent Fabricius-Bjerre | Bernt Johan Collet Christopher Arzrouni, Special advisor | Rolf Bagger, Author | Annelise Bidstrup, Editor | Sven Blomberg, Chief Executive Officer | Bent Blüdnikow, Editor and Historian | Jesper Bruun Rasmussen, Auctioneer | Bernt Johan Collet, former Minister for Defence | Peter la Cour, Publisher | Anne-Sofie Dahl, Associate Professor, Ph.D. | Jan Duckert, Chief Executive Officer | Kasper Elbjørn, PR and Project Manager | Uffe Ellemann-Jensen, former Minister for Foreign Affairs | Bent Fabricius-Bjerre, Composer | Herman Federspiel, Attorney | Henning Fonsmark, Author | Nicolai Juul Foss, Professor, Ph.D. | Nils Foss, Chief Executive Officer | Nikolaj Gammeltoft, Head of Section | David Gress, Associate Professor, Ph.D. | Morten Grunwald, Actor, Theatre Manager | Peter Gæmelke, President of the Danish Agricultural Council | Jesper Lau Hansen, Professor, LL.D. | Claes Kastholm Hansen, Author | Morten Hesseldahl, Publisher | Kjeld Hillingsø, Lt. General | Ulrik Høy, Author | Bent Jensen, Professor, Ph.D. | Peter Kurrild-Klitgaard, Associate Professor, Ph.D. | Steen Langebæk, Chief Executive Officer | Henrik Lando, Professor, Ph.D. | Michael Laudrup, Football Player and Coach | Henrik Bach Mortensen, Director of the Confederation of Danish Employers (DA) | Karoly Nemeth, Attorney

Board of Directors

Christian Bjørnskov, Associate Professor Ph.D. | Jørgen Mads Clausen, Chief Executive Officer | Bernt Johan Collet (Chairman), Chief Executive Officer former Minister for Defence | Jan Duckert, Chief Executive Officer | Helene Haabegaard, Student | Bjørn Høi Jensen, MA and Senior Advisor for EQT - private equity foundation | Jesper Lau Hansen (Vice Chairman), Professor Doctor of Laws

Centre Council

CEPOS highest authority is the Centre Council. The Council is composed of top executives from the business community, scholars in social science, opinion formers and other intellectuals with whom the Board of Directors consider it important to be in close contact.

Finn Poulsen, Managing Director | Samuel Rachlin, Editor, MA. | Jens Ringsmose, Research fellow, MA | Sven Hakon Rossel, Professor | Rethe Rostbøll, Former Minister, MA | Annette Sadolin, Managing Director, BLL | Louise Ry, Managing Director | Jonny Trapp Steffensen, Ph.d., assistant professor | nud Sørensen, Former bank manager | Ditlev Tamm, Professor, Doctor of Laws and Philosophy | Edith Thingstrup, Rector, BD | Søren Toft, Chief Consultant, MA in Political Science | Mikael Thoustrup, Student of Commerce | Peter Vesterdorf, Office manager, Ph.D Law | Thomas Voss, Managing Director | Henrik Wedell-Wedellsborg, Lawyer, partner | Anders Wivel, Senior lecturer, Ph.D. | Jarne Nielsen, Management Advisor | Flemming Steen Nielsen, Associate professor, Doctor of Philosophy | Mikael Bonde Nielsen, Chief of Communication, MA in Political Science | Henning Kruse Petersen, Managing Director, LLD | Jesper Lau Hansen, Professor, LLD | Christian Herskind, Managing Director, LLD | Lars Hvidberg, Writer

Advisory Board

Robert C. Waggoner, Professor of Economics, Harvard University (USA) | Carl Bildt, Minister of Foreign Affairs, former Prime Minister, MP and EU & UN Representative (Sweden) | James M. Buchanan, Jr., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Economics, Center for Study of Public Choice | Victoria Curzon-Price, Ph.D., Professor of Economics, l’Université de Genève, President, Mont Pélerin Society | Richard A. Epstein, James Parker Hall Distinguished Service Professor of Law, University of Chicago Law School (USA) | Nicolai Juul Foss, Ph.D., Professor Copenhagen Business School, Professor Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration (NHH) | Bruno S. Frey, Professor Dr. Dr. h.c. mult., Professor of Economics, University of Zurich (Switzerland) | Palle Marcus, Board Chairman, former Chief Executive Officer (Denmark) | Peter Kurrild-Klitgaard, Ph.D., Cand.Phil. M.A., Professor of Political Science, University of Copenhagen | Veronique de Rugy, Ph.D., Research Fellow, American Enterprise Institute (USA) | George Shultz, Former Secretary of State, Professor of Economics & Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University (USA) | Roger Scruton, Professor, University of Buckingham, Author, Philosopher (UK) | Niels C. Thygesen, Doctor of Political Science, Professor of International Economics, University of Copenhagen (Denmark)

CEPOS University and educational work

In 2006 Cepos launched the Cepos University an institution 'which educates university students about free market ideas'. According to the Atlas Network, Cepos planned to create 'a network of liberal minded supporters in Denmark, offering education to policy makers on free markets and extending their education to high school students'.

CEPOS Freedom Award

CEPOS recently instituted an annual freedom award. In the 2010, the prize, along with DKK 300,000 will be awarded to the Cuban dissident, Yoani Sánchez who, through her blog ’Generación Y’, demands the right to exercise her freedom of speech. By criticizing the current conditions in Cuba, Yoani risks facing imprisonment for years as other Cubans who have dared to utter the mildest critique of the Communist regime. Martin Ågerup concluded that despite the huge personal costs, Yoani Sánchez has shown amazing courage by expressing her honest and personal opinion of the society she currently lives in. Moreover, she has managed to keep focus on one of the world’s most suffocating dictatorships. CEPOS wished to show admiration of her courage and dedication by awarding her this annual prize.

Main publications

Globalisation:CEPOS:Analyses published by CEPOS, according to authors, support the wish to create and disseminate new knowledge regarding the organization of society. CEPOS independently delivers notes that describe the organization of the welfare society. CEPOS also supplies policy proposals that contribute to a freer and wealthier society. CEPOS produces both academic research and policy analyses on a wide range of issues, including education, immigration, legal reform, taxation, regulation and the public sector. They host numerous conferences a year and have attracted high-level speakers. CEPOS publications aim to provide information analysis, which can form the basis for decisions and debate.

CEPOS, Neoliberalism and Globalisation

CEPOS follows a market-driven approach to economic and social policy. It can be stressed that neoliberalism as well as CEPOS favour the efficiency of private enterprise, open markets and seek to maximise the role of the corporate sector. CEPOS is of the opinion that it determines both political and economic priorities of the state. Pro-consumer choice, individual autonomy and shift from the government make CEPOS a neoliberal think tank. There are mutual approaches for both CEPOS and neoliberalism, such as towards tax reform, trade liberalisation and privatisation of state services. CEPOS may be described as well as a think tank favouring globalisation processes, as Martin Agerup is of the opinion that integrating regional economies, societies, and cultures through a global network of communication and trade is a positive thing. Foreign investment, migration and a spread of technology are global issues promoted by CEPOS as a spread of freedom.

Awards

CEPOS is a five-time winner of the Atlas Economic Research Foundation and John Templeton Foundation awards given to the best think tanks around the world. CEPOS was awarded in the 2006 Templeton Freedom Award - Honourable Mention, following by 2007 Templeton Freedom Award Grant. In addition, CEPOS won 2007 Templeton Freedom Prize for Initiative in Public Relations, Second Place and in 2008 Sir Antony Fisher International Memorial Award for best book published by a think tank. Moreover, CEPOS was recently awarded in the 2009 Fisher Venture Grant Award.

Affiliations

Stockholm Network | Fraser Institute | Economic Freedom Network | Atlas Economic Research Foundation | Institute for Energy Research (IER) | John Templeton Foundation

Contact Information

Address:Landgreven 3, 3. sal

DK-1301 København K

/DK-1301 Copenhagen

Pho.: +45 33 45 60 30

Fax: +45 33 45 60 45

info@cepos.dk